Hi there - I live in VA and as many as you know legalization will take place on July 1st and I want to set up my own indoor grow for only 4 plants. I wanted to get your opinion on what I should buy. My one friend told me to get a electric sun 300 light and a tent another guy told me to get this spider set up https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Farmer-Complete-Compatible-MeanWell/dp/B088R4B8N2/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=SPIDER+FARMER+GROW+TENT+KIT+COMPLETE+SF-2000+LED&qid=1618178797&sr=8-5 (apparently it has everything you need in one purchase. such as the tent, exhaust, charcoal filter and a spider SF-2000 Light. My question is if you had to do it all over again and set up a grow from scratch what would you purchase? I dont want to make any mistakes if I can help if as far as what equipment to buy. Please guide me - I am excited and nervous about making any unnecessary mistakes. Thank you
Need advice on starting small grow - 4 plants
- Thread starter Zephead
- Start date
Rurumo
Well-Known Member
Just, whatever you do, don't buy anything right away. Give it a week or two, read the responses you get here, and research each component of your grow. "Complete sets" are almost never a good way to go because they are cutting corners on parts of it, always. Like, vent fans are really important, and the last thing you want to do is shell out for a complete kit and then start replacing each component right away as you learn more about stuff. I'd go for a 4x4 tent for a 4 plant grow-there are quite a number of decent LED lights that will illuminate this footprint well, there are a lot of different threads here but you're looking at between 450-600 watts. Always check the actual wattage of a fixture-if it says it's a 1,000 watt fixture, it's probably a 100 watt fixture. Price wise, you're looking at about $450-$600 or much more for your light. Another option would be a 600 HPS light for $129-just to give you a cheaper option. Summer is almost here so the LED is the better choice, but you do what you gotta do. Do you have an idea of the media you will use? Hydro, soil, coco? Tons of great info here on each aspect of your grow, just research everything right now to get the best start. Good luck!
Thank you that is what I kind of thought about buying the kit - I will wait to receive advice from the experts (you guys) I really need a shopping list of what exactly to buy including part numbers - I want LED lights for sure and I will get the 4x4 - I think I will be using coco (I've heard great things) - thanks for your response and guidance I really appreciate it - I guess the question is if you had to put together a grow today what exactly would you buy? and where would you go to source it?
FirstCavApache64
Well-Known Member
If you are close to DC there are good hydro shops that can give you advice and will even give you weed as a free gift if you buy from them. If you want, let me know and I'll ask my buddy where he goes. I grew up there and all my friends grow in DC.
Lordhooha
Well-Known Member
Really depends on your budget.
Dank Bongula
Well-Known Member
You need to take into account what kind of attention you want to be giving these plants...some mediums require you to feed and water daily....so if you go away for a long weekend, you will have to know how long can you leave your plant unattended.
The Monarch
Member
Congratulations on legalization! I would second a 4x4 tent, maybe 3x3 if only four plants (the larger the pot, bigger the plant). Gorilla Grow makes top of the line tents, but I’ve seen Vivosun tents do just fine.
For lighting with LEDs, make sure the PPFD chart covers your needs, it should be throwing down at least 500 PPFD for flowering (that’s the minimum for any area), but not too much in the center (I’ve read plants should not get more than 1,200, but never tested that. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong). I would expect to pay from $400-$800 for a good lamp (Samsung LM301H or lm301B LEDs plus 660nm, IR and UV - you’ll learn a lot about light). I hate monopolies, so I use ledgrowlightsdepot.com. Alibaba will get you quality components for about 30-40% less, but there’s risk in warranty and insurance enforcement nor many UL listed lamps. Lighting seems to be on the tech cycle now, so I would expect them to get cheaper and more powerful over time. The quantum bars provide the best distribution of light.
AC Infinity makes excellent exhaust systems. A 6” fan will work for a 4x4 tent - just make sure to match the fan and tent size. They also have a nice controller with screen to manage everything. Attach a carbon filter if needed.
Medium is your choice. Soil is forgiving and a good place to begin. Foxfarm and Nectar for the Gods make good organic soil and nutrients. Careful on nutrient dosing - the recommendations are about 2x what seems needed.
Environment control is very important. Try to keep between 70-77F, it can get cooler but try not to get much warmer. Relative humidity needs to be managed as well: target higher earlier, lower later, so you may need a humidifier and dehumidifier. Also a couple of electric fans to keep the air flowing and a hygrometer to keep track of everything.
For lighting with LEDs, make sure the PPFD chart covers your needs, it should be throwing down at least 500 PPFD for flowering (that’s the minimum for any area), but not too much in the center (I’ve read plants should not get more than 1,200, but never tested that. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong). I would expect to pay from $400-$800 for a good lamp (Samsung LM301H or lm301B LEDs plus 660nm, IR and UV - you’ll learn a lot about light). I hate monopolies, so I use ledgrowlightsdepot.com. Alibaba will get you quality components for about 30-40% less, but there’s risk in warranty and insurance enforcement nor many UL listed lamps. Lighting seems to be on the tech cycle now, so I would expect them to get cheaper and more powerful over time. The quantum bars provide the best distribution of light.
AC Infinity makes excellent exhaust systems. A 6” fan will work for a 4x4 tent - just make sure to match the fan and tent size. They also have a nice controller with screen to manage everything. Attach a carbon filter if needed.
Medium is your choice. Soil is forgiving and a good place to begin. Foxfarm and Nectar for the Gods make good organic soil and nutrients. Careful on nutrient dosing - the recommendations are about 2x what seems needed.
Environment control is very important. Try to keep between 70-77F, it can get cooler but try not to get much warmer. Relative humidity needs to be managed as well: target higher earlier, lower later, so you may need a humidifier and dehumidifier. Also a couple of electric fans to keep the air flowing and a hygrometer to keep track of everything.
I dont live close to DC but thank you for helping
/Great stuff man - thank you
Severed Tongue
Well-Known Member
I would skip on the "packages" they usually offer no real discount, and are the cheapest crap, and as many items have regular sales and coupons or codes you can use, IMO it's way better to just buy stuff as you need it, watching for sales.
Also, all you need to start is a light, some pots (solo cups) and medium (I prefer soil), your seeds, maybe a clip on fan for air flow (walmart for $12),
you don't even need a tent until you start the flowering.
April 20th "aka 420" is just a couple days away and lots of sales on this day.
then there is the mothers day sales
then the fathers day sales
then the Labor day sales
etc.....
Also, all you need to start is a light, some pots (solo cups) and medium (I prefer soil), your seeds, maybe a clip on fan for air flow (walmart for $12),
you don't even need a tent until you start the flowering.
April 20th "aka 420" is just a couple days away and lots of sales on this day.
then there is the mothers day sales
then the fathers day sales
then the Labor day sales
etc.....
Dank Bongula
Well-Known Member
Not enough light for a 4x4...well, if you want to have one or two small plants in that big old tent, then yeah, it could work...but if you wanna fill it, which is why you buy a 4x4, you'll need a way more powerful light.
thanks - if you were me what light would you get for that tent? I may go down a size in tents - I think that one is a 5 X5 I may go 4 X 4 - which light is a good quality light? I have about $400 - $600 to spend on the light
maybe I'll get the tent and all the ventilation as a kit and buy the light separately - if I did that which good quality light would you get?
Severed Tongue
Well-Known Member
When I did what you are doing last fall, I went with budget marshydro TS series as they were on sale and I had no idea, and the choices are overwhelmingly ridiculous, so I just chose a popular one. I'm having ok results with them but after months of seeing what others use and results, I'd go for a samsung strips setup instead of a quantum board.
lots of threads on these, just search Samsung strips
lots of threads on these, just search Samsung strips
Dank Bongula
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't...for less than $300 you can buy a 48x48x80 tent and an AC Infinty cloudine t6 inline duct fan system with temp, humidity controller.
Basically if you buy that kit, you're getting the hygrometer for free and gotta buy a new light anyway...and depending on the environment where you live, you may or may not need a combination of humidifier, dehumidifier, a heater, and an AC unit. So you can put the money you save on that kit towards shit you may need inside your tent or in the room with your tent.
For that size of a veg and flowering space, I would look at HLG 300L or HLG 350R just off the top of my head....but check out timber and electric sky too...be prepared to fork out some cash though.
If you're a little more budget conscious... spider farmer and mars hydro make lights that can veg and flower spaces that big as well...you can spend the next week delving into lights, I seriously cannot make that decision for you, there are so many options.
twentyeight.threefive
Well-Known Member
Avoid any kits. You may get one quality piece of equipment but will get lesser quality on the others. You have plenty of time before you actually need equipment.
My advice is to spend all the extra time you have researching each individual piece of equipment you need. Time spent researching equals money saved in the long run. I went with a cheap amazon kit my first go and regret it every minute. Lesson learned hope others can avoid it.
My advice is to spend all the extra time you have researching each individual piece of equipment you need. Time spent researching equals money saved in the long run. I went with a cheap amazon kit my first go and regret it every minute. Lesson learned hope others can avoid it.
Thanks bro |