help needed for attic grow

hi all

this is my first post but i have spent a considerable amount of time reading around.

i wish to have a small set up (6 plants) with a 600 watt hps in a grow hut (heavily insulated) approx 4x4x7ft and was thinking about growing in the attic. i live in the uk and my attic is hot in the summer (very hot!) and very cold in the winter.

i have read alot of posts stating it is not a good idea to grow in the attic due to the police heicopter and due to the temp problems but it might be ok with just 1 600watt hps running (might).

i have never grown in an attic and wish to hear from anyone who grows in their attic successfully and any help would be appreciated.

more than anything i wish to learn how one could get round the police helicopter and the temp problems.


ps: by the way just also wish to add i dont live my parents and it is my own home.

I have done them in the attic for years and had little problems, I am now trying it in house and have had a crazy amount of problems, just use a heater on a timer when the lights are off. You should not have a problem with the temp when the lights are on as it is winter here in the uk now. There will always be a chance the helicopter will see you but that is the risk you take. Oh and just remember the risk of snow, you don't want to be the only house on the block with no snow on the roof. If you need any more info just ask and I hope the helps.

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Originally Posted by mr samsung

I have done them in the attic for years and had little problems, I am now trying it in house and have had a crazy amount of problems, just use a heater on a timer when the lights are off. You should not have a problem with the temp when the lights are on as it is winter here in the uk now. There will always be a chance the helicopter will see you but that is the risk you take. Oh and just remember the risk of snow, you don't want to be the only house on the block with no snow on the roof. If you need any more info just ask and I hope the helps.

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thanks for the reply mr samsung that was something i hadnt thought about. is there a sure way i can keep my grow cool during the summer months?

Air conditioning unit but they can be quiet expensive

Hey, first I'd say go LED to keep the heat signature at zero. You can check my grow journal for ideas.
I have to use CFL supplementary lighting just to keep my plants warm.

Secondly, have a nice tent in the attic and place it between 2 rooms below the attic floor. Cut a 4 inch hole in each bedroom ceiling and place a vent cover on them to hide the hole. One 4 inch hole is your warm intake from downstairs bedroom 1. Pipe this into the top of the tent as your fresh air intake.
Then, from the bottom of the tent, pipe from the opposite side of the tent to the second bedroom (exhaust). So you now have fresh air coming from one bedroom and an exhaust into another bedroom. You will need a good extractor and a carbon scrubber. (detailed in my grow journal).

In the winter you will need to insulate the outside of the tent and the in-take/out-take pipes. If you use the 600w HID lighting you will be keeping most of the heat as it will be pumped into the bedroom. But some will be lost to the attic. At night you can leave the extractor on and this might keep the plants warm enough. If they freeze they will die and when cold they will be stunted in their growth.

In the summer you will have to keep the air moving at a high rate and have extra fans up there to keep good air movement and stop mould.This will increase the number of waterings though.

I was thinking of doing an attic grow sometime too. Need to move into a house first. But it is very safe when your gear is in the attic. No clues of what you are doing. Be careful of the heat signature in the winter.

Hope I was some help.

Take care

Quote:

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Originally Posted by silent leprechaun

Hey, first I'd say go LED to keep the heat signature at zero. You can check my grow journal for ideas.
I have to use CFL supplementary lighting just to keep my plants warm.

Secondly, have a nice tent in the attic and place it between 2 rooms below the attic floor. Cut a 4 inch hole in each bedroom ceiling and place a vent cover on them to hide the hole. One 4 inch hole is your warm intake from downstairs bedroom 1. Pipe this into the top of the tent as your fresh air intake.
Then, from the bottom of the tent, pipe from the opposite side of the tent to the second bedroom (exhaust). So you now have fresh air coming from one bedroom and an exhaust into another bedroom. You will need a good extractor and a carbon scrubber. (detailed in my grow journal).

In the winter you will need to insulate the outside of the tent and the in-take/out-take pipes. If you use the 600w HID lighting you will be keeping most of the heat as it will be pumped into the bedroom. But some will be lost to the attic. At night you can leave the extractor on and this might keep the plants warm enough. If they freeze they will die and when cold they will be stunted in their growth.

In the summer you will have to keep the air moving at a high rate and have extra fans up there to keep good air movement and stop mould.This will increase the number of waterings though.

I was thinking of doing an attic grow sometime too. Need to move into a house first. But it is very safe when your gear is in the attic. No clues of what you are doing. Be careful of the heat signature in the winter.

Hope I was some help.

Take care

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excellent idea i can borrow heat from the actual house. i can also cool during the summer aswell. i will have a close look at you grow journel silent l thanks for your very interesting reply.

another uk grower touchin down with a little insight of how its been going for me in the attic lol
this bein my 3rd grow since april last yr with 1 600wt hps all is well with the copper chopper thus far dont get me wrong when they fly over i panic and think wtf goin on.
made my own tent and covered it in fibreglass and this has done well over the winter i just open the door up a little during the day to stop it overheating to much and causing mass amount of condensation wich has been my main problem as my babies have grown even a dehumidifier hasnt solved the issue but thats the hot air meeting the cold i guess.

No problem, hope I could help.

My journal might be interesting for you too.

Best of luck with the grow

Take care

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kushion

hi all

this is my first post but i have spent a considerable amount of time reading around.

i wish to have a small set up (6 plants) with a 600 watt hps in a grow hut (heavily insulated) approx 4x4x7ft and was thinking about growing in the attic. i live in the uk and my attic is hot in the summer (very hot!) and very cold in the winter.

i have read alot of posts stating it is not a good idea to grow in the attic due to the police heicopter and due to the temp problems but it might be ok with just 1 600watt hps running (might).

i have never grown in an attic and wish to hear from anyone who grows in their attic successfully and any help would be appreciated.

more than anything i wish to learn how one could get round the police helicopter and the temp problems.


ps: by the way just also wish to add i dont live my parents and it is my own home.

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Ive been using the attic over the last three months to Flower. and I must say its been tough going. My veg period (not in the attic) was SO good, and its been a real shame that this trend hasnt continued in the attic. Its just WAY to cold, and Ive also found that the humidity in mine has been sky high. These factors have all contributed to slow growth, and small popcorn nugs. Certainly learnt my lesson there. I suppose everyones conditions are different though, and as some have said, they get on ok up there.

DD

It might be worth looking into getting a thermostat controlled exhaust fan in your tent to control the temperature a little better, provided you had air intake vents. This might help reduce humidity too. You could also incorporate a carbon filter to reduce odour if that is a problem.

thanks for your replies guys. i plan to insulate my grow hut in the attic. the grow hut will be 1.2x1.2x2m out of mdf then insulate all around the outside with 50mm polystyrene finishing off with another layer of 6mm mdf. im hoping this will keep the heat out during summer and keep heat in during the winter. i plan to have 125mm carbon filter and rvk fan to keep things cool during the summer and an air conditioning unit if needed can be sourced. a thermostat heater will keep things warm during the night in winter. i will use a home made flood and drain system for 6 plants.

What do you think guys will this work? i have grown before but never in the attic and it has taken me weeks to put the above together. any help will be greatly appreciated:)