new grower. 400w HPS attic setup

Hey guys new to growing, and to this forum.

I germinated some seeds picked out of various pick ups. At the moment I have the seeds just crackin the shell and buried in about 1/3 of an inch in soil. The soil sits about a foot under the 400w light. On a 16/8 light cycle.

Desperate for tips. Pics to come shortly.

xsocialx said:

Hey guys new to growing, and to this forum.

I germinated some seeds picked out of various pick ups. At the moment I have the seeds just crackin the shell and buried in about 1/3 of an inch in soil. The soil sits about a foot under the 400w light. On a 16/8 light cycle.

Desperate for tips. Pics to come shortly.

Click to expand...

Make sure they don't get too hot or dry out. They'll simply stop growing if they do.

If you growing in an attic make sure you will be able to control temperatures. Attics can get really hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

What would be a suttable way to keep climate even? I have 2 fans directed at a vent in the rooff

xsocialx said:

What would be a suttable way to keep climate even? I have 2 fans directed at a vent in the rooff

Click to expand...

Well depending on where you live and how cold it gets in the winter, a light will not put off enough heat in an open space. Maybe a space heater if its too cold in the winter.

I live in ontario so I assume it to be getting pretty cold in the winter.

Now at the moment its just. a pot sitting under a suspended light.
How can I improve my setup?

xsocialx said:

What would be a suttable way to keep climate even? I have 2 fans directed at a vent in the rooff

Click to expand...

Insulation, and running your lights at night will help. You probably won't need to air cool because you're going to need all the heat you can get. During the day, cut your airflow back, and get a small space heater.

I've had to deal with attics and drastic temp changes. It can be a bitch. Make sure your set up is flexible, so you're able to change things quickly if you need to.

put some of that insulation board with the foil backing as walls over the thick puffy kind of insulation. Try to make sure to seal all air leaks. It will make huge difference.

Also, if your space has a wall that is the inside of an exterior wall, you'll have to insulate it the most.

If thats all you've got and are asking how to improve you have alot to learn. Way more than what you're gonna get from such an open question, trust me its way easier to know what you're working towards instead of learning as you go.

I will be constructing a surrounding for the plants tonight.

And its an open triangular attic, no crawlspaces or anything.

And I know a wee bit so far, and it seems I've come to the right place for answers ninja toke.

xsocialx said:

I live in ontario so I assume it to be getting pretty cold in the winter.

Now at the moment its just. a pot sitting under a suspended light.
How can I improve my setup?

Click to expand...

I also live in Ontario soo I know the temps. You will need some kind of heat source in there with the temps we get. I had to install an extra vent in my basement to keep my room nice and warm day and night. Sealed it good to keep the heat in. My temps are still only around 72 average even with the heat. An attic will actually be able to heat up better then a basement. What are your temps in there right now?

The temp during the day is around 80-84, at night however it is about 70-75.

Is this to drastic of climate change?

Also there were 3 vents altogether, so I've covered 1 vent and I'm using one for fresh air and one for exhaust air.

Ok so here's my grow box.

I went out to home depot and found this amazing materail called durafome.
Its reflective on one side, and insulated styrafome.

Anyway, take a look, open to suggetions.




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Are u using the whole attic to try to grow a couple of plants? Id pick a nice corner, or where ever your ventulation is, and use 3m plastic. Build a nice regtangular box that will fit the ammount of plants u have. Less space there is.. less space u have to heat or cool. And u can always buy humidity/temp devices cheap at Wally world.

I've made a box already this is 3ft by 3ft and is 5ft tall. The 400w HPS has a lid over the lights aswell.

Every edge, corner, nook and cranny is cover up with foil tape. Nearly blind myself lookin into that box.

Anyway here is a picture. Sorry for the shitty pictures I'm taking them with my phone.

Which person?

The material I used is perfect for my set up. 4 plants max. (Still undecided)

At roughly 4:20 this morning I checked my seeds. And 3 have germinated!! its about time! Its been about 4 days now.

Wish me luck.

wait canada or cali? nice setup tho dood that shit is dope!! i did the same thing in my room with a wardrobe box for veg

xsocialx said:

I've made a box already this is 3ft by 3ft and is 5ft tall. The 400w HPS has a lid over the lights aswell.

Every edge, corner, nook and cranny is cover up with foil tape. Nearly blind myself lookin into that box.

Anyway here is a picture. Sorry for the shitty pictures I'm taking them with my phone.

Click to expand...

Hey there.
I think that box will not help you up in the attic.. It wont help you keep the right temp in your grown area an less, you can control the temp, in the hole attic.. And if you can do that, there is no need for the box

And 2nd.. FIRE

I have one grow under my belt, which was up in the attic..
Never again!!

Good Luck

Well the temp is always stayin around 79 during the day, and at night its droping to about 70,72.

I live in ontario canada and thanks man. I'm using this for veg and flowering.

I would love to have it somewhere other then my attic, but that is NOT an option. I live in an apt building and my land lord is over at least 3 times a month.

I heard that a 12 degree drope is actually beneficial? Anyone know if that's true?

And I'm being told that my 400w hps should be about 12-18 inches away for the seedlings. and I've heard from some people 16-8 was a good light cycle, but then theres people saying 24 hours a day of light for the first little while. But the top soil looks really dried out after 16 hours of light.

Any idea?