Need advice on first time grow

F

FriedLikeAnEgg

Member
So today I spontaneously decided buy some lights. I bought a 12 pack of 48" 32watt 1800 lumen fluorescent T8 tubes and 2 32watt shoplight ballasts and a humidty/temp guage and a couple 5 gallon buckets. I still need a timer and some soil/fertilizer and need suggestions. Anyways since each ballasts holds 2 tubes that gives me 128watts total, is this enough to grow 1 plant in my closet if I put the ballasts vertical and the plant in between, one on either side. Would I have to rotate the plant so there is even coverage?.This is my first grow attempt so any advice would be appreciated.I can take pictures if needed.
 
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mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
more light would be better but what you have will work. on my last grow I grew 3 plants in a 4foot by 2 foot closet with a 4 bulb T5 HO fixture and harvested 182 grams dry. 7200 lumens should be enough for l small plant. with your first grow you should be happy if you make it to harvest. as you gain experience you will do better. and welcome to RIU
 
mo841

mo841

Well-Known Member
Just buy some cheap general purpose miracle grow fertilizer if you don't have a lot of cash, it will work just fine. The more light the better so if u can afford more I would do it.
 
F

FriedLikeAnEgg

Member
mo841 said:
Just buy some cheap general purpose miracle grow fertilizer if you don't have a lot of cash, it will work just fine. The more light the better so if u can afford more I would do it.
Click to expand...
I have put a lot more thought into the grow and came up with this
I thought you were supposed to steer clear of miracle gro because of all the chemical salts or something
 

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Cx2H

Cx2H

Well-Known Member
#lMHO (Coco based answer BTW.)
Salt build up is an issue when you:
Underwater
Don't water with at least 10℅ run off.
Use saucers and it pools
Feed heavy too often.
Don't flush at flip or occasionally.
Thoughts of more is better...
 
Chronic the Hemphog

Chronic the Hemphog

Well-Known Member
If you are gonna use miracle grow, use this kind. The regular kind has time release fertilizer that can be too strong for some young plants.

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Flagg420

Flagg420

Well-Known Member
Just remember that using fluorescent lights... you are not looking at huge buds, or large yields without a lot of plant training...

The intensity of the light is simply not high enough to penetrate more than a couple inches of vegetation. You get surface buds only, so make sure you surround it with light during flower, not just from above...

Or use those things to light a shop, and get some grow lights :) I speak from the position of someone who stepped up may times, and wish I had simply invested in the full setup at the start... Still have so much old gear laying around...

Remember when u fire off your small plants, FF and most other premix soils are very strong with nutes, I suggest getting a single brick of coco coir, and kinda mix it down, dilute the bagged soil. (I did this with roots organic, and added a bit of plain coir for seedlings n clones)[eventually just went hydro]
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
FriedLikeAnEgg said:
I have put a lot more thought into the grow and came up with this
I thought you were supposed to steer clear of miracle gro because of all the chemical salts or something
Click to expand...
I've been using MG for 3 years with great results.I think the problem people have is with the company that makes it and not the product itself
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
Flagg420 said:
Just remember that using fluorescent lights... you are not looking at huge buds, or large yields without a lot of plant training...

The intensity of the light is simply not high enough to penetrate more than a couple inches of vegetation. You get surface buds only, so make sure you surround it with light during flower, not just from above...

Or use those things to light a shop, and get some grow lights :) I speak from the position of someone who stepped up may times, and wish I had simply invested in the full setup at the start... Still have so much old gear laying around...

Remember when u fire off your small plants, FF and most other premix soils are very strong with nutes, I suggest getting a single brick of coco coir, and kinda mix it down, dilute the bagged soil. (I did this with roots organic, and added a bit of plain coir for seedlings n clones)[eventually just went hydro]
Click to expand...
this may be true with CFLs but not with T5HOs
 
Flagg420

Flagg420

Well-Known Member
Hence the 'high output'

But he is talking T8's... I would run them to veg on, train with, but I would get a better light before flowering. LED if heat/costs make it work, CMH if you really got money, and good old tried n true HPS so keep it simple. (Heat is always an issue with HPS, go in with a ventilation plan, and a hood, not a wing reflector)
 
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