Advise on Growspace Needed

[PaNheAdjay]

Hi,
WOW there is a wealth of information on this forum!

I was wondering if some of you would mind giving out some advise, I want to
start an indoor grow with two goals in mind.

1. Get a good start for my plants that will be going outside in spring
2. Get some plants flowering for personal medical use ASAP

I have a few places available to use, 1 huge attic, a wall locker in my garage, or the crawlspace under the house.

The attic has the most usable space but is problematic due to the temp fluctuations and ease of access...I might have to build a grow closet in the attic to make this work.

The crawlspace is huge but short, we are talking 3,000 square feet but only three feet tall.

the growbox in the garage I think will limit the number of plants I can grow more then the other options.

right now I am thinking of using the crawl space with a procyon and some Fluoros, maybe some 250 WATT HPS's, or maybe just the Fluorescents and training the plants to be short? What do you guys think are my best options?

[Dutch Pimp]

Plenty of ceiling height is very important. 6-8ft allows the heat to rise and if using HID light?...allows you to raise the light as the plants grow upwards....otherwise; you have to trim, FIM or scrog....to maintain enough distance from the canopy.

EDIT: well if just vegging for transfer to outdoors...height is less important

you should be able to harvest in the fall of 2010...:stoned:

[PaNheAdjay]

yeah the attic has the height I need but the temp fluctiations outside that go from 25F to 50F in a week are going to be a real problem I would think...

[redtails]

Just a helpful hint, unless you plan on growing monsters or have short indica seeds you might want to wait a bit before you start. I started some bagseed in Feb one year under fluoros and moved them outside in April, by harvest they were 7' tall trees & could've been bigger if I didn't scrog them...

[Vancefish]

I would have to agree. These plants only take four-ish months to develop from seed to harvest, and that time CAN be shortened alot. I've read peoples posts saying they flowered at 6 inches tall! Thus if you start a crop now (even in your shortest space) you could have almost two entire harvests by July and have newer plants (third grow) doing great in the yard.

Personally I'd select your tallest spot with good thermal properties, the HIDs and a decent venting system. Then just start growing.:thumbsup:

[Vancefish]

Forgot to mention,

The crawl space is likely not a good idea. Reson being, it'll be difficult to maintain and manuver around the plants, prone to mold and mildew AND far more likely to attract insects.

I'd agree on the attic temp wise. Attics can get VERY hot on warm days.

The claim I read was each plant needs 2.5 square feet and can grow to 6-7 feet tall(bushier if topped)

[PaNheAdjay]

Thanks for the help guys... well I have my own 15 acres of PNW forest to use so I don't mind some big plants as a matter of fact I want them to have the best chance of surviving those blacktail deer and rabbits that live at my place ;)... I guess I will need to put in a floor, build a grow box and get a heater for the attic if I want to grow there...and I was thinking the crawlspace was going to be so much easier...

The one thing that makes me more hesitant about using the attic is that the upstairs is where "guests" stay...like the inlaws for example that could make it a real pain to access when they are visiting!!

[redtails]

Got a closet or pantry to use? Little rooms like that are favorites for a reason...

[PaNheAdjay]

Got a closet or pantry to use? Little rooms like that are favorites for a reason...

No, not in the house but I am thinking of putting a "closet" in our garage..