10-46
Member
Hi all, I've have 5 successful grows using a hidden locking cabinet, located in my basement. I'd like to share my experience hiding a grow and keeping odor to a minimum... This is key here, the word minimum... So, far I have not been able to grow completely odor free.
I use a locking cabinet made of metal to grow. I also use a AC Afinity fan and a 4 inch carbon filter. A carbon filter (used properly) will reduce smells greatly, but will not remove all smell. I would say that they remove 95% of the odor... Its that last 5% that has me worrying during late flower, it is noticeable ! We'll come back to this later to see if we can get rid of the last 5%
Low Odor Strains: I cant tell you how much time I've spent researching this, I've spent more hours than you can imagine scouring seedbanks, forums, grow journals etc... I'll trim the list down a bit to stick with the strains that everyone seems to agree on..
1. Northern Lights: I've grown this four times now and it is very low odor, not a single odor at all throughout the entire veg and early/mid flower. Yes, the odor picks up drastically towards the end of flower, but it is a sweet pine and honey odor, not a skunk orgy ! Through all my research, this is the most recommended low odor strain available (except maybe Green Ninja which is Northern Lights/ Afghani)
2. Durban Poison: Yep, grown it once and it is very similar to Northern Lights in odor, although it has more of a weed smell in late flower.
The rest of the list I have not grown yet, but I will try.
3. Master Kush
4. Green Ninja (NL/Afghani)
5. White Rhino
6. RQS F1 Orion and Apollo.
7. Blue Mystic (NL X Blueberry)
8. Pyramid Seeds Tutankhamon.
9. Jack Herer (another strain with NL in it's genetics)
The problem : Odor gets past the carbon filter and collects/increases at the back of my exhaust. It is slight but over time adds up and becomes noticeable. This is the 5% I mentioned above and its a deal breaker for me.
Using incense, ONA gel etc..
Tried this and the ONA does help to cover smell, but its awfully expensive and does not cover odor completely. I would say all and all this is not something to rely on with confidence.
So, I'm now preparing for grow number 6 but wont start until I have a plan to remove all odor. Its been a real scare for me the last weeks of flower taking away a lot of the enjoyment of harvest. Please note, I have reasons to hide my grow that our personal to me. It is legal to grow where I live, but things like jobs, careers, teenage kids, neighbors etc.... force me to keep it hidden. It's my personal choice. Please don't ask/argue/pry, you will be kindly ignored.
Solutions:
Add a second fan and carbon filter on the outside of my cabinet to draw the exhaust from my internal carbon filter... This will take the last 5% of odor and scrub a final time. I can also use a much larger fan and filter for this, I'll probably use a 6 inch fan on the outside. The drawback to this is the cost of filters !
Add a ventilation fan (like you would see in a bathroom) to my grow room to remove escaping odor and push it outdoors...This is a big job though, I'm not sure I'm ready to go this route...
Conclusion:
My biggest problem is cost at this point, as I grow one plant at a time (averaging around 2.5 ounces of bud). For the cost of two carbon filters, I can pickup a few ounces of good bud at the dispensary.... Prices are low for weed, but high for carbon filters ! I'll keep you guys posted on how a second filter works if folks are interested....
Northern Lights, low odor grow done by me. (figure we needed at least one pic after all my blabbing on and on.)
I use a locking cabinet made of metal to grow. I also use a AC Afinity fan and a 4 inch carbon filter. A carbon filter (used properly) will reduce smells greatly, but will not remove all smell. I would say that they remove 95% of the odor... Its that last 5% that has me worrying during late flower, it is noticeable ! We'll come back to this later to see if we can get rid of the last 5%
Low Odor Strains: I cant tell you how much time I've spent researching this, I've spent more hours than you can imagine scouring seedbanks, forums, grow journals etc... I'll trim the list down a bit to stick with the strains that everyone seems to agree on..
1. Northern Lights: I've grown this four times now and it is very low odor, not a single odor at all throughout the entire veg and early/mid flower. Yes, the odor picks up drastically towards the end of flower, but it is a sweet pine and honey odor, not a skunk orgy ! Through all my research, this is the most recommended low odor strain available (except maybe Green Ninja which is Northern Lights/ Afghani)
2. Durban Poison: Yep, grown it once and it is very similar to Northern Lights in odor, although it has more of a weed smell in late flower.
The rest of the list I have not grown yet, but I will try.
3. Master Kush
4. Green Ninja (NL/Afghani)
5. White Rhino
6. RQS F1 Orion and Apollo.
7. Blue Mystic (NL X Blueberry)
8. Pyramid Seeds Tutankhamon.
9. Jack Herer (another strain with NL in it's genetics)
The problem : Odor gets past the carbon filter and collects/increases at the back of my exhaust. It is slight but over time adds up and becomes noticeable. This is the 5% I mentioned above and its a deal breaker for me.
Using incense, ONA gel etc..
Tried this and the ONA does help to cover smell, but its awfully expensive and does not cover odor completely. I would say all and all this is not something to rely on with confidence.
So, I'm now preparing for grow number 6 but wont start until I have a plan to remove all odor. Its been a real scare for me the last weeks of flower taking away a lot of the enjoyment of harvest. Please note, I have reasons to hide my grow that our personal to me. It is legal to grow where I live, but things like jobs, careers, teenage kids, neighbors etc.... force me to keep it hidden. It's my personal choice. Please don't ask/argue/pry, you will be kindly ignored.
Solutions:
Add a second fan and carbon filter on the outside of my cabinet to draw the exhaust from my internal carbon filter... This will take the last 5% of odor and scrub a final time. I can also use a much larger fan and filter for this, I'll probably use a 6 inch fan on the outside. The drawback to this is the cost of filters !
Add a ventilation fan (like you would see in a bathroom) to my grow room to remove escaping odor and push it outdoors...This is a big job though, I'm not sure I'm ready to go this route...
Conclusion:
My biggest problem is cost at this point, as I grow one plant at a time (averaging around 2.5 ounces of bud). For the cost of two carbon filters, I can pickup a few ounces of good bud at the dispensary.... Prices are low for weed, but high for carbon filters ! I'll keep you guys posted on how a second filter works if folks are interested....
Northern Lights, low odor grow done by me. (figure we needed at least one pic after all my blabbing on and on.)