Mini CFL first-time grow ventilation info.

Posted over in n00b boards and wanted to know if there was any other input. I will be doing my first medicinal grow in a closet in a tall white kitchen trash can. I plan to leave the top open since closet will remain closed and my main door will be locked at all times (plus I have zero social life and would honestly rather grow than work to keep my neurotic girlfriend, but I digress...) Using either two 26w CFL's for one plant or one 26w on top and two 9w on either side, will I need major ventilation?

Considering a small personal fan, battery operated, since there will be an opening at the top of my container, have chosen a low odor strain, so not concerned.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

u want dayligth 6,5000k for veg and 2,7000k for flower

Thanks for that, but I am well aware of CFL lighting specs, cycles and information. Really more interested in the ventilation issue as I have used a similar setup to grow bagseed and have always ended up with males. Wondering if excess heat may be causing strain on the plants. This will be my first medicinally oriented grow and I will be using feminized seeds. I have experience with the temp of CFL's and know that two to three may raise temp inside such a confined space. To limit hermaphrodite formation I would like to ensure that temp will be appropriate without spending too much or requiring too much technical know how.

So back to the main question, does anyone have any simple ventilation suggestions for such a "low budget/ low temp" setup?

I'd say go pick up a cheap digital temp gauge from lowe's or something (I got mine for $8 and it also tells humidity). Your temps should be in the 70-85 degree range. Those small CFLs do not make a lot of heat, but having them all in a plastic container with no side ventilation, you might need a little something something to keep the air moving (which you should have anyway to prevent mold and to help your plants exchange gases) you should be fine.

I have heard that heat stress, along with any other form of plant stress can cause plants to turn hermie, but I've never heard of it causing a plant to become male in the first place. I believe that is in the genetics of the seed. Sounds like to me you've just had some bad luck with bagseeds bro.

Your best bet is to grab a cheap PC fan, find a 12VDC AC/DC transformer lying around that you won't be using, cut a hole in your trash can and jam the fan in there. I'd probably recommend just having an intake at the bottom since you said you'll be leaving the top of the trash can open. I'd say that'd be more than adequate.

Maybe this will help, I know, you know, but this is just my opinion. Use no less than (3) 26w clf's.. keep them 2'-3" from the top of your plant. The heat will ride about 92 degrees in your "container" so get a $6 fan from walmart and aim it down into your "container" so a constant slight breeze is on the plant. This will also drop your temps to high 70's low 80's. When the plant is roughly 3-4 weeks old, and you are ready to begin flowering, feed it some bloom booster, only every other watering for a couple weeks. Finally flush it for 2-3 weeks until ready for harvest. You will have an issue with smell during flower.. Read on DIY carbon scrubbers and slowly pick up the items you need over the first month. Good luck and happy growing.

Side note: I will never grow like this again. You can get good buds, but they will dry out and become very "airy" because of the lack of light. I got 12g dry from the plant in my avatar with this method. Free is awesome, but its alot of work for not much product.

Any particular reason a medicinal grow needs to be done in a trash can? And why a low odor strain? That doesn't sound medicinal at all. Sounds like you are being super stealthy.

Medicinal in the sense that I would like to use it for my increasing problems resulting from my degenerative muscle disorder, stealthy because I live in a state where the medical legislation has been shot down numerous times. I am currently a college student and cannot risk losing scholarships and jail time over being careless.

Thanks everyone for the input, sorry for coming off like a dick.

Peace.

I can relate to that Hapless. All the same here my man. Stealth is a HUGE issue with me. I am currently using 2 26w CFL's on a bagseed. And she's doing wonderful, besides me burning with nutes on accident. But, yeah the CFL's work wonders.

Thanks georgia, glad to hear the two CFL's are working, I'll be going that route since my electricity is only covered by my rent to a cap.

Yea don't let anyone try to convince you CFL's aren't good enough, I mean sure I switched from CFL's to a 600w HPS but my plants were doing JUST FINE under about ~100w of CFL so a little less would be just fine *They only had about 50watts for the first 1-2 weeks of life and they are still fine~*