Big Project

Well, this is going to be a big project - atleast for me.

Basicly, I am going to combine 2 computer cases into one, make them sound proof, and make it impossible to detect light coming from the inside. I have a few questions though.

The combined case is going to be 18" x 15-16" x 26" . (This is going to be the space for the plant to grow in, I will have a seperate compartment for the soil/pot)

My questions:

What type of light is suitable for this setup. It is a very small area, so I was thinking a CFL...would a HPS be too strong or all that necessary? (I only want to stick with one light the whole grow)

I could imagine that no matter the strain, no plant will grow its full size in this "container". If I want to urge the plant to start flowering, do I just gradually switch to a 12/12? Like if I feel the plant has grown enough already, do I just switch over to 12/12?

If the plant continues to grow, is there anything I could do to "make" it stop, like cross strings over the top of it and "tie" it down?

How much bud do you think I could get out of this grow, and how long do you think it will take?

What strain do you recomend for this grow?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone, please?

CFLs probably, as much wattage as you can fit and still keep the temps down. In your dimensions, which are the H W D? <--Or is it like that? If you have some cash you could line it with T5's.

Yes, you can do a lot to keep them lower and bushy within reason. Tie em down, Top em, pick known short strains to grow (LowRyder might be good for you) From a fat lowryder you might get 1/2 to an Oz and you could probably fit two maybe three in there.

When you are ready to flower, just switch - they don't mind a bit. (with Lowryder, no switching needed - they are auto flowering)

Good luck & happy growing

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Originally Posted by konqrr

18" x 15-16" x 26" . (This is going to be the space for the plant to grow in, I will have a seperate compartment for the soil/pot)

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That's half the interior of my closet. My aquarium "veg room" is 18"D x 12"W x 36"H. So I'm used to working in small places. You can fit 1 plant in there easilly, mebbe 2. But it'll be tight w/2. Very tight. Ventilation & heat dissipation will be a major issue inside a sealed PC case.

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Originally Posted by konqrr

What type of light is suitable for this setup. It is a very small area, so I was thinking a CFL...would a HPS be too strong or all that necessary? (I only want to stick with one light the whole grow)

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Any CFL combo that will put out at least 6000 lumens in the correct spectra. In my mind, I would not do less than 2 x 40W 2700K CFL. Or if you can find a single that'll put out 6000L.

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Originally Posted by konqrr

If I want to urge the plant to start flowering, do I just gradually switch to a 12/12?

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When you feel it's time, just switch to 12/12. Forget the gradual stuff.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by konqrr

If the plant continues to grow, is there anything I could do to "make" it stop, like cross strings over the top of it and "tie" it down?

How much bud do you think I could get out of this grow, and how long do you think it will take?

What strain do you recomend for this grow?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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LOL (takes a deep breath) LST and/or ScrOG... 1 to 2 oz/plant, if you're good. BUT! If this is your first grow, and you're attempting something at this level of complexity, I predict an early demise for your plant(s) ... anywhere from 90-120 days... lemon skunk, or other small indica.

Thanks for the replies. I will be doing 1 plant, still picking out the strain. I understand that it is my first grow, and that there is a lot of room for mistakes, but I will do my best :D

I will have ventilation...1 (or possibly 2) 120 ml fan blowing something that produces CO2 (I havent decided on what my source of CO2 will be yet) and the outtakes will also be 1 (or possibly 2) 120 ml fan that will have an odor eliminating substance next to it. I will light proof it as much as possible by keeping the outtake fun (in the front) infront of a black wall, surrounded by black - Im still working on this design. The concept for the intake fan is to have a black vent"shaft" curve and blow the air in so that light will not be directly be coming out of the fan hole, rather it will be coming out a black vent shaft. This shaft would, I would imagine, block the airflow a little so i will have fans on the inside of the case aswell. Im still designing the case, but Im estimating it will cost roughly $200 (including the lights, materials to build the case, the cases themselves) This cost excludes seeds, pH readers, temperates and humidity readers, and nutes. I took three years of engineering and computer assisted designing classes so making the case wont be too much of an obstacle. I am still reading a lot about growing plants though.

Thanks, I will post a work log as soon as I begin.

install in the top of your case three cfl's 2 6500k 26wt. 1 3000k 42wt.....wallmart...lowes...homedepot. line everything with mylar...cheap spaceblankets found at wallmart.2 dollars in sporting goods section. make a homemade scrog screen...just bend a hanger to the shape of the perimiter of your box. then secure to the sides take fishing line or thread and make a checkerboard on the coat hanger frame. insall it 3/4 of the way up to your lights. when you go to flower your plant will be up to the screen weave it in and flower..it will work great as long as you use good soil and have proper temps.

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Originally Posted by the yeag

install in the top of your case three cfl's 2 6500k 26wt. 1 3000k 42wt.....wallmart...lowes...homedepot. line everything with mylar...cheap spaceblankets found at wallmart.2 dollars in sporting goods section. make a homemade scrog screen...just bend a hanger to the shape of the perimiter of your box. then secure to the sides take fishing line or thread and make a checkerboard on the coat hanger frame. insall it 3/4 of the way up to your lights. when you go to flower your plant will be up to the screen weave it in and flower..it will work great as long as you use good soil and have proper temps.

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I originally planned to install 2 50wt CFL's but I always take adivise of wiser people. Also, the mylar wont reflect too much light? For such a small space I was considering lining it with just something white, since its such a small area. But I will do the mylar. Thanks for the scrog screen suggestion, I will be using that.

Just one more last question. For a grow like this, how far away should I keep them away from the plant at all times? Are you sure it should be 1/4 of the space away from the bud, considering CFL's are rather weak? I always thought that the light should be like 4 inches away from the plant?

So throught the grow I should keep the lights on top at all times and use the scrog screen method to keep the plant atleast 1/4 of the distance away from the CFLs?

Also, when reading the temperature, should I have two temp readers? One to put at the top and one to put at the bottom?

i would go with the lighting i sugested. mylar is what what you want. get the cheap space blanket. as far as the distance to the lights keep the light as close to plant as you can. no further than 3.5 inches away. install the screen a week before flower. when the plants are 3/4 the way up to the lights.. for a grow that smal a small digital instrament that mesures tempature as well as humidty... you may want to utilize the whole box for your plants...to do this drill out the case at the top put your bulbs through the holes and keep the fixture outside. for the container containing soil , cut out the bottom leave the pot underneath let the plant be the only thing inside.it will be easier to water. you can just glue some mylar around the hole on the inside so the stock is sticking up through the mylar. make sure those fans are providing enough ventilation.the only problem i see is keeping your temps under 75. make sure when you flower you are reading the temps at the top of the scrog screen so you dont burn your buds.