- HOT5 Dual plant SCROG [Soil] -

I am a fairly experienced outdoor cultivator who wants to try and grow indoors.

This operation has been slow in the making but I'm 100% ready to go. I will be using bag seed this time around but I do have a couple BCBigBud seeds as well as an unknown strain from a bag of purple bud with bright orange hairs. I'm using the normal bag seed as sort of a "test run".

But I do want to make sure I make the best of it.

NOTE- I will more than likely not be using any fertilizers. If I do it will be 100% organic.

Lighting-

Vegetative Growth:
4 Lamp HOT5 fixture
3000K and 6500K mixed for full-spectrum.
20,000Lumens total initially.

Flowering:
I will continue using the HOT5 and add in two 70watt HPS bulbs.

Planned Light Schedule-

18/6 - 2mos.
16/8 - 1mo.
12/12 - undetermined...

Soil-

Mixture of MiracleGrow Moisture Control Potting Soil and FoxFarm OceanForest. [1:3]

Pictures coming soon...

I will germinate two seeds tomorrow.

I figured I'd leave a spot open for any suggestions from you more experienced cultivators.

One thing I'm not sure of is what kind of water to use.

I was thinking Ice Mountain Natural Spring bottled water. Would that be effective enough?

Any input would be taken into great consideration!

TIA

watch with the moisture control. i believe that is what im using and it can really hold a lot of water for a long time, which isnt necessarily good b/c it can be easier to overwater than most soils

Well that's why I'm going to use a 1:3 ratio with more of the FoxFarm. I figured that much considering the name of the soil.

I used it outdoors with great results.

I did a little test when I grew outdoors with it. I had 8 plants. 4 of which I used natural soil and were planted directly into the ground and the other 4 were placed in large pots with the MG - Moisture Control.

The potted plants did pretty much phenominally better in every aspect.

NOTE- The grow was done in very fertile soil. About 35yds off a stream.

I'd definitely recommend getting some ferts. Foxfarm makes some good ones.

I'd also suggest using a 1 part perlite to 3 parts of that ocean forest for your soil.

Water is water. As long as your city/well water is drinkable it's probably okay. If there is a hydroshop in town the people there can probably tell you what the ph is on average. If it's way off get a ph kit. They're pretty cheap.

One more thing, and I'm completely not 100% about this. You might want to just use your 6500k lights for veg. I've *heard* mixing the two can make your plants grow goofy.

I think I experienced this once myself. I was using a t12 floru setup. Had one 6500k tube and one 2700k tube. I was in the middle of germing some seeds for my current grow when one of my 6500k's went out. So I just swapped it out with a 2700k. All the seedlings that had already sprouted didn't seem to notice, but one that sprouted after I did the swap grew all wonky. It very well could of been a random mutation though. So.. someone else will have to clarify.

I've sprouted seedlings under 3000K CFLs, and under HPS too, so I don't think it's a big deal, but the higher kelvin rating is definitely better for veg.

sounds good can't wait to see some pics

Ok, I snapped a few pictures of the setup.

Picture 1 - $30US at Lowes. A little resizing with a hacksaw and you get Picture 2.

Picture 2 - This is the whole setup put together in my closet. It was rather simple. Getting the Mylar wrapped on the sides was possibly the most difficult thing I've done in a long while. Proper measurments for this were a MUST.

Picture 3 - This is the HOT5 Fixture. The light was easy to install. It's height is 100% adjustable via a simple chain and clip setup. It can rest on the bottom and be ravelled up to the very top.

Picture 4 - Closed up. If need be I can close the box completely. Very little light escapes. Only problem I have with it being close up is the temperatures can rise to about 85*F with the fans on.

Picture 5 - 100% Digital everything. Digital timer, digital fan setups, digital temperature and humidity monitoring. My temp and humiditiy gauges will be strategically placed inside the box and remotely monitored from where ever I chose...

Here is the ventilation setup I have so far. I will probably be adding something else sooner or later.

Picture 1 - Intake. This fan is huge so it stays on its lowest speed.

Picture 2 - Exaust pic 1.

Picture 3 - Exaust pic 2.

The exaust fan is from Radio Shack. The small vent is a dryer vent I picked up from Lowes. I superglued the fan to the vent and vuola, you have yourself a proper vent. When the exaust fan turns on the dryer vent opens up to release the stinkiness. Funny thing, as small as that little fan is, it kicks some serious ass. I will be adding another one soon however.

These little pots should last for a while.