new to indoor growing

T

transplanted

Member
Can anyone help an old gal out? I moved from sunny LA to southeastern Canada, went from growing a couple of nice plants outside to not getting much of anything up here in the colder, shorter growing season. So, I guess I need to learn to grow inside. I've read so much that I'm totally confused now. All I want to do is grow a couple of plants, preferably in pots, in my basement. I'm on fixed income and hydroponics looks expensive as do the LED grow lights (which do look amazing and could be a possibility if I can find an inexpensive one). Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
A few questions from a retired guy :)
Do you have a room in the basement that can be made completely dark with access to ventilation? Small rooms can be set up if there's space and ventilation set up as well. For an indoor grow of a couple plants you need to provide what the outdoor grow was provided...a space, lighting, breeze, soil, and water....the basics.
The least expensive way to grow is probably CFL (compact flourescent light) with multiple bulbs...good for the veg period or a T-5 system. For flowering you might look at a 250 watt HPS and do some reading in the 250 watt HPS thread:
https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/128751-250w-hps-club-help-guide-680.html#post8073011

First things first...establish a budget and expect to exceed it. How much do you want to invest in this project?
This is a pretty good thread, too:
https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/412440-vocabulary-slang-terms-updated-missing.html

There's plenty from which to select...here to help.
 
if you don't plan to perpetual harvest then i would reccomend 250 watts hps/mh ballist and use the metal hallide bulb for veg and the high pressure sodium for flowering. buy a simple timer to regulate your lights hours on and off automatically. invest is small fan to move air inside. exhaust fan hooked up to temp control unit. carbon filter if smell will be an issue. and some sort of reflective material in the room to maximize light. i reccomend mylar. that is the diy way. otherwise you can buy growing tents all setup already. hope this helps you
 
Is the ventilation needed for odour or humidity? I do have an old rubbermaid tool cabinet (about 16" by 30" and 6 feet tall), would that work? Thanks for the threads, good reading. And thanks to all for the help.
 
transplanted said:
Is the ventilation needed for odour or humidity? I do have an old rubbermaid tool cabinet (about 16" by 30" and 6 feet tall), would that work? Thanks for the threads, good reading. And thanks to all for the help.
Click to expand...
it helps keep temps down and your carbon filter will run off it to
 
transplanted said:
Can anyone help an old gal out? I moved from sunny LA to southeastern Canada, went from growing a couple of nice plants outside to not getting much of anything up here in the colder, shorter growing season. So, I guess I need to learn to grow inside. I've read so much that I'm totally confused now. All I want to do is grow a couple of plants, preferably in pots, in my basement. I'm on fixed income and hydroponics looks expensive as do the LED grow lights (which do look amazing and could be a possibility if I can find an inexpensive one). Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...


Buy a 2x4x6 storage cabinette and a 400w HPS/MH kit with cooltube
Get 4 6 inch inline duct fans - 2 direct exaust out of the top - 1 pulling cool outside air from the bottom of the cabinette into the cool tube then the last fan coming from the end of the cool tube exausting out the top.
Cut 1 6x6 square hole in the back on the bottom for passive intake and cover with a vent and pantyhose lol keeps the creapy crawlers out...
You can have upto about 100 clones or 6-8 veg plants in it and can easily flower 4 plants in 5 gallon pots... Avg yeild from this set up is 800-1000g every 3 months.

Put a lable on the cabinette that says Computers - No Liquids within 5 feet. Keep's most people from asking why your cabinette makes noise lol. Make sure you seal everything with AF tape to keep light leaks under control.
 
ct123 said:
Look inti cailgrowkits.com they have cheap hydro kits that comes with everything.
Click to expand...

IMO Caligrowkits are a rip off for the most part... They buy everything from HTGSupply and resell at higher prices sometimes 3-5 times higher... If you want a caligrowkit buy the stuff and make it your self to save at least 50% of the cost of having them do it for you.
 
I would use the Rubbermaid cont you said you have?? Focus ion setting it up , like described above...and learn all you can about cfl's, lumens, placement of lights, etc! Just go slow, you can usually recycle matirials touse, if cost is an issue... I built a cabinet, basically everything in it was recycled... Just but new bulbs...;)
 
Would this work?
2501QUAD Blue/Red/Orange/White 225 LED 13.8 Watt Square Grow Light Panel 110 Volt
135 Red LEDs: 650nm; 30 Red LEDs: 630nm; 30 Blue LEDs: 465nm; 30 White LEDs: 16000K
Recommended coverage: one panel per sq. ft Power: 13.8 Watts, Input Voltage 120 Volt, 48" power cord
It's CDN$ 36.41 at Amazon.ca
 
Please stay away from LED at this point and price range...you will be disappointed.
You can buy some CFL's, a timer, a meter for humidity and temp, a small osc fan and a moving wardrobe box if you want to get away on the cheap.
http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/compact-fluorescent-lamps-c-73_443.html look at the different CFL. If you go with a small set of CFL you can get "Y" sockets.
You want fan and ventilation for plant strength and to keep mold away as best you can. If you don't mind your house stinking when your plant(s) flower then you don't need an exhaust fan and carbon filter, although you should have both. You can also use ONA gel to help with odors.

If you are handy and can use wood and a saw you can build something unique to meet your needs yourself. How about a closet grow???

We're here to help. You can always PM any of us :)
 
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