1st Timer Here - Cabinet Grow

[faulkn22]

First off, let me say thank you to everyone on this forum, as there is a library full of great information here at your finger tips. I decided to set up a home garden, at first for my girlfriend to grow some small herbs, etc. Since then, I have upgraded it somewhat into a growing cabinet.

I am a first timer here, so I would like discuss my cabinet and see what I can do to improve my setup. Thank you in advance to anyone with some input.

For the cabinet, I got a Sterilite utility storage cabinet measuring approximately 2.5"x3"x6.5". I cut out one hole on the side and one hole on the top for ventilation holes. To move air into and out of the holes, I got two small 8" R/V fans. The temperature during the day is 80F-85F and 75F-80F at night. Humidity goes from 45-60. To measure the temperature and humidity, I purchased a digital thermometer that reads them. I havent' been able to find the material that most people purchase to reflect light, so for now I have went cheap and used aluminum foil around the interior of the cabinet.

For lighting, I wanted to go as cheap as I could while producing enough vegetation to carry me into flowering. At flowering, I plan to purchase another bulb in the red spectrum. I ended up going with a 125W CFL Full Spectrum Hood/Bulb combo. I figure that this will give me anywhere from 1' to 2' of vegetation during that light cycle.

Since I'm still learning and whatnot, I went with some bagseed to get my feet wet. I germinated 10 seeds by tossing them in a clean shot glass with a coffee cup turned upside down over it for two days until the root burst the seeds open. I've heard of other methods, but this seemed the easiest/most convenient way to go. I ended up getting 9 out of 10 to germinate, which isn't too horrible I guess.

After germination, I purchased a heated mat and used some 8oz. Dixie cups as my starting pots. I've heard lots of bad things about Miracle Gro but that is all I had access to, so I went with it as my medium. The pots went under the CFL for 24 hour cycles and did well. They stayed for a few days. I think one of the youngun's got a little sun burned, so I adjusted the light and there haven't been any other issues with that.

Since then, I would say they have begun their vegetation cycle, and I have moved them to 18/6 photoperiod. I also transplanted them into 5" pots. Almost all of the plants are starting to form their third set of leaves. It is pretty exciting to watch the plants change and grow.

So now that I have went over everything that I have done so far with my setup, I will talk about what I am unsure about, what I plan to do in the future with this grow, and then ask for any and all advice from everyone here in the community.

One thing I haven't messed with yet is the pH. I know that this is a very important thing. I need to get a meter and something to adjust it up/down. Any recommendations on this?

Another thing is medium. I started off using Miracle Grow, and I know that at a bare minimum, I need to add some more nutrients/minerals/etc. What should I do about this?

After veg, which I'm guess will be 2 to 4 months, I need to switch out this bulb for the red spectrum CFL bulb. This should be fine shouldn't it?

In the future, I plan to take one of the shelves from the cabinet (there were four and I'm not using any of them) and cut the cabinet in half horizontally. Then I want to get another grow hood/ballast and have a simulaneous veg/flowering cabinet. I will cut some holes in the shelves so that the venting still works properly, but be able to keep it air tight covering them for when the flowering portion needs to be completely dark. I also wouldn't mind getting into hydroponics eventually, but baby steps here right? Lol.

Anyways, I am now one week from seed into this grow, and I hope to get lots of input on what I am doing right and wrong, as well as advice on how to improve what I've got going on here. There are photos of the cabinet and youngun's below. I will update with photos maybe once per week so that we can get some kind of slide show going on. It'll be helpful to have so that I can learn from my first grow

Thanks a lot all

faulkn22 Reviewed by faulkn22 on 08-02-2007. 1st Timer Here - Cabinet Grow First off, let me say thank you to everyone on this forum, as there is a library full of great information here at your finger tips. I decided to set up a home garden, at first for my girlfriend to grow some small herbs, etc. Since then, I have upgraded it somewhat into a growing cabinet. I am a first timer here, so I would like discuss my cabinet and see what I can do to improve my setup. Thank you in advance to anyone with some input. For the cabinet, I got a Sterilite utility storage Rating: 5

[crazywill]

Dump the aluminum foil and paint it with flat white paint.It will reflect more light and not burn your babys.If can can get a HPS lamp for flowering,its 10 times better than cfls.That way you can veg with cfls and flower with with HPS.But its a good start and a good learning cab too.Nice job so far.You can order on line nutrs and soil too,and all the grow supplys. Peace

[faulkn22]

I was really hoping for some help on a couple topics tonight so that I can go to the store tomorrow and pick up everything else that I need. Please help! Thanks!

[faulkn22]

White paint really does reflect the light better huh? I read somewhere about something you can get at Home Depot for a couple bucks that is like aluminum foil, but completely flat surfaced. Anyways, thanks for letting me know about the paint.

Yeah, the HPS is a great idea too. I was trying to only use CFL's, as to not kill my electricity bill, but I don't want to miss out on a better yield because my wallet is too tight.

Do you have any idea of what I should be mixing with the Miracle Gro as far as nutrients and other minerals go?

Thanks for the input crazywill!

[BongHitBoy420]

Actually, lumens per watt, you get more bang for your buck running a HPS vs CFLs (CFLs are just cheaper to buy). :thumbsup:

[faulkn22]

Really? I've always heard that HID systems were hard on the electric bill and CFLs were a way to get around that.

[BongHitBoy420]

I'll post it if I cant find it again, but in one of my grow books (or online ugh i cant recall -- too many sources) theres a really nice chart that goes over wattage, kwph, lumen/lux, to compare incandesant vs floresent tubes vs CFL vs MH vs HPS.

HPS produces the most lumens per watt. If you want 2 48 watt CFLs (96 watts) each bulb gives ~2700 lumens your getting 5200 lumens when a Home Depot 70w outdoor garage lamp modified will shed like 8 or 9k lumens on 70 watts

Till I find it I usually refer people to this link on Greenmans's site, pretty good and goes over ALOT from temps to wattage to lumen vs lux etc.

Marijuana Lighting Types and Intensities

[BongHitBoy420]

Side note though, its entirely up to you as the route you take. CFLs are handy and produce EXCELLENT results especially in vegative growth... imho anyway I use them, im not trash talking them

No real right or wrong way I suspose, its all about what you intend on doing and what you hope to accomplish. Ive seen small small plants that look like they were grown under hid lights on here.

[faulkn22]

Awesome, I definately think I'm going to upgrade to HID units. So far though, the CFL is working great on the youngun's. I think I'll keep the CFL for propagation/seedling stage, use a 250W MH for veg, and a 250W HPS for flowering. Thanks for your input bonghit, great information there with the conversions, etc.

[PharmaCan]

Ditch the foil. Have you heard that enough times yet? The stuff you are talking about is "mylar". You can buy it at Walmart and other sporting goods stores. It is sold as "emergency blankets". Very inexpensive. If you can't find mylar, white paint works good too.

If you get an HID, get a digital ballast and then you can use either bulb - mh/hps - with the same ballast.

PC :smokin: