Serious new guy... avoid if 'dumb' questions annoy you...

[chonger10]

Hello everyone,

Just got back from seeing a distant friend and we smoked a few joints. On leaving his home (been there for few nights) he just handed me a few seeds for me to 'play' with.

Heck, I have no other interest other than just seeing 'what' happens.

He told me they are these:

http://www.headsite.com/original-skunk-number-1-feminised-seeds--seedsman-feminised-302-p.asp

and I have two of them. I can't be 100% sure though but he's pretty certain.

I work a 40hr week for crappy pay so my question is this:

What must I do/buy to attempt to grow these to a 'OK' or below par, smoke? Keeping purchasing to an absolute bare min..

If these newbie questions are too much please let me know. I have read a little on growing for the past two hours but it seems way out my cost range sadly.

Hope someone can help and guide me. I noticed many folks take photos of their grows etc and I'd be willing to do that (to show how cheap it could be done if it works!).

Thanks, :hippy:

[Charbud]

If your doing it on the cheap i would recommend cfls as they are cheap to buy, have a long lumen life, dont get that hot and are cheap to run.

I would reccomend this light to you as i own it:
300w Blue Spectrum CFL hydroponics reflector grow light on eBay (end time 09-Apr-10 16:12:21 BST) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/300w-Blue-Spectrum-CFL-hydroponics-reflector-grow-light_W0QQitemZ280487850877QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_H omeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN?hash=item414e 60f37d)

I know it looks costly but you need to remember that in the long run you will get atleast an oz of chronic for around 80 quid which is deals on wheels.

That light comes with a veg light, which you need to vegative growth for you plant. You will need to buy a seperate bulb for flowering which is around £30, this will produce the buds.

Hope this helps getting you started but read a lot of the forums on here and you will learn what to do in no time.

[oldhaole]

Why not fing a place outside for them? If you want cheap that is the way to go. Keep in mind you get out of it what you put into it.

[purplekush989]

a must read for anyone who wants to start growing:
Basic Growing - Cannabis Forums Message Boards - Medical Marijuana, Cannabis Club, Dispensary, News (http://boards.cannabis.com/basic-growing/)

lights:
http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-lighting/121311-el-cheapo-guide-lighting.html

[redtails]

Why not fing a place outside for them? If you want cheap that is the way to go. Keep in mind you get out of it what you put into it.

I second this, you can grow pretty good outdoor bud for $10+ if you have a secure, sunny location.

[chonger10]

Thank you for the replies.

Outdoor isn't possible - I only have a small apartment.

I can probably afford the lighting mention in the first reply in maybe a month. Then is is basic costs such as the pots, soil etc?

[Vancefish]

I would disagree with buying that light. Although I'm sure that bulb works like it's supposed to. You can do better, cheaper! :thumbsup:

Reason is, those bulbs/lights put out either 8000 lumens, or 12000 lumens. Which doesn't seem bad. However 297w of regular 27W CFLs (eleven of them), will produce 18700 lumens. That's 3w less, and either 10700 or 6700 more lumens!:thumbsup: That doesn't even cover the fact that more light hitting the plant from more angles is a great thing.

Aim for CFLs that say 6500K for your veg cycle. Then use the 2300K to flower(another thing that $300 bulb can't do).

You can buy the bulbs at Home depot in a box of three for about $9. Then buy ceramic lamp sockets and lamp wire. Then build your own drop lights.

I did a similar thing but used two four foot shop lights and a metal reflector I had from my fish tank to build a hood. Then added seven CFLs and rivited them to the reflector. My total output is 17900 lumens running 333w. Total cost on that project was $110.:thumbsup:

[bigtopsfinn]

If you're in an apartment, plan on spending at least a couple hundred bucks... Just 1 plant will stink the place up. I'd start researching DIY threads for making carbon filters...

Things you'll need:
An enclosure to grow in - light proof and air tight for the most part (you'll have an intake and exhaust)
Seedling soil (regular soil can burn and kill seedlings and younger plants)
Soil (better quality soil, but Miracle Grow will do, don't get moisture control)
Perlite (even if the soil already has some, its usually not enough)
Nutrients (MG nutes will probably work for you)
3 or 4 different size pots, with the largest being 4-5 gal
a fan for moving fresh air around
ph strips
ph up/down (depending on your water, get the strips first and test it out)
lights (bulbs, fixtures, Y splitters)
***most important IMO- ventilation. Fan + carbon filter. Getting rid of hot and stinky air while pulling in fresh air to the enclosure. If you do this right the first time, it's easier to scale up (add lights), but most noobs never do.

With smart shopping it can be done for cheap. Buy things when they are on sale, or from garage sales, second hand shops, craigslist, etc.. But if you make a list and try to get everything at one time from the store, you can be spending a lot more. :twocents:

[LetsSeeYa]

Hello everyone,

Just got back from seeing a distant friend and we smoked a few joints. On leaving his home (been there for few nights) he just handed me a few seeds for me to 'play' with.

Heck, I have no other interest other than just seeing 'what' happens.

He told me they are these:

http://www.headsite.com/original-skunk-number-1-feminised-seeds--seedsman-feminised-302-p.asp

and I have two of them. I can't be 100% sure though but he's pretty certain.

I work a 40hr week for crappy pay so my question is this:

What must I do/buy to attempt to grow these to a 'OK' or below par, smoke? Keeping purchasing to an absolute bare min..

If these newbie questions are too much please let me know. I have read a little on growing for the past two hours but it seems way out my cost range sadly.

Hope someone can help and guide me. I noticed many folks take photos of their grows etc and I'd be willing to do that (to show how cheap it could be done if it works!).

Thanks, :hippy:

Well as you can tell everyone has great ideas, just different and working with low cash is a bitch. I bought 3-4 cfls a month till i had a bunch at different light lumen, while picking up 3 hook lights. These can hold 4 cfl's in each with y splitters which screw into the hook lights. Il post a pic or two because it sounds complicated, but its very easy.

The light on the right has the 3 y splitters in it, thats why the bulbs are out like that. 7.99 FOR THE HOOK LIGHT AND 12.00 FOR THE BULBS, oopps...I guess you might get the bulbs cheaper. Depends on the watt your buying; then add in the soil at about 4-6 bucks, with pots at the dollar store. And a small fan too. After you get a grow out, then invest your money in a 600hps hehe:D, but you dont want to invest in something you really might not like. I luv it just like these other weed heads:rastasmoke:, but it does take some of your time and iv worked a 40 hour job slinging mud, so i know a person gets tired. But its so worth it in the end, as it feels like your raising a child:wtf:

Now this is what i did and i was very happy in the end. I was broke and bought materials until i had enough to plant them and added more lights as the plants got bigger. I think i was at about 279watts and got what i thought was a good yield. My grow is on here so you can check it out from the beginning to harvest. This was my first indoor grow and i know how it is with the cash issue. At the same time, everyone who posted had great ideas that would work for sure. I found when i first started to grow that by reading grow threads, it helped me tons:thumbsup:

Second pic is how i started, then added from there. I had problems, but anyone can:jointsmile:and it was my first indoor grow.
I hope this makes some sense:wtf:
:rasta:

[redtails]

I found when i first started to grow that by reading grow threads, it helped me tons:thumbsup:


That's how it was for me too, reading a bunch of people's trials and successes kind of taught me what the basic necessities for equipment were, and you can build up from there when you get the cash!

[pappabear]

I would recommend that you find a fellow patient to cooperatively cultivate those seeds. Usually other growers won't mind an extra plant in their set up. This will be a good learning experience for you. Purchasing everything you need in order to have a successful first grow can be a mofo, unless you plant them outdoors which you already stated wasn't an option for you.

Or you can always grow them on your balcony, if you have one. :rastasmoke:

Oh, and buy yourself a medical marijuana growers bible (by Jorge Cervantes) and read it from cover to cover. That should put an end to most of what you call dumb questions. :hippy:

[Charbud]

I would disagree with buying that light. Although I'm sure that bulb works like it's supposed to. You can do better, cheaper! :thumbsup:

Reason is, those bulbs/lights put out either 8000 lumens, or 12000 lumens. Which doesn't seem bad. However 297w of regular 27W CFLs (eleven of them), will produce 18700 lumens. That's 3w less, and either 10700 or 6700 more lumens!:thumbsup: That doesn't even cover the fact that more light hitting the plant from more angles is a great thing.

Aim for CFLs that say 6500K for your veg cycle. Then use the 2300K to flower(another thing that $300 bulb can't do).

You can buy the bulbs at Home depot in a box of three for about $9. Then buy ceramic lamp sockets and lamp wire. Then build your own drop lights.

I did a similar thing but used two four foot shop lights and a metal reflector I had from my fish tank to build a hood. Then added seven CFLs and rivited them to the reflector. My total output is 17900 lumens running 333w. Total cost on that project was $110.:thumbsup:

Mine gives out 20,000 lumens, but you have got a point about pointing the light at the plant from different angles. I wouldnt say it matters too much in veg but for flowering the little bulbs would be better.

[CovertCarpenter]

...with a combined total lumen-age of 24,800, from 388w of power. Have four each of 45w / 4100k / 3000 lumens, 26w / 6500k / 1600 lumens, 26w / 2700k / 1600 lumens.

It looks reeeeallly white in there :)

[CovertCarpenter]

...after rejigging things to get the most even coverage of everything, possible. Note the über-swanky yellow duct tape to help catch the flying things that just HAVE to get in there..!

There are like no shadows on those buds.. :cool:

[chonger10]

Hey guys,

Sorry for the late reply! Only just regaining internet access :jointsmile:

I'm going to read through all your comments tomorrow evening and reply. Really appreciated!

Many thanks again! :thumbsup:

[chonger10]

Hello everyone,

OK, I have decided to go ahead with my first grow and fund it as I go. After reading the forums I have decided to learn step by step instead of all at once!

I have had a good ponder and decided on the best place for me to grow (I have attached photos). It's really the only place!

The size of the space is:

Height: 42cm
Width: 30cm

However, I don't owe these wardrobes so I can't go doing modifications so I have decided to build and design a grow box (drawings will follow tomorrow after work, I am going to make half the side panel fold down because I won't have access to the top of the box once it's in. I also have power right next to the wardrobe and a window!)

Will this be enough space? it's all I really have!

Many thanks (anyone got any building material tips/tutorials?)... I am really good with DIY which helps :thumbsup:

[CovertCarpenter]

....totally do-able, as long as you're keeping it to one or two plants, and keeping 'em short and bushy. LST or SCRoG are your friends here, as well as judicious topping fairly early.

You might wanna look into doing short DWC (shallow water culture?), just to keep yer 'pot' height to a minimum, while allowing a good rootspace.

Look into some of the killa micro-grows around here, particularly some of the LED ones...

[chonger10]

....totally do-able, as long as you're keeping it to one or two plants, and keeping 'em short and bushy. LST or SCRoG are your friends here, as well as judicious topping fairly early.

Excellent! I would like a method to grow as much as I can at once, even if it's below-par or not strong (so I've got lots of smoke for a while).

I actually thought about three plants?


You might wanna look into doing short DWC (shallow water culture?), just to keep yer 'pot' height to a minimum, while allowing a good rootspace.

Ok, I'll read up about this method.


Look into some of the killa micro-grows around here, particularly some of the LED ones...

Excellent. Could you point me to any good tutorials or is it best just searching the forums/google?

Thanks alot for your response :thumbsup: appreciated!

Anyone else have any comments/suggestions... I am going to post my intended grow box design tonight... :rasta:

[khyberkitsune]

Two plants? Get a short rectangular 2-3 gallon rubbermaid. Cut two holes for net pots in the lid, plug net pots in and glue em down. Cut a hole near the top of the actual container for air line, slip air line through, hook up air stone, hook air pump up to air line. Ready to go for nutrients and plants.

[chonger10]

Two plants? Get a short rectangular 2-3 gallon rubbermaid. Cut two holes for net pots in the lid, plug net pots in and glue em down. Cut a hole near the top of the actual container for air line, slip air line through, hook up air stone, hook air pump up to air line. Ready to go for nutrients and plants.

You think I could get more than two plants?

[khyberkitsune]

You think I could get more than two plants?

Well, you said you had two seeds. Assuming at least one is a female, you could clone it to make more plants.

[chonger10]

Hey guys,

Like I said - step by step - so this is my intended design. Of course, I haven't added my air intake/exhaust however I'll add this once the box is built (which will be done in a week, need to get paid to purchase the materials, plus need to read up some more).

Any suggestions on materials, tips or other suggestions?

I have ordered a second hand book regarding growing :hippy:

If my drawing is poor it's because I was high with MS paint :thumbsup:

So, does two plants look my limit here? (I did mention having limited seeds but I'll purchase some more, had a small pay rise the last two months)

[nicksevenfold]

Someone mentioned apartments. If OP is in an apartment it's not a good idea to grow, as many apartments keep a key to your place so they can schedule spraying for bugs, maintenance, etc. I don't know if this is the case here, but just handing out my warning. I nearly had to beat an exterminator unconcious once because he wanted to spray my closet for bugs. Luckily he stopped before opening the door, and came downstairs quickly when I offered him a toke :rastasmoke:.

[khyberkitsune]

"If OP is in an apartment it's not a good idea to grow, as many apartments keep a key to your place so they can schedule spraying for bugs, maintenance, etc."

By law they're required to give you notice except for emergencies. If youcan prove their intrustion was NOT an emergency, you win in court.

Been there, done that.

I've got a litigation record that is rather thick. My most recent victim - Electronic Arts for the Spore DRM. now I'm about to kill Sony for taking away my fat PS3 capabilities.
I'm guaranteed to win according to California Consumer Protection laws.

[chonger10]

Someone mentioned apartments. If OP is in an apartment it's not a good idea to grow, as many apartments keep a key to your place so they can schedule spraying for bugs, maintenance, etc. I don't know if this is the case here, but just handing out my warning. I nearly had to beat an exterminator unconcious once because he wanted to spray my closet for bugs. Luckily he stopped before opening the door, and came downstairs quickly when I offered him a toke :rastasmoke:.

Hello,

Thanks for your reply!

This isn't a problem, though. No one has access, only me. Maintenance are only for the grounds and aren't here much, my place isn't that well kept, but it's cheap :thumbsup:

What do you think of my grow box? I'm getting paid Monday so will be purchasing the materials but I'll digging for some suggestions on those :)

[chonger10]

Any suggestions on my grow box. Currently reading The Cannabis Grow Bible :thumbsup:

[CovertCarpenter]

...suggestion #1: make sure your grow box fits where you intended it to, and you might try re-drawing it to scale. The basic design is good, but before you build it, try finding the rubbermaid tub you want, and then make sure it fits your design.

Suggestion #2 would be to add intake and output fans, and to shroud 'em so that they don't contribute to light leaks. Look into 120mm 12v computer 'muffin' fans for this task. Also, think about adding some kinda cheapie furnace/ducting filter to the intake, to help keep the atmo pure in there.

Suggestion #3 would be to determine what type of lights you wanna run (CFL?), and figg'r out how you're going to stack 'em in there. Again, try to make sure that your lighting is workable before you build the box (you might find that you have to make it a bit bigger or wider or somesuch.

Suggestion #4 would be to make sure your 'doorway' is workable, and not going to cause you pain. If you're going hydro, you might wanna make the 'door' a whole 'side' of the box, instead of the half-side, half-top thingy, just so that you can insert/remove a rubbermaid tub full of water without logistical nightmares. Even dirt-based plants can be a pain to mess about with :)

Suggestion #5 would be to HAVE FUN, and to persist in the face of difficulty! (and keep smokin'!)

:cool: