Medical grow question...

[lampost]

Hi guys,

I'm considering a grow to cover my personal medicinal needs and wanted to get some advice before setting out. I would've posted this in the "grow" section but I've noticed that the responses in that forum aren't always that great for these types of "yield" questions.

Anyway, I'm caregiver for my girlfriend as well, and a friend of hers may possibly be giving me caregiver status as well. So, I'll have 6-9 plants flowering at once and I can build a space anywhere from 9 sq ft - 16 sq ft. I'm considering a 400w - 600w HPS and will probably get a 600 HPS to increase yield. I will be getting an air-cooled hood so heat shouldn't be an issue. I'll be growing in a soil mix and feeding with undetermined nutrients as of yet (hopefully organic). I won't be supplementing with CO2 or anything. This will be my first grow, although I've dabbled and vegged plants a few times and my girl has a greenthumb.

So, my question is, assuming that everything goes pretty well and I get decent results, how much yield of dried/cured buds could one expect using a 600w HPS on 6-9 plants in a 12 sq ft space? I KNOW that this is highly variable, but I'm just looking for an average assuming that everything goes OK and there's no problems.

Also, what would the ideal spacing be? I can build my area as large as I need it, so if I have 6 plants would I want 6 sq ft? 9 sq ft? What is ideal assuming your area is cool and well-ventilated.

Any feedback on this would be appreciated. Also, anyone in CO who has had a successful small-scale medical grow with clones from dispensaries I'd be interested in hearing about your grow experience/results and where the clones came from. Please feel free to share and post any CO small-scale medical grow-related stuff in this forum.

lampost Reviewed by lampost on 11-16-2009. Medical grow question... Hi guys, I'm considering a grow to cover my personal medicinal needs and wanted to get some advice before setting out. I would've posted this in the "grow" section but I've noticed that the responses in that forum aren't always that great for these types of "yield" questions. Anyway, I'm caregiver for my girlfriend as well, and a friend of hers may possibly be giving me caregiver status as well. So, I'll have 6-9 plants flowering at once and I can build a space anywhere from 9 sq ft - Rating: 5

[copobo]

not knowing your strain and a ton of other variables makes any answer wrong. If you can fit a 1000 in there or even better 2 600's and ventilate+circulate the air allot, depending on how tall you veg and how you train... anywhere from .5 oz to 2 oz per plant. maybe more or less. LOL

If you are really concerned about higher yield you can move to hydro later...

[calphi27]

check out the krusty bucket style with light setup.

[lampost]

2 oz per plant seems really low? is that for real?

Anybody know of a reputable place to get clones? I'm looking for a place that uses known genetics like Greenhouse Seeds or Subcools or something like that. These places with 200+ clones kinda turn me off because there's a lot of crap and I don't want crap. I'm looking for some primo, well-known, proven genetics. Delta-9 looks like a good place, but I think they're way backed up on clones.

[cannamanibus]

If you keep your temp down, and veg. plants to a decent size since you wont be doing many plants. Either way you should get AT LEAST about .4 G/W of dried bud. So a 600w with 7-9 plants should yield 8 oz. Unless it is like regular genetics or somethn. Any kind of chrons should get you at least 3/4 to 2 oz per plant. i did a 600w 3x3 tray and 25 and got about 15 o's. that was hydroton medium, ebb & flow setup.

[lampost]

^Thanks, that's the feedback that I'm looking for.

So, I've been told by a caregiver to strive for 1g/W and it's not impossible to get close to those levels (I assume like 0.7-0.8g/W). But, he's obviously had a lot of practice.

Anyway, what could I do to increase that yield? Obviously, more plants, but that's probably not an option. What if I veg'd them for like 1-2 months? Could I get up closer to that 1g/W goal??

And I'd be growing a strain that's good for beginners like C-99 (I hope) or Northen Lights or something.

Also, anyone recommend any good grow stores in town? I went to Cultivate at 38th and Wadsworth and they sucked!! They watched me just walk around clueless for 3-4 minutes and I stood there...they offered no help whatsoever after I made it blatantly obvious and it started to get awkward so I just walked out!! Looks like their light selection sucked anyway.

[senorx12562]

The Big Tomato @ 6th and Sable.

[Steelwool]

The Big Tomato is great. Also, temp. is the biggest issue you'll have to overcome. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation sucking fresh air in and hot/stale air out (get a good can fan or duct fan). You'll need one to cool your light and one to vent the room. If you veg. for longer, the bigger your plants will be and the more yield you'll have but watch your height - they will double in height (at least) before you will harvest. There is a big learning curve and your yields & quality will increase the more experience you have. Don't expect much your first go. Also, check out The Complete guide to Sick Plants,pH, and Pest troubles! - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums for help when you run into trouble. Good luck!

[StoneyJake]

The Big Tomato @ 6th and Sable.

The Big Tomato is great. Also, temp. is the biggest issue you'll have to overcome. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation sucking fresh air in and hot/stale air out (get a good can fan or duct fan). You'll need one to cool your light and one to vent the room. If you veg. for longer, the bigger your plants will be and the more yield you'll have but watch your height - they will double in height (at least) before you will harvest. There is a big learning curve and your yields & quality will increase the more experience you have. Don't expect much your first go. Also, check out The Complete guide to Sick Plants,pH, and Pest troubles! - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums for help when you run into trouble. Good luck!

Big tomato is where i go. they have a discount card too :P

Sometimes my yield goes down the first time i try a new strain also. Each strains has its own personality. Some like as many nutes as you can give them and with some less is more. You might only get one ounce a piece off the first plants you grow but you will fine tune your grow for each strain and maximize yeild. 2.5oz under a 400w per plant is about what I can expect off the average strain now. My first few plants yielded an ounce or less a plant.

[illumination]

Lampost:
You have a great question and like many people are saying to get an answer to the equation you have to eliminate variables. Lumens per square foot is what your looking for and you answered many of your own questions i.e. strain variations and plant numbers. I think you hit the nail on the head by suggesting to veg your plants for a longer period. Colorado has a plant limit not a space limit and bigger plants equal more dry weight. I wouldn't necessarily increase your watts (unless you can subsequently control your temperature.) Regardless of where you want to be it all starts with where you are, and good genetics are the best place to start. SUBCOOL seeds offer some of the best genes around and they are available here in Colorado. PM me and we can talk some more. I hope this helps.