New Grower Here

OK I live on a tight budget so purchasing is becoming a bit of a problem. I live with my parents so the growing has to be kept on the down-low.

I can live with only growing one plant, but would like to grow maybe two or three. I have:

-2x5 feet of growing room
-materials to build a container
-(soon to have) seeds, though I'm not sure of the strain

I would like to know what kind of lights I need. After some research I think I will be best to go with some CFL lights, but how many and what wattage? Also, I have read about red and blue light at the vegging and flowering stage?

Smell is a MAJOR concern for me... this is the one thing I can't figure out. As I am doing this in my closet and live in close quarters with my parents I want to know how to stop the smell cheaply and efficiently. I have read into some carbon scrubbers and O3 generators but they seem to be either expensive or big, bulky, and hard to build.

Any help at all is much appreciated.

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Originally Posted by Savage Nature

I live with my parents so the growing has to be kept on the down-low.

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Why not just buy for now till ya get your own place. By doing it in your parents house your putting their home at risk. Not to mention your ass if hell brakes loose!! Research, get supplies, and be ready for the day ya got your own place. Good Luck!!! :thumbsup:

^Thing is getting my own place is just a wee bit off in time... as in three or so years time.

I live in the country and would be the only one who even knows about this little growing project so the chances authorities of any sort would find out are so slim it's almost impossible.

As for my parents that is another thing I am going to try and avoid by way of doing research and finding out how to prevent the smell and other factors.

you could buy a couple of 150 watt envirolites and grow 3 plants. Build your container and have a fan sucking hot air out and another bringing cool air in. mylar up the walls. Buy different bulbs for the veg and flowering, or one that has both red and blue spectrum, cant think of anything for odour control sorry.

This is probably going to sound pretty stupid but what about like an airfreshner? Or something like a Glade Wisp that releases deodorant over time? Or is that just not strong enough to take care of the odour?

EDIT: I also heard something about the backside of wrapping paper without the designs on it being made from mylar?

Get mylar
Don't skimp on your grow or your harvest will skimp on you...
Carbon filter hooked up to an exaust fan will get rid of all the smell.
Air freshners are nowhere near strong enough for flower.
Get a book and read it 3 times .Then the only ?'s you'll have are more important ones.
Good Luck

You have to understand here that I live in the country, I don't have any good bookstores and can't get a book. I have scrounged around the net for info and this is where I'm verifying my data because not all sites are trustworthy. Half the stuff I've learnt is stuff I've read on this very site. I just like to clarify some things with real humans rather than something that was written on the internet three or four years ago. The way I see it this is what's going to end up happening for me:

-I am going to construct a 2x2x4 foot box from most likely plywood and two by twos
-I am going to invest into a good light, which from what I have read seems (in my case) to be the CFL (one plant, less heat for less quality; so I don't need a fan intake/outake system)
-I will put a lock on the box because my parents do let me have some privacy and barely even come near my room let alone in it and in the closet.
-The inside will look like the attachment I will add on.
-I will need to get more information on the lights, I am going to get the two bulbs for growing and flowering but need more info on them as I only know that I need two different lights...
-I have arranged for some seeds of a strain I don't know which I will use for my first and second plants. Also I have arranged for something called 'Purple Haze' which will be my plant I will grow later when I sort of know what I'm doing and know how to get a good yeild.
-Also I intend to get my hands on a microscope that will do at least 30X so I can see the trichromes and see what color they are, many thanks to psycho for putting up the chart in another thread.

See right now I don't know very much so I would be happy with 1/4 ounce harvest which from what I have read in a harvest would be really bad by most standards. I think I have this fairly well planned out minus the lights which I am still pretty foggy on.

EDIT: Yeah and I'm going to paint the inside of the box white if I can't find mylar, can someone give me a rough cost amount for this box? And as for ventilation, for one plant just opening it to water it and whatnot should be more than enough to give it fresh air right? Everything I have read so far has said that is more than alright for such a small grow.

For the growing I think I am going to want to go with 24 hours light for about three weeks and then 12/12 for flowering, does that sound even close to good or am I out in left field?

Well, if your going to do it sounds like your on the right track. Next thing is odor control....get a charcoal filter and you'll be set. Good Luck!!! :thumbsup:

It's really great to hear that from someone such as yourself. I really have put in alot of reasearch time on this, but not so fast! I still need help with the lights... I really don't know what to get for it...

Do I just get the normal bulbs I would put in a light socket? Or do I want one of those hanging lamps that hold tube lights? What's better? What's the difference? And how do I find a 'red' and 'blue' bulb? Are they actually colored red and blue or is it just something I would find written on the packaging? And as a side note, I am thinking of going with the light two inches above the plant so as not to make it stretch for the light as much, is this too close?

As an update: I have been asking around and everyone here says these plants don't smell to bad... are they talking shit or is it actually possible that they really don't smell that bad?

Regular ol' screw in bulbs aren't going to give ya shit! For something that size you could go with CFLs or Flo's. Check out the chart below for the light spectrum.

I saw on here once where a dude made like an octogon with flo's standing up. If ya go that route, use soft white with cool whites. DON'T use the daylighters or you'll torch your plants. Good Luck!! :thumbsup:

So by that I want a DMH for blue light and a HPS for red light? *confused*
...but that would be for a bigger operation and optimal growing correct? And I'm not shooting that high yet so... you said I could go with a CFL which is a compact flouresent light. Correct? I don't see that on the chart at all... But just taking your word and going with that; can I get two types of CFL's, one that will emit red light and one that will emit blue light? Also I have vaugly heard of Flo's but don't know what they are.

It would be so helpful if you just told me in 'stupid person english' what to get... *weak grin* I just can't seem to grasp this lighting element...

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Originally Posted by Savage Nature

So by that I want a DMH for blue light and a HPS for red light? *confused*
...but that would be for a bigger operation and optimal growing correct? And I'm not shooting that high yet so... you said I could go with a CFL which is a compact flouresent light. Correct? I don't see that on the chart at all... But just taking your word and going with that; can I get two types of CFL's, one that will emit red light and one that will emit blue light? Also I have vaugly heard of Flo's but don't know what they are.

It would be so helpful if you just told me in 'stupid person english' what to get... *weak grin* I just can't seem to grasp this lighting element...

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CFLs and Flo's are the same spectum light. Flo's are like the tube lights...you know,...skinny and anywhere from 2 ft. long to 8 ft. long. Usually you'll see them in drop ceilings ...they are the 4 footers...most common of the flo's and the lowest cost also.

Just in case...Flo is just short for flourencent. :thumbsup:
Good Luck!!! :thumbsup:

OK that makes alot of sense now. Yeah I want to use Flo's in this design as I think it will give me a better coverage of light on the plant. So I can pick up Flo's in red and blue spectrum then? If so that just made things 100% simpler.

I was just about to search the forums for this but I might as well ask it incase I don't find it.

How do I tell the difference between male and female plants? Is there a really really easy way? And when will I be able to tell for sure (EX: Approx. 2 weeks of growing)? Heh... yeah... I feel so dumb asking these questions.

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Originally Posted by Savage Nature

OK that makes alot of sense now. Yeah I want to use Flo's in this design as I think it will give me a better coverage of light on the plant. So I can pick up Flo's in red and blue spectrum then? If so that just made things 100% simpler.

I was just about to search the forums for this but I might as well ask it incase I don't find it.

How do I tell the difference between male and female plants? Is there a really really easy way? And when will I be able to tell for sure (EX: Approx. 2 weeks of growing)? Heh... yeah... I feel so dumb asking these questions.

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When ya buy your flo's get the cool white and an equal amount of soft white. Run the combo at the same time and that will take ya all the way through the grow. Good Luck!! :thumbsup:

Thanks a ton Psycho, you really have helped me out alot. :)

Anywho I hope to have happy growing soon! Just need to assemble the growing station, go find some parts I need from the shed and get my seeds together!

If I got anymore questions I can't find on my own I'll be sure to ask. ;) xD

EDIT: Here is a basic compilation of what I have for the growing element of this project so far:

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Soil
-Should drain well. That is, it should have some sand in it and also some sponge rock or pearlite.
-The pH should be between 6.5 and 7.5 since marijuana does not do well in acidic soil. High acidity in soil encourages the plant to be predominantly male, an undesirable trait.
-The soil should also contain humus for retaining moisture and nutrients.

1 - Germinate
-Place the seed between six moist paper towels.
-Wait between one day to one week for the sprouts to develope
-Plant the seed as soon as it crack open and begins to sprout. Place it on some moist soil and sprinkle a little soil over top of it.

2 - Grow
-Lighting
-One 2 foot flouresent lighting unit, cool white and soft white tubes.
*Keep light 2 inches above plant
*Plants grow during the day and flower during the night
*24 hours of light till plant is 10 inches tall and then 12/12 lighting

3 - Harvest
First, pull the plant up roots and all and hang it upside down for 24 hours. Then put each plant in a paper grocery bag with the top open for three or four days or until the leaves feel dry to the touch. Now strip the leaves off the stem and put them in a glass jar with a lid. Don't pack the leaves in tightly, you want air to reach all the leaves. The main danger in the curing process is mold. If the leaves are too damp when you put them into the jar, they will mold and since the mold will destroy the resins, mold will ruin your marijuana. you should check the jars every day by smelling them and if you smell an acrid aroma, take the weed out of the jar and spread it out on newspaper so that it can dry quickly. Another method is to uproot the plants and hang them upside down. You get some burlap bags damp and slip them up over the plants. Keep the bags damp and leave them in the sun for at least a week. Now put the plants in a paper bag for a few days until the weed is dry enough to smoke. Like many fine things in life, marijuana mellows out with age. The aging process tends to remove the chlorophyll taste.
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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Savage Nature

Soil
-Should drain well. That is, it should have some sand in it and also some sponge rock or pearlite.
-The pH should be between 6.5 and 7.5 since marijuana does not do well in acidic soil. High acidity in soil encourages the plant to be predominantly male, an undesirable trait.
-The soil should also contain humus for retaining moisture and nutrients.

I use 2 parts potting soil, one part peat, and one part perrilite.

1 - Germinate
-Place the seed between six moist paper towels.
-Wait between one day to one week for the sprouts to develope
-Plant the seed as soon as it crack open and begins to sprout. Place it on some moist soil and sprinkle a little soil over top of it.

Just drop the babies in a coffee cup full of water and leave it by a heat duct for about 48 hrs., cover the top so it don't get light...don't touch the seed or root...use a tweezers. plant it down about a half inch.

2 - Grow
-Lighting
-One 2 foot flouresent lighting unit, cool white and soft white tubes.
*Keep light 2 inches above plant
*Plants grow during the day and flower during the night
*24 hours of light till plant is 10 inches tall and then 12/12 lighting

When ya go to 12/12 you may want to add some lights to the sides...that'll help with the bud in the under gowth.

3 - Harvest
First, pull the plant up roots and all and hang it upside down for 24 hours. Then put each plant in a paper grocery bag with the top open for three or four days or until the leaves feel dry to the touch. Now strip the leaves off the stem and put them in a glass jar with a lid. Don't pack the leaves in tightly, you want air to reach all the leaves. The main danger in the curing process is mold. If the leaves are too damp when you put them into the jar, they will mold and since the mold will destroy the resins, mold will ruin your marijuana. you should check the jars every day by smelling them and if you smell an acrid aroma, take the weed out of the jar and spread it out on newspaper so that it can dry quickly. Another method is to uproot the plants and hang them upside down. You get some burlap bags damp and slip them up over the plants. Keep the bags damp and leave them in the sun for at least a week. Now put the plants in a paper bag for a few days until the weed is dry enough to smoke. Like many fine things in life, marijuana mellows out with age. The aging process tends to remove the chlorophyll taste.
----------------------------------------------------------------

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First I trim off all the leaf that has no trichomes (garbage). Then I hang the full plant for 15 days. Trim off the branches from the main stalk and prune the leaf off your bud. Leave the leaf sit for about 2-3 days and then put into mason jars. After about 7 days put your bud into mason jars. Open the jars for a half hour each day for 2 weeks and then all you have to do is enjoy!

That is at least my method...there are others. Good Luck!!! :thumbsup:

Don't forget about your fan and filter either or you'll have a lil' odor problem in the future. Good Luck!! :thumbsup:

hey, savage. If you were usng a HPS light 250 watts would be optimum for this size a box, seeing as you are not, 2 ft fluoro tubes come in low wattages so sadly youd have to get a lot of them. Everything else sounds good.
Get a fan in there anyway to strengthen the stems of the plants when they are young

Thanks alot for the help on that Psycho, the things you have said have been noted and added/changed in my notes.

And I am thinking of revising my box a little, so I can add a two more lights and a fan in, by filter I'm not sure what you mean though.

Top - 2 ft. Flo ballast
Sides - lights, not sure of what kind yet though
Bottom right - Fan tilted upwards, either towards to roof of the box or on the plant, depending on the strength of the fan.

I am going to the hardware store hopefully at lunch to check out some lighting gear and lights.

Oh I almost forgot; why do you transplant? As in:
-Germinate
-Plant in smaller planter
-Transplant
-Harvest
Can't I just put it into the bigger planter to start?

Savage: as for a seed strain, I recommend you get Northern Lights. It's a nice low-smell strain.

Use small pots at first, and then increase as the plants grow. Bigger planter at start can cause problems.

Dboy

Well I spose I should update you guys on this:

I intend on getting the following lights:
A two foot ballast for the top with cool/soft white light for the vegging stage
Two 2600 lumens soft/cool white light for the flowering stage (to be placed on the two sides of the box to hit the underfoliage)

The way my logic sees it, this way it will make the plant grow to an extent, then I turn on the powerful light when it's flowering and it makes it produce more THC. Am I right or...?

One thing though, which light do I use for the flowering and vegging stages? Cool for vegging and soft for flowering? Other way around?

Go to Home Depot and get the 45W Spiral CFL. They run about $12. I suggest minimum of 1 per plant. And get a timer and set it to 18 hours on and 6 hours off. No offense to the rest of you, but a lot of you kind of ruin a lot of newbies' first grows. Most people here give you the feeling that you absolutely need to have every piece of equipment known to man to grow a single plant or you will die. It's not like that. In fact, you can get a damned cardboard box, one of those CFLs, a pot with soil, and just use water from the sink to water it here and then and you'll probably still come out with a decent yield if you don't mess up. Basically I'm saying take it easy and just experiment with some bagseed first. Also, carbon scrubbers are actually easy to build. They basically consist of mostly the active carbon or w/e that you get a most pet stores while having filters which allow air to go through but still seperate the carbon powder into different layers.

So basically it's like this.
~~ = Filter
oo = Active Carbon
// = Space (forums won't let me put too many spaces.)


||////////////||
||//////air////||
||//////|/////||
||//////V/////||
||~~~~~~~||
||ooooooooo ||
||~~~~~~~||
||ooooooooo ||
||~~~~~~~||

But the air has to be forced through that area and that area alone. Also, keep in mind that cannabis is a weed. It can grow under pretty harsh conditions. It's just that the better you treat it and the better it'll treat you later on. But there is no harm in learning from your own mistakes. Goodluck.

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Originally Posted by Da1KrayzieThug

No offense to the rest of you, but a lot of you kind of ruin a lot of newbies' first grows. Most people here give you the feeling that you absolutely need to have every piece of equipment known to man to grow a single plant or you will die. It's not like that. In fact, you can get a damned cardboard box, one of those CFLs, a pot with soil, and just use water from the sink to water it here and then and you'll probably still come out with a decent yield if you don't mess up.

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the more you spend (wisely) the better your crop (and how you grow it, but thats beside the point). its as simple as that. one of those cfls wouldnt give you a good yield on a plant. people may go on a bit about this equipment and that equipment but no one on this thread has suggested anything outragiously expensive, just helping in ways to maximise the yield. Dont take this post offensiveley, I just personally disagree with you on this matter

The more input I get in this thread the better my yeild will be when I finally get the seeds... yeah two out of three people have fallen through with seeds so fingers are crossed.

This is the thread I'm gonna go back to if I have a problem because well... pretty much everything I don't already know is covered in here.

OK one quick question before I start to purchase my lights and stuff here:

What lights emit what spectrum? I was told to purchase soft white and cool white, but which light is for the vegging and flowering stage? Answer this for me and I can do the rest by myself, cross my heart! :)

ok i use cfls and im having great luck. but im running 6 of them i got some pics that may help you get the idea. ok the blubs i use are $9 and the fixtures are $6 both at walmart. my plant my look yellow in pix but that is b/c of lights and flash mix. they are vary greem in person. anyway hope i helped sorry if i didnt. good luck

Yeah I suppose you helped a little. :)

I have decided to go with one soft white and one cool white Flo on a ballast if I can find it, and if not then I will just go with a 2600 lumen light I found... *drools* for ten bucks I think thats a good deal, especially because its one of them energy saver ones.

I will prolly end up going with two more of the 2600 lumen lights for the sides of my box to. If not I'll tone it down and get something smaller like a 1200 lumen light. I can't remember if it is a soft or cool white light but either way I'm gonna get a yeild so I don't care! :D