Rasta's Garden

[RastaKaze]

Ok, I've got everything set up. 400w hps w/batwing reflectors, Going to start my seedlings approx. 2.2 feet below the hood. I have an air conditioner to promote humidity, and a wall thermometer to maintain temp. With the air conditioner and lights on, temperatures average to about 79 Farenheit 2.2 feet under the hood w/ fan blowing. I will be germinating using the paper towel and saucer method, then transplanting to 2 liter bottles (basic soil medium, I won't give any nutes until after 15-20 days of maturation) The only thing is I might be going away towards the beggining of september, So I may not start germination until then... I'll have pics of my grow space for you later tonight, and keep you updated on every move I make!

Cheers :D

[mand]

Good luck Rasta :) .................looking forward to seeing the end results already ;)

love mand xxx :)

[HARDDON]

I have an air conditioner to promote humidity, :D

Actually your air conditioner will promote dehumidity.

Also, you may want to reconsider your decision to use a bat wing reflector.

Also you may want to consider a full spectrum bulb or a MH for your veg period.

If you, for some reason, are stuck on the 400 HPS, and cannot upgrade the bulb, or, change to MH, you will want to have your HPS much closer to plant surface....and thus you will NEED to lose the reflector.

Either way, you know where the peeps are that will help you out. :)

Good luck.

[RastaKaze]

Really? Someone told me it makes the room more humid... Plus when I put my hand in front of the air conditioner or breath in the air right next to it it always seems really moist. Plus I'm kinda stuck with a batwing because Im forced to grow in my room, And it's really hard to contain the light. How close should I have the lights w/ the reflectors (It's really my only option) The only closets in my house are by the entrance which would be a bad place because it would reeeeeeeek the visiting areas, and the only other closet in the house has pipes running through it that get really warm during the winter. So basically, how can I make the best of what I have? Harddon :confused:

[RastaKaze]

Ok, heres the new set up. I removed the bat-wing from my 400w hps and transferred it to my closet. 3' 11" wide, 2' deep, 13' in height, and painted with a fresh coat of flat white from the hardware store. Also picked up several small fans and mounted them on either side of the closet, about eight and a half feet up for air circulation (door will be left wide open at all times, windows as well). There is not much I can do to maintain high humidity levels, so i am relying solely on the lights heat to evaporate the moisture on the soils top layer, providing just enough humidity for my plant to get by. I'm contemplating placing several warm soaked towels on the shelf directly above where the light is mounted, surely the warmth of the bulb heating the towels would promote substantial humidity? Pics will be posted tommorow, any imput would be much appreciated.

Cheers :D

[Marc Benson]

I put some wet towels in my room too but with fans blowing and the heat of the lights they dried out like instantly. To keep them wet to the degree that they would generate enough moisture, especially with the door and windows wide open so as not to contain the moisture in one specific area, it'd be a constant battle to keep them wet. A container of water would work better I would think.

Just remember to throw one or two of those fans down low to give the plants some direct wind. And you had mentioned that you had an air conditioner going but them say the windows will be wide open too??

[trippruss]

hang the hps vertically if you want to maximize your bulb output, also helps out with heat. a/c removes moisture from the air, that's how they cool. dont worry about the humidity, unless it gets too high in flowering then you'll need to reduce it. whatever you do make sure there is complete & total darkness when you flower. light leaks as small as pinhole will delay flowering & possibly hermie your plants. good luck! r

[skunk man sam]

how do u make a plant small and bushy i have jamaica seeds

[skunk man sam]

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[Zandor]

how do u make a plant small and bushy i have jamaica seeds
Start your own thread for one, it makes it easer to track your reply's
Thanks


RastaKaze- Harddon is right, A/C draws air from inside the room. It does not circulate fresh air or lower humidity. It will keep the room cool and that is its job. Use a fogger to raise the humidity

[RastaKaze]

I put some wet towels in my room too but with fans blowing and the heat of the lights they dried out like instantly. To keep them wet to the degree that they would generate enough moisture, especially with the door and windows wide open so as not to contain the moisture in one specific area, it'd be a constant battle to keep them wet. A container of water would work better I would think.

Just remember to throw one or two of those fans down low to give the plants some direct wind. And you had mentioned that you had an air conditioner going but them say the windows will be wide open too??

Actually I changed the entire setup, and location of the plants. Me and my brother's wing closes off from the rest of the house, then there is a small square hallway with my room's door, my brother's door, a closet, and a bathroom, so it's like everything is surrounding this little square hallway. The closet is opositte the bathroom, and since they are so close I am just going to leave the bathroom door wide open, the closet door cracked, and open the top and bottom of the bathroom window, and because the fans will be pushing the used air out, it will recirculate new air from outside... And this entire setup is completely blocked off from any air conditioners or anything of that sort. I'm gonna wing it with the wet towel Idea because i think it'll work plus I have the time on my hands to keep em moist, If things don't work I will try a container of water, but let me make things a little more clear... The closet is gonna get two oscilated fans, one at about 3 feet aiming downward for plant excersize, and one at about 9 feet up pointing towards the open portion of the door, pushing the used air out. There is a shelf about 9 feet up, directly above the fan. The light will be mounted just under this. I thought of hanging it vertically but heard that that could possibly result in a bulb explosion? Wet towels will be placed directly on the shelf, perhaps in a flat rectangular metal cookware to induce evaporation? I could have the water level slightly above the towels to insure that it stays wet longer... Hit me back with some opinions :confused:

[Marc Benson]

If the wet towels are above the fan...and the fan is pointing upwards to push the warmer air out the top of the door...won't the moisture generated from the towels just go right out the top of the door and do no good?

[RastaKaze]

The fans wont be pointed upwards, where did I say that? The fan that's pushing the air out is below the towels, and will be level, just simply aimed towards the open portion of the door.

[RastaKaze]

Perhaps I can line the closet with something on the floor that can contain the water that drains from the pots? This way the roots would be warmed by the heating water too, and that would be easy to fill up if the water levels got too low...?

[newgroweroldsmoker]

Actually I changed the entire setup, and location of the plants. Me and my brother's wing closes off from the rest of the house, then there is a small square hallway with my room's door, my brother's door, a closet, and a bathroom, so it's like everything is surrounding this little square hallway. The closet is opositte the bathroom, and since they are so close I am just going to leave the bathroom door wide open, the closet door cracked, and open the top and bottom of the bathroom window, and because the fans will be pushing the used air out, it will recirculate new air from outside... And this entire setup is completely blocked off from any air conditioners or anything of that sort. I'm gonna wing it with the wet towel Idea because i think it'll work plus I have the time on my hands to keep em moist, If things don't work I will try a container of water, but let me make things a little more clear... The closet is gonna get two oscilated fans, one at about 3 feet aiming downward for plant excersize, and one at about 9 feet up pointing towards the open portion of the door, pushing the used air out. There is a shelf about 9 feet up, directly above the fan. The light will be mounted just under this. I thought of hanging it vertically but heard that that could possibly result in a bulb explosion? Wet towels will be placed directly on the shelf, perhaps in a flat rectangular metal cookware to induce evaporation? I could have the water level slightly above the towels to insure that it stays wet longer... Hit me back with some opinions :confused:


why don't just try to grow into the closet?

it would be easier this way.....so far the description of the whole setup sounds too complicated...

it would be better to grow into the closet...or...since you are together inthis with your brother, why don't you share a room?

unless you can set the closet opening and shutting the door on it's own for ventilation;)

it is far easier to have high humidity levels than you think using a 400 watt hps on 18/6 or 24/0 operation;)

just add plenty of water into cups,bottles,buckets all around the plants;)


Summarizing: if i were you i would grow the plants either in the closet, after making a few modifications to it, or, i would grow it together with my brother in my room which i don't really think that i would mind BUT i'd rather create perfect SOGs into that closet you got there.....it sounds complicated i know but its the best solution i see......

take care:)

NGOS:)

[Marc Benson]

The fans wont be pointed upwards, where did I say that? The fan that's pushing the air out is below the towels, and will be level, just simply aimed towards the open portion of the door.

I guess you didn't say 'upwards' I just assumed wrongly. Sorry. But makes no matter. If the towels are above the fan and the fan is blowing the air out the top of the door the moisture that the towels are generating above the fan is getting blown out the top of the door as it drops down. Seems like it would be better to have the humidity generating whatever it is closer to the plants so they would get the most benefit out of it. Just my thoughts.

[RastaKaze]

Yep, thanks marc, I think I'm gonna put the water source closer to the plants like you and newgrower said... I'm gonna start constructing now I'll post pics later, thanks alot guys!

[RastaKaze]

Ok, everything is set up but I'm waiting for my brother to loan me his camera, pics will be up tonight. Picked up some small plastic pots for the fisrt several weeks of growth, and some soil. There are some nutes added, I tried to get the most basic thing they had. Here are it's contents: total nitrogen: 0.07 and .14% phosphate... Is this ok? I won't add any additional nutes until after 3 weeks of growth (mabye some bonemeal and high phosphurous bat guano). I also picked up a cheap baking container, the throw away metal kind, it completely covers the closet floor, this is what water will be drained into, hopefully I will get substantial humidity...

Cheers :D

[inthesetimes]

One quick question, why did you need to get rid of the reflector? or why is it a good idea to not have it? I just bought an HPS system with a chrome reflector, would it be better to not have it? Just a little unsure about that. Thanks for the feedback.

[RastaKaze]

Well think basically i mean metal conducts heat therefor so will the chrome reflector and during veg if all you have is a hps then you need to have it really close to the plants, but with the reflector you cant do that because there would be a huge heat spike.

[RastaKaze]

Lol sorry guys I got stoned and forgot to install the fan, Updates tommorow.

Cheers :D

[HARDDON]

Really you need to re-read what trippruss said...

Don't even worry about humidity unless its high while flowering.

Wet towels will just spread mold spores in a few days.

Open containers of water just spill all over your floor and drip all over the place.

Some of the best weed in the world grows where humidity is at or near nothing. I really just dont think you need to worry about it so much until flower time and then high humidity is the last thing you want.

Have fun :)

[RastaKaze]

Harddon, I thought installing an hps detached from a bat-wing vertically resulted in bulb blowout. Is this true? Anyway I will install it vertically If you tell me different, but here Is the currrent setup. I have two large circular trays that will contain all of my sprouts in the little green pots I have, until 3 weeks of maturation. Upon the 3rd week, I will sex plants, chop down the males, and transplant females to 1 gallon pots with fertilizer (6 parts Soil, 2 parts Bone Meal). After another 3-4 weeks I will begin flowering with 12/12, and begin watering with High-Phosphurous Bat Guano tea. Two weeks from harvest, I will begin flushing. And when the big day finally comes, you'll be sure to see some pics of my yeild! :) I wait to begin with weekly updates, and I'll be sure to get a better camera!

[RastaKaze]

Oh, by the way with the light on temps average to about 83 degrees, but as I said earlier I got lazy and decided to put off installing the fan, but I will tommorow... Should get me to just below 80, perfect :D

[foggylondontown]

id let the paint vent out before growing a plant in there. the plants pores possibly could absorbs some harmful vapors.

[RastaKaze]

That paint's been there for about hmmmm let's see... 47 years. So I think I'm ok as far as harmful paint fumes go :)

[foggylondontown]

well earlier in your thread you spoke of repainting the room flat white. :)

[RastaKaze]

Yep, decided it was better to keep it the way it was. Thanks fer lookin' out tho :D

[newgroweroldsmoker]

Ok, everything is set up but I'm waiting for my brother to loan me his camera, pics will be up tonight. Picked up some small plastic pots for the fisrt several weeks of growth, and some soil. There are some nutes added, I tried to get the most basic thing they had. Here are it's contents: total nitrogen: 0.07 and .14% phosphate... Is this ok? I won't add any additional nutes until after 3 weeks of growth (mabye some bonemeal and high phosphurous bat guano). I also picked up a cheap baking container, the throw away metal kind, it completely covers the closet floor, this is what water will be drained into, hopefully I will get substantial humidity...

Cheers :D

the nitrogen levels should be higher than the phosphorous ones, in the soil i mean....remember, the first month of the plants life you should not use any nutrients as the soil should provide them with everything they need, normally you should start fertilising them during the flowering stage :)