Gonna try First Ever Grow.

This will be my first attempt at growing. I feel like I've done a considerable amount of research and how I would like to approach this. I am looking to grow only one plant for personal use. I feel hydroponics is a little more full proof than using regular soil... if I am wrong on this please stop me now. Here is what i had planned on setting up.

The grow will be in a closet and I am going to construct a grow box. I am going to cover the inside of the box in Mylar for maximum light use. I will have an intake fan and an exhaust fan with a homemade carbon filter attached. using a Five gallon bucket with a net pot lid. An air pump with a bubble disk, and a submersible water pump with a line running directly into the Hydroton in the net pot. Using the Technaflora Nutrient starter kit seems to be a good way to go, easy to use nutrient calender. Also thinking of doing some sort of carbon generator using fermentation or a drip system with vinegar and baking soda. With such a small space I think either would work.

Now here is my first debate. Lights. I've looked at everything from MH to LEDs. I'm trying to stay away from MH and HPS because of price and use of ballast. Haven't read much about people using LEDs for growing yet, seems to still be in research stages. I think I've decided to use 3 100 watt CFLs. I've read 250 watts will be sufficient for the small space and single plant. 300 watts and the Mylar lining should work well. I've read the Journals of people using CFLs for the whole grow and they seem pleased.

Next debate is germination. Not going to have access to clones, but probably going to purchase feminized seeds. How should i start these?? Can I germinate in a paper towel and place the germinated seed in the Hydroton, should I plant the seed in soil and transplant when it has good roots... thoughts??

Well that's what I have so far. Kind of long detail, I hope some have made it through. Looking for as many comments and criticisms and possible. Is this going to work?? Thanks everyone!

Congrats on starting the first grow bro!! I'm on my 1st right now, RIU has been a great help, saved my butt numerous times.. and now that there is a DWC forum, it should hopefully just get better!!! check out my grow in the sig below...

Now the questions:
I would be use the CLFs for your vegging stage... just make sure they are DAYLIGHT (65k). I tried using both 'soft white' CFLs AND my HPS, but nothing did the trick like that blue light during veg.... I just wished I did it before, I lost WEEKS!!

When you're talking about 'watts' are you talking about the ture wattage or the 'equivalent' ?? CFL packaging is a bit misleading, the bigger number is usually how many watts it is LIKE (compared to your normal household bulb), but the true wattage is much much lower.... just a FYI

Though, if you can (especially for your flowering) get a HPS, many of us have rigged up cheap HPS security lights, I bought my 150 HPS bulb and ballast for $20!! www.e-conolight.com though they are out right now...

I 'germed' mine with a paper towel, worked great! Just place a bowl on top, and put in a warm spot...

Germ your seeds, then place into rockwool or a 'peat plug'. Hydroton are the clay balls you put in the net pot that help support your block of rock wool or peat plug... you cannot plus a tap seedling just into the hydroton.

I did use rockwool fo this first grow, and did not like it, very easy to overwater etc. My bro DL suggested I get 'peat plugs' they are cheaper, and dry out better, and DL swears by them... I already bought mine for my next grow.

Great questions though, you'll have plenty, you plan to start a journal?? I'm glad I did, easy way to get all your questions ask/answered!!!

Good luck bro!!

Any ideas what strain(s)??

Just one question, If you can get clones why on earth would you pay hard erned money for seeds? I have read on this site alone many reasons to NOT order seeds. However it is your grow and your money, Good Luck!

If you want killer buds I'd rethink the HPS issue. Only mother nature can compete with HPS lights.

My two cents and mine only!

Peace

burnbabyburn said:

This will be my first attempt at growing. I feel like I've done a considerable amount of research and how I would like to approach this. I am looking to grow only one plant for personal use. I feel hydroponics is a little more full proof than using regular soil... if I am wrong on this please stop me now. Here is what i had planned on setting up.

The grow will be in a closet and I am going to construct a grow box. I am going to cover the inside of the box in Mylar for maximum light use. I will have an intake fan and an exhaust fan with a homemade carbon filter attached. using a Five gallon bucket with a net pot lid. An air pump with a bubble disk, and a submersible water pump with a line running directly into the Hydroton in the net pot. Using the Technaflora Nutrient starter kit seems to be a good way to go, easy to use nutrient calender. Also thinking of doing some sort of carbon generator using fermentation or a drip system with vinegar and baking soda. With such a small space I think either would work.

Now here is my first debate. Lights. I've looked at everything from MH to LEDs. I'm trying to stay away from MH and HPS because of price and use of ballast. Haven't read much about people using LEDs for growing yet, seems to still be in research stages. I think I've decided to use 3 100 watt CFLs. I've read 250 watts will be sufficient for the small space and single plant. 300 watts and the Mylar lining should work well. I've read the Journals of people using CFLs for the whole grow and they seem pleased.

Next debate is germination. Not going to have access to clones, but probably going to purchase feminized seeds. How should i start these?? Can I germinate in a paper towel and place the germinated seed in the Hydroton, should I plant the seed in soil and transplant when it has good roots... thoughts??

Well that's what I have so far. Kind of long detail, I hope some have made it through. Looking for as many comments and criticisms and possible. Is this going to work?? Thanks everyone!

Click to expand...

I this he said he DOES NOT have access to clones...

But listen to Slowtoker bro... he has some experience under his belt for sure

So.. Ecololight has NO MORE HPS!! There is one for 100 but who wants that! I talked to one of the reps and they told me that once they are out of a product, THEY ARE OUT FOR EV ER! FOR.. EV... ER... FOR..... EVVVVVV....ER. I know, it sucks.

Ahhhh net! that does blow... I was thinking about getting a second for my next grow

oh well... I have other things I need for my next grow anyway

I've got a Hydrofarm 250W HPS that doesn't put out a lot of heat. It's great for just a couple plants.

The ballast is included in the reflector as a single piece so all you do is plug it in the timer.

I just started my first grow about a month ago. My set-up is a little bit like what you have in mind (check out my journal... link in my journal).

Just two suggestions...

If you have the money, def go with some form of HID light. You girls will love you for that... I have a 250W Agrobulb (contains both MH and HPS) and my girls are very bushy looking.

Also, just don't do what I did and start the seedlings off in soil. The transplant was a bitch. If I do another grow, I'll probably go the rockwool direction.

Good luck!

I'm in favor of going with a smaller hps for flowering. That being said, you can get decent yield off of cfls but you have to get enough of them for flowering and put them in the correct spots. The advantage of cfls over hps is that you can place the multiple cfl bulbs in places that you couldn't get just 1 hps light to. That means that you can scatter them a bit more in you box to get to lower branches that would never see the light of day with just 1 hps light. For flowering, you're gonna need lots of cfls. Get the correct spectrum too. With a 5 gallon rez for this plant, you're gonna want to get some good lighting to get those roots as big as possible. I agree with being picky about the strain too. Fem'd is a definate for 1 plant. But with one plant you may want to look at a big yielder. AK or Big Bud would be wise choices. It seems like you're willing to put some work into the set up so you may want to explore going with more that 1 plant given the work you've already put into the grow box, carbon generator, etc...Definately listen to DL on the starter plugs. They are god-sends and are WAY better than rockwool. best of luck on the 1st grow boss. I'll be checking in.