Grow Box For Single Plant?? Need Advice!!

[KaliGreen]

Hey guys I am a first time grower and I was wondering if anyone out there could help me out with this. I want to build a grow box for a single plant. I'll make it out of 3/4" plywood and about 3' wide by 3' deep by 6' high. I want my plant to grow to height of about 5' so I can get more buds than if I built it shorter, just wondering if it would be worth it to build it that high or not. As for lights, I was just going to put several cfl's around the inside of the box. Maybe 6 at the ceiling and 2 or 3 on each wall, so that would total somewhere around 14. If I have this many lights, cfl's or not, will I need some sort of fan with the ventillation, i.e. computer fan or whatever? And as far as the inside goes, should I paint it white or use the foil tape for the best light reflection? Any help at all would be GREATLY appreciated, thanks guys!

[keeko]

if you are going on those 'set' diminsions, you should not go for CFLs. a 400hps would fit in there nicely (given correct ventilation)......if your going for a CFL grow you dont need to make your box as high as 6 feet.....florescent lights do not penetrate that well so you would need to LST and tie down your plants in order for you to use all the available light that comes off of CFLs..

..............if your still set on using CFLs you should look into a Scrog grow, to maximize your light.:twocents:

[KaliGreen]

So If I were to use those same dimensions with the 400hps, lemme know if this ventilation set-up would work. A four inch active out take with a little computer fan or whatever towards the top and a two inch passive intake at the bottom. Of course I would use PVC elbows and what not to make the light traps by vent holes, but I was just curious if that would work, and also how often would the vent fan need to be on??
If I was to stick with the CFL's, what about a box that's 2' wide by 2' deep by 4' high? Do those sound like reasonable dimensions? And could I only grow one plant in a box that size or more?? Please lemme know because I've already germinated my seeds and I don't want to put off the build too much longer...thanks!

[daihashi]

So If I were to use those same dimensions with the 400hps, lemme know if this ventilation set-up would work. A four inch active out take with a little computer fan or whatever towards the top and a two inch passive intake at the bottom. Of course I would use PVC elbows and what not to make the light traps by vent holes, but I was just curious if that would work, and also how often would the vent fan need to be on??
If I was to stick with the CFL's, what about a box that's 2' wide by 2' deep by 4' high? Do those sound like reasonable dimensions? And could I only grow one plant in a box that size or more?? Please lemme know because I've already germinated my seeds and I don't want to put off the build too much longer...thanks!

I vegged a grow like this and am now flowering. I used a simple cardboard box and my plant is a beast. I also used CFL's.

take a look http://boards.cannabis.com/basic-growing/149542-direct-light-buds-what-sex.html

[upnsmk]

Well im not very experanced in growing... ive been at it for a little over a year now and i have only used CFL's and recently switched to T5's... but as for a 400watt with one 4in computer fan... is that the normal one? cause a regular one is only alittle over 3in and move about 80cfm that from what i have read would not be able to keep it cool enough in there... If im wrong please feel free to correct me.. im just tryin to help alittle...

[KaliGreen]

I agree upnsmk, I think if I have a hps with that many watts then I think I'm gonna need a much more intricate ventilation system. I was even thinkin about possible getting a 600watt combo mh / hps ballast. The ballast itself has a little cooling system built into, but I know the light is what i need to be worrying about. I really appreciate the input upnsmk because I have been havin trouble gettin people to respond to my threads. I am a beginner and I am gonna spend quite a bit of money on this box setup, and I want to get it as close to right the first time as i can, cause this is the only box I will be able to build for quite a while and I want it to last through several grows. Any ventilation advice is welcome, thanks everyone!

[Roughrider]

3 feet by 3 feet? Man, that's a monster indoor plant. You should be able get 6-8 plants in an area that size. Seriously.

Don't go with CFLs if your area is over 4 square feet or so. They aren't practical or economical in larger areas. but they're terrific for smaller areas and supplemental lighting.

Question...why don't you try to build/get something that kind of splits the difference, and get a 250w HPS? If you had a 2' x 2' area--or, better, if you get a 30" x 30" area--you could flower four plants. In my experience, a decent indoor plant that three to three and a half feet tall takes up between 1 and 1.5 square feet of space. Four plants of that size should provide you with plenty of return.

If I were you--a beginner--I'd definitely think of starting a bit smaller. And, really a 250w HPS/MH lamp isn't small! You'll spend a little less money and learn about ventilation and cooling issues...and have fewer problems with them as well. The experience you get on your grows when you make mistakes--and you will make mistakes, like everyone else--won't be as magnified. (And don't worry; they're weeds. They'll be okay.) And, like I said, you can get plenty of smoke from four plants in a 5 or 6 square foot area with a 250w HPS.

[KaliGreen]

It's great to get the advice man, thank you so much! I will downscale it a little bit.

[Sjapp]

i wouldnt go over 250 watts on cfl's for fire safety reasons. the cfl's you would use will probably be 23 watts each so i wouldn't go over 10 bulbs

[KaliGreen]

Ok, I got carried away. I build the cabinet today, just the box out of plywood, no doors or anything, and I built it 4x3x7. My damn brother in law was helping me and it was a mistake because he convinced me to make it so damn big. Either way, this is what I am stuck with now, so what do you think? 400 or 600 watt hps?

[wman44]

7ft tall eh?
that should provide you with plenty of headroom for ventilation and your gonna need a door of some sort.
so you've got 12sqft of floor space
your gonna want 50-75 watts per square foot for a total of...600watts. get a switchable ballast that way you can veg and flower in the same box unless your planning on building a second chamber for veg.
also it just occured to me that if you divided your space in half you would have two, 3ft by 2ft areas for a perpetual harvest. id put cfl in one half for germination and veg and a 400watt hps for flower in the other half.
really with that much space you have lots of options

[maxsuperdanks]

Dude, tip that bitch over on it's side!


3ft deep, 4 feet high, and 7 feet long!

OMG you could have a huge crop.

[wman44]

good point maxsuperdanks!
he would need two lights or a light mover though

[KaliGreen]

If I cut the box down to 2x3x6, you guys think 400watt and about 3-4 plants?

[wman44]

400 watts will do it
the number of plants you grow really depends on the style of grow your going with weather it be lst, scrog, sog or whatever and your amount of veg time.
you could grow one monster
2-4 smaller plants
you could even grow 50 single colas with a sog(sea of green)

[KaliGreen]

You think I can get a couple ounces outta one plant that size given the right conditions.

[hatch]

The Box you have designed is Fine, But what-ever light system you go with you have to have good air exchange or it will not work!!!

You should shoot for 4 or 5 plant's and not worry about being 5' tall and have 4-5 at 2'or 3' tall. If heat is going to be a problem? Don't kid your self? That many CFL will put-off some Heat!!!.... My 2-cent's would Be, Go with the 250w. HPS @ get 4-2by or even just single's T-5 Tubes, But any-way put one vertical in each corner.
Since you are so tall make a sub-floor at 12" from the floor-( so you can recess a CFM-fan in the floor ( vent around the very bottom out-side walles of box with cornis vent's they come 3" @ 6", use the top for a fan oscalating down, and very-top exhaust-out. And I bet your result's will Shock-You!!! THT'SMY2CNT'S. Good Luck!!...Later

[KaliGreen]

Thanx for the input! I rebuilt the box 2x3x6. Somebody said 400 watt hps, someone else said 250, I'll prolly go with the 250 so save on ventilation issues, I already got some 40watt T12 4' fluorescent tube lights, 3 of them to be mounted on the walls,1 each side and 1 at the back for, are t12's to big?

[hatch]

Thanx for the input! I rebuilt the box 2x3x6. Somebody said 400 watt hps, someone else said 250, I'll prolly go with the 250 so save on ventilation issues, I already got some 40watt T12 4' fluorescent tube lights, 3 of them to be mounted on the walls,1 each side and 1 at the back for, are t12's to big?

I think you have came to a good solution!! I feel the air exchange and good air flow are just as important as right lighting. Hey what the F.*&%$#'n you waiting for GET Some GREEN In The ROOM!!! Later

[KaliGreen]

Trust me dude, I hear ya. Now all I gotta do is find some good seeds.

[texas grass]

kaligreen start looking through the pics on the second half of the page to the last page i have abunch of different styles of cabinets from a small white with cfl to metal cabinets to bigger flower, drying, veg, and clone box all in one.
http://boards.cannabis.com/closet-cabinet-growing/121408-my-first-closet-built-soon-2.html


as for pc fans i would at least recomend getting a booster fan from homedepot for about 25 bucks and they are easier to wire together, push more air, and hose already hooks up easily, but i would recomend a good inline fan and keep the exhaust running 24/7. and i would also recomend a carbon filter to help with smells

[KaliGreen]

Awesome Texas thank you, that helps me out a lot with the ventilation. Any input on those T12 floro tubes? Should I got smaller?

[wman44]

in case your wondering about yeilds
i got 73 grams from my first indoor harvest from one plant that was scrogged and grown under a 250watt switchable

[texas grass]

Awesome Texas thank you, that helps me out a lot with the ventilation. Any input on those T12 floro tubes? Should I got smaller?

the t12s will work fine for clones veg and mother, they will also work for flower but i would recommend hid lighting. on veg and mothers remember you can keep the plant right up next to the bulb without burning it

[KaliGreen]

Yeah, I am gonna have the T12's as well as the 250 watt switchable, and probably another 4-5 26watt cfl's. I'll switch the bulbs on the floro's from 6500k range to 2700k when I flower. I'm hoping that all these floro's along with the hid will get me close to some full spectrum lighting

[northerngrower]

hey i think that you have a good idea. i think that the smaller size really will work

[KaliGreen]

I was thinking of using this for my ventilation system. Inductor 6 In. In-Line Duct Booster Fan - DB206 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100067594&N=10000003+90401+500971)

[mikey420budd]

hey how are you mate?

im a first time grower using an old speaker box, growing one plant, i got the seed from a good batch of pot i smoked a few weeks ago and decided to plant it.
It measures 59cmx35cm ( im in aus ) and im using 20 Watt, 1250 Lumen, 6500K Fluorescent light, i have it placed pretty close to my plant, the plant now measures 3.5 cm, and has it's first two true leaves, i've used a small pot for the moment but when it has 5 true leaves, i'll start feeding it and i'll transplant into larger pot.

also, i've just purchased Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food 15-13-1-12-4, is this suitable ?

Looks like all is well, but i need more advice, please help!

and reply quickly if possible. thanks.

-420-

[greenatik]

dont jack his thread man! post your own and search the forums for speaker grow. there are quite a few to look at

as for you kali, i think your setup will be great, try going for 6 plants and flip to flower really early on to SOG. but with the fluorescants on the sides you could utilize the 6 feet but I think you would get bigger buds from a small sog or even lollypopping them. i have no experience in lollypopping but from the thread I read the buds were quite huge and should soak up that 250 nicely

gl