slowthestone
07-21-2006, 07:03 PM
After tons of shopping, browsing, looking, brain storming etc...there is much about a good grow that the grower shouldn't want to 'go cheap' on. Bulbs, ballasts, pH/tds meters and automated systems to name a but a few. Saving money on items less critical than grow light set-ups, carbon filters, good nutrients, CO2 and such...means having more money available to purchase things a grower ought not be frugal about. (who wouldn't spend the extra money on a more comfy toilet paper eh)
But...go to a grow shop, or peruse a grow shop's catalog...you will see an abundance of grow and propagation gear that is made of...plastics.
And I tell you friends...a LOT of those plastics are easily found at your local grocer ala plastic food containers.
ie...why bother with driving to a shop, or paying for the shipping of a no frills propagation dome when you'd find the same thing in a bakery...for a bit more money sure...except that the domes there come with a tasty cake underneath them!
[attachment=o76953][attachment=o76959]
Or...until you find, and can afford good quality light reflective linings for your area...ever seen just how much a white t-shirt glows amber when exposed to a HPS light source? Say you've a 7 gallon container, simply pull your shirt over the container so the neck is at the top...which leaves plenty of room for the plant to grow...covers the soil, and bounces a nice glow of warm light up to the bottoms of the leaves. (tip...thicker cotton t-shirts (as in, new) reflect light more completely and evenly than something worn thin.) If your plant is already up and growing...holding the shirt flat, neck and sleeve side up toward the plant...simply lay it flat, butted right against the stalk for the same effect. I do this with a 6 gallon (24 quarts) transparent, plastic Sterilite container. All it needs are holes drilled all along the bottom's circumfrence...and then the same along the bottom of the sides.
[attachment=o76967] $4.50 each at my local Big Lots store.
The handles make for easy lifting...the lid can go underneath for minor drainage...with the added perks of being able to monitor the conditions of your plant's roots as well as being able to see moisture content of your soil. Keep in mind though, just because you may not see any root, or moisture, between the soil and the container wall doesn't mean that neither is NOT present laterally deeper into the soil. Gotta keep it covered though! Or else, risk the chance of algae in your soil!
Okay...so that's my contribution on practical money saving alternatives...
Please add some of your own so that us growers can skimp on non-crucial items so we've more money for the hardware that doesn't pay to 'go cheap' on. :thumbsup:
But...go to a grow shop, or peruse a grow shop's catalog...you will see an abundance of grow and propagation gear that is made of...plastics.
And I tell you friends...a LOT of those plastics are easily found at your local grocer ala plastic food containers.
ie...why bother with driving to a shop, or paying for the shipping of a no frills propagation dome when you'd find the same thing in a bakery...for a bit more money sure...except that the domes there come with a tasty cake underneath them!
[attachment=o76953][attachment=o76959]
Or...until you find, and can afford good quality light reflective linings for your area...ever seen just how much a white t-shirt glows amber when exposed to a HPS light source? Say you've a 7 gallon container, simply pull your shirt over the container so the neck is at the top...which leaves plenty of room for the plant to grow...covers the soil, and bounces a nice glow of warm light up to the bottoms of the leaves. (tip...thicker cotton t-shirts (as in, new) reflect light more completely and evenly than something worn thin.) If your plant is already up and growing...holding the shirt flat, neck and sleeve side up toward the plant...simply lay it flat, butted right against the stalk for the same effect. I do this with a 6 gallon (24 quarts) transparent, plastic Sterilite container. All it needs are holes drilled all along the bottom's circumfrence...and then the same along the bottom of the sides.
[attachment=o76967] $4.50 each at my local Big Lots store.
The handles make for easy lifting...the lid can go underneath for minor drainage...with the added perks of being able to monitor the conditions of your plant's roots as well as being able to see moisture content of your soil. Keep in mind though, just because you may not see any root, or moisture, between the soil and the container wall doesn't mean that neither is NOT present laterally deeper into the soil. Gotta keep it covered though! Or else, risk the chance of algae in your soil!
Okay...so that's my contribution on practical money saving alternatives...
Please add some of your own so that us growers can skimp on non-crucial items so we've more money for the hardware that doesn't pay to 'go cheap' on. :thumbsup: