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Help things i got
-closet(average apartment sized closet)
-seeds from a half ounce
i need the simplest steps on how to grow my plant that i plan on smokin for my own relaxing use:jointsmile:. and the simplest tools i need and directions on how to grow an ok plant.
First off apartments arent the best place to grow, I know, it can be a bitch.
Your gonna need a source of light, CFL's (compact flourescent light) are cheap, easy, low heat, and fall into the catagory of simplest tools. You'll probably want to invest into a good HID (high intensity discharge) lighting system later on, but for now go easy.
Air is a must, you need fresh CO2 rich air for your plants, which can be a bitch in a closet. Depending on how many plants you have a fan, and an open window will work.
Soil, hydro, aero, DWC, it's your choice, I would reccomend soil to start.
Fertilizer, Organic or chemical, take your pick. I would reccomend organic, but do your thing man.
Knowlege is the best tool of them all, there is no replacement for personal experience. But reading is the key to success, you've come to the right place. Go check the "GROW FAQ'S" section. But personally I like these grow faq's better (no offence cannabis.com, you know I love ya) The Cannabis Cultivation GrowFAQ - The Internet Hub for Marijuana Cultivation - powered by phpMyFAQ 1.6.5 , also go read around the posts in the forums, the little bits and pieces you figure out while lurking in other peoples conversations add up.
Good luck getting started.
peace
I don't know if this falls into simple but if its a closet i'm gonna tell you every thing ya ready:
Containers
Your plants will need to be grown in some kind of cannabis or container. Large plastic pots (like the ones bushes come in) work best. Fill the bottom inch with large gravel to help drainage. And the rest with high quality potting soil with some sand mixed in. Buckets can also be used but drill drainage holes in the bottom. If your containers previously held other plants then they must be sterilized with bleach or alcohol.
Ligthing
Since there is no sun in your closet you will have to provide a sun loving plant like cannabis with alot of artificial light. There are three options available to the grower: flourescent lights are cheap, efficient, and don't put out much heat. Metal halide, or MH bulbs, are more expensive but put out much more light than flourescents. They also put out more heat so ventilation is needed. MH bulbs also require a separate ballst in order to work. High Pressure Sodium lamps, or HPS, put out as much light as MH lamps but with a little less heat. Ventilation and a separate ballast are also required.
Flourescent lights
Flourescent lights are the cheapest light to use. They run at about $2 a tube. They produce little heat so ventilation may not be needed unless the space is very small. The light spectrum put out by these lights is suitable for all stages of growing. Because flourescents disperse light over a large area, they need to be kept within three inches of the tops for the plants to receive enough light. This means you will have to mount the lights in a way that the can be raised everyday.
Metal Halide Lights
Metal halide lamps put out the most light. They also produce alot of heat. A strong fan is needed to keep room tempertures down. MH lamps put out light mostly in the blue spectrum. Blue light is used best by the plant during vegative growth. MH lights can also be used for flowering with no adverse effects. A separate ballast is required for these lights to work. They come in sizes from 40 to 1000W. One 1000W lamp will provide enough light in a closet to grow four plants.
High Pressure Sodium Lights
High pressure sodium lamps put out almost as much light as MH and with less heat. Good ventilation is still required though. HPS lamps produce light in mostly the red and orange end of the spectrum. The plants uses this light best when flowering. HPS lamps can also be used for vegative growth with little slow down in foliage production. HPS lamps require a separate ballast for operation.
Some growers switch between MH and HPS depending on what stage the plants are in. MH is used in vegative growth and then the light is swithched over to HPS once flowering begins. Most growers use flourescents to start seedlings and root clones. The flourescents are weaker than the MH and HPS lamps and therefore do not stress them too much. Choose whatever light is best suited for your situation. If your are growing in your attic go with MH or HPS. If your growing in the closet like us, then use flourecents. (For the rest of ths document I will assume the reader is using flourescent lighting)
: Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis
There are other factors other than the obvious amount of light that reaches the plants that affect the rate of photosynthesis. These can be manipulated by the grower to achieve maximum speed of growth and larger yields in a shorter period of time.
Humidity
The humidity in the enviroment is the amount of water vapor present in the air. Most growers know that humidity in excess of 85% percent increases the probability of the appearance of bud mold. The humidity is also critical during germanation when the seedlings are extremely fragile. Humidty should be kept over 80% at this stage in the plants life to prevent the soil from drying too fast. Experimentation has shown that a relative humidity of 65% to 80% increases growth rate. Below this level the plants develop extremely narrow and tissue paper thin leaves to try to prevent excess loss of water. Above 80% relative humidity the plant have trouble disposing of toxic chemicals through evaporation.
Temperture
Cannabis can survive tempertures from 32 degrees F to over 100 degrees F. Cannabis will grow best with a temperture of 70 to 75 degrees F day and night. Higher than 90 degrees F the enzymes within the plant begin to breakdown and photosynthesis is affected. The same is true for low tempertures.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a gas that is essential for the light reactions in all plants that carry on photosynthesis. CO2 is absorbed through the leafs stomates and is combined with water and light energy to form glucose (used by the plant as energy) and oxygen (which is released). Therefore supplementing CO2 to the existing amount in the air will speed up photosynthesis and therefore, growth will occur faster. Experimentation has also shown that CO2 can help cannabistoloerate higher tempertures (up to 95 degrees F) with little affect on the rate of photosynthesis.
Water
Although only a small portion of water absorbed by the plant is used in photosynthesis a shortage of water does affect the rate photosynthesis occurs. This happens because when the plant is low on water the stomates on the leaves close preventin the release of waste gases and other toxic chemicals. This closure will severely slow down or even stop photosynthesis from occuring.
Sea of green
Sea of green, or SOG, is the theory of harvesting many small plants frequently, instead of large plants less frequently. In an SOG setup the closet is divided into two light tight spaces. In the top space the lights are permanently set on a 12/12 light/dark timer. On the bottom the lights are kept on for 18 hours per day. Flourescent lights are used throughout. The bottom shelf is used to start seedlings and root clones. The top shelf is used for flowering. Using this setup harvesting can take place once a month.
Ventilation
Cannabis like all other plants puts out waste through the stomata on it's leaves. Outdoors wind, rain and sun are present to evaporate these toxins from the leaf surface. Indoors the grower must create an enviroment. The best way to do this is with a fan of some kind. If the grow room is large enough then an regualar cooling fan can be placed inside and left on all the time. If you are running a small closet operation then just opening the door twice a day to look at them will create enough air movement for healthy growth. A fan controlled by a thermostat will also work well. These can be found at most electronics stores.
If a large number of plants are to be kept a dehumidifier may be needed. If humidity levels are too high then the chances of mold will dramaticly increase. A dehumidifier will cost a grower about $100 so it isn,t really practical for the closet grower.
C02 supplementation
Some growers add C02 to their grow rooms to increase growth rate. This has proved itself to be effective in many experiments. C02 supplementation also helps the plants withstand higher tempertures of up to 95 degrees without slowing down growth. There have been complaints however, that C02 supplementation during flowering reduces potency. Therefore, C02 should be stopped when the lights are turned to 12/12.
Early sexing
Since you control the light cycle in an indoor operation it is easy to sex the plants early and eliminate all the males. Just turn the lights down to 12/12 when the plants are eight inches high. Use a magnifying glass to examine the flowers and eliminate all the males.
Obtaining seed
If you do want to pollenate some females to produce seed for the next crop it can be done so that only a few buds are pollenated and the rest remain as sinsemilla. First collect pollen from a male. The male should show desirable characteristics, like fast growth, potency and resistence to pest and mold. To collect the pollen just shake the branches into a plactic bag. Black paper can also be used to collect pollen. Just lie it on the floor around the plant, in a few days the paper will have quite a bit of pollen on it. The pollen can be stored in film canisters until it is needed. When needed, use a paintbrush to brush on the pollen to the LOWER branches of the female. The best way to be sure that all the seeds are mature before harvest is to just never harvest the pollenated branches. Let them die naturally so you can be sure they produce viable seed.
Harvesting and drying
When you want you plants to start flowering just turn the lights down to 12 hours light and 12 hours dark. Then be patient and wait for flowering to complete. It helps the drying process a little if you don't water the week before harvesting. When you cut the plants remove the large fan leaves the and add them to your compost pile as they are not usable for smoking. Place the plants in shoe boxes or paper bags and stir them around daily. In about three weeks the buds should be totally dry and ready to smoke
this should tell you every thing you need to know i got this info from Indoor marijuana seeds Indoor Cannabis also if its in an apartment you might need a backup plan if they do inspections (such as a friends place or behind a dumpster something like that)
Thanks so much for that post. I'm planning on planting some seeds i'm having friends gather for me and i want my first grow to go good. I'm new to this so all this stuff is a little confusing but this explains alot thanks again:thumbsup:Quote:
blooregard
oh shit forgot something paint the walls of the closet white and put plastic on the floor to avoid water damageQuote:
Originally Posted by TheRisen
ok. I was wondering, would white poster paper work instead of paint? I'm going to grow in an area similar to a closet but it houses an extraction pump for the plumbing in the house. Its basically a sump room but it is very open, i just placed some drywall over the openings to an extent so noone can look directly at my plant in case i have company. it will be on concrete so i wont have to worry about water damage. and would using 2 desklamps with cfls and one 18 inch florescent light be sufficient for one plant or should i get more light? any input would be great.
To veg and clones or seeds those lights will work, but you will want to get a hid lght system.HPS for flowering and MH for veg.The non gloss white poster paper will work,A qt.of panit about the same cost and lasts longer. Peace
Im in the process of setting up my closet as well so hit me up if you need help! Ill let you know if I discover any valuable tips!:)
1 thing important that I learned is 24/0
(1st time grower)
Thanks. I just put my seed in the soil n i'm doing it on 24/0 i have one 27 watt cfl and 2 25 watt cfls and i'm going to hang the florescent tomoro morning. and thank you for the lighting tip, but i dont really have the money for a great light system right now, this is more just a trial run.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chronisseur
poster paper will work I guess but the plastic is a must
can any one tell me if a 400w hps is to much for 3 1/2ft of hight
This is still up for debate, but an 18/6 photoperiod might be better for your sprouts. In theory, when the lights are on nonstop, the plants have less time to convert all of the energy it has been storing via photosynthesis into it's roots. This results in less foliage, because the roots simply can't keep up in providing the foliage with necessary nutrients. Once the plant is more established, a 24/0 might be more feasible...but the overall concept will still remain, it's possible that the roots won't develop as fast as the foliage, and will possibly limit growth. I've experimented with both, and it seems that the 18/6 produces healthier plants faster than a continuous lighting regimen. But I'm also supplementing with plenty of carbon dioxide, which aides in healthy & vibrant growth. If you are going to go with the 24/0, I'd recommend establishing a continuous CO2 regimen. This can get pretty expensive, and would cost much less if using an 18/6...because you don't need any CO2 supplementation during the dark periods.
Also, if you only have enough money to invest in either a MH or an HPS, go with the HPS. The color spectrum will work for both vegetative stages and flowering...while MH is really only good for veg.
Also, if you only have enough money to invest in either a MH or an HPS, go with the HPS. The color spectrum will work for both vegetative stages and flowering...while MH is really only good for veg.
-Mr. Clandestine
Do the HPS lights have a light dimmer or somthing how do are they not too strong for veg but strong enough for flower????
First and foremost is security.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRisen
1) How often does the appt. manager come over...?
2) Never a good idea to tell the neighborhood you are growing. One broken friendship/jealous lover is all it takes to change your life. Either by a phone call to the police, or by you getting robbed, since you can't call the police to complain.
I noticed that you are planning to put this in a sump pump room, Becareful of the humidity in there you may need a dehumidifier.
Also what Rusty is saying is very good advice. Do not tell anyone what you are doing. Personaly my closest friends don't even know what I am up to. The only persons that should know about your grow is anyone living in the appartment with you due to they will be in as much trouble as you if you get busted. And if you can not trust them to not tell anyone then I do not recomend growing. IMO
Smokeness,
to answer your question "is 3.5 feet in hight enough for a hps or mh light". Answer: NO
After taking in consideration space for light 6 to 8 inches, pot hight 8 to 10 inches, distance between plant and light 12 to 16 inches that leaves you with around 1 foot of grow space. You will need to use florecents or cfls.
Reading through the forums will really answer all your questions. There are SO many threads for all sorts of questions, it's really great. Use the search function too, it is quite helpful.
Also, when you're browsing through the threads, you'll get ideas/insight on things that you never even thought of before. Good luck! I'm on my first grow too, and everyone in these forums is amazing for sharing their knowledge!
i wish every newcomer was more like you in being able to read and use the search function. your off to a great start..heres some repQuote:
Originally Posted by ilovetv247
My :twocents: on a HID for a starter.... buy a HPS MH conversion light, u can get a 400w economy light for like 180$us, complete with both HPS and MH bulbs. It will kick ace in a closet that big. I like mine at least. Its about the same size closet too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Austin.Texas.Kush
This way u can use MH conv. bulb for veg. then switch it out for the HPS bulb for the bloom. Walaa
All for 180$us, if thats not a good deal i dont know what is. Id tell u the website, but i dont think Cannabis.com likes that.. so lemme know if u want, and ill send it:thumbsup:
Thanks so much!Quote:
Originally Posted by keeko