start up proplems, please HELP!

Hi guys, i have a few questions
1. I don`t have any sponge rock or perlite, and i have 2 gallon containers, i want to mix the soil with sand ... but i don`t know what ratio i should use ... please help me on this one.
2. I have 2 sets (4 elements - 18 watt each), i have a small grow room, a closet, and i only have 2 plants. so the space is about 4,5 sqare feet. Is it enough? a friend of mine had a grow room the same size and it worked for the vegetation stage.
3. Do i have to put larger rocks on the bottom of the containers for better drainage?

A layer of rock on the bottom is not mandatory but will greatly improve drainage and should be done. Mix 50% soil 50% sand if you are not going to use perlite but beware your pot will dry out about every other day. Also you will want to use a complete fert with this method since you will have less soil and moisture in your pot, making your choice of fert important. Good luck and happy harvesting!!!

what kind of fert shoud i use ... what should it contain ?

20-10-10 or 20-5-5

To make it easy go with Fox Farm fert. Mix the sand 1/3 sand & 2/3 potting soil. Either a layer of rock or broken pottery for drainage. Should be enough room you might want to check out this site:

DUBMAN'S guide to low stress training (LST), Marijuana Growing

Ok ... this is it guys, i mixed the soil with 35-40% sand and this is what i got ... these are my plants, in the first day ...
I have a question ... again
Can i leave the lights on 24/24 for 2 weeks, now in the begining of the growth stage?
One more thing, i have to leave for about 5 days in decembre ... can i water the plants once and leave ? Or what must i do?

this is how my grow looks, please tell me if i need to turn on the other lamp ... or the ventilation.