Of CFL's, and autoflowering. 1st Serious grow, Pros needed!

Hello all glad to be a part of the community now and looking forward to an enlightening and long stay!


So, Here's the deal; about a year ago I bought a 400w HPS and ballast, built my own flood and drain hydro system (SUPER easy), and never got around to actually putting it to good use... or use for that matter.

I eventually sold the old equipment minus the hydro system, now on a budget I managed to pinch in a hydrofarm CFL shade which came with a 125w CFL with it (hell no I'm not going to even begin with that one puny light, don't worry)

-First question, I was planning on getting another shade and putting a 200w cfl in it and using both the 125w and the 200w (I believe one is red and one is blue spec) for six auto flower plants, strains to be listed below; would this be sufficient?

*Growing three Delicious La Diva and three automatic blueberry.* How are they, anyone know?

To continue, it's a closet grow 6'x2' and ill have the babies in my tray, which leads to my next question.

Should I even bother with the Hydro System or should I just get me some foxfarm?

I was initially planning to do around sixTEEN plants, in which case the hydro system would be a no brainer but for six it seems redundant. The plants will come out just as dank if taken care of properly either way but I'd like your guy's input.

Already ordered the seeds if all goes well ill have it up and running in a week, then ill start a grow thread. So advice, suggestions and some love for the stoned newcomer is more than welcome!

Lol. Nice name. Welcome to RIU.

Yeah, I'd highly recommend a nice, light, soilless medium for this one.

Foxfarm's a good choice.

So would a 60/40 mix of promix/perlite

And some good nutes....ahem....

You can do hydro too, but 16 different autoflower seeds, as opposed to 16 clones, would make an uneven canopy, most likely, and a staggered harvest. Not necessary a bad thing, but too many variables.

Say if one of those bastards hermie up you, you have to untangle a plant out of a massive root mat, instead of simply removing a container.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

What would the advantages of foxfarm over the promix/perlite mix be? And vice versa?

Also, good nutes? could you point me in the right direction

one last thing to clear up if I where doing the 16 they would all be the same strain, or maybe half and half.


Also, as money's an issue, would it be best for me to buy a 200w cfl bulb and start them with that until I can afford a shade for the 125w? Is the 200w sufficient enough for about two weeks of their life?

Gorwing la diva now. They are a great strain!! Doing mine with 250WCFL
Loving the AVATAR!

Thanks for the heads up!

So about the nutes, what's best for autos?


EDIT

dudeoflife said:

And some good nutes....ahem....

Click to expand...

I get it finally... lol. Smoke n' grow it is.

I would definatley use hydro. I use sensigrow 2 part solution for nutrients. I have got great results with this

Hey nice to see another CFL grower... I'm also growing Auto's. I use a 250wat CFL and a 125wat CFL.

I use a 60/40 perlight/promix. I recommend you use Soil if your only going 6 plants, as i plan to do that for my next grow.

As for nutes im an organic man, but its up to you.