First Time Grow

[SnowGrow]

Hey guys, just get done setting up my grow box for my first time grow. It has a 300W equivalent CFL (about 4500 lumens) hanging over the plant with a color temp of 2700k and 2 24" tube fluorescents (about 1k lumens each) that are like 70W equivalent each with a color temp of like 7200k. I used almost 8 quarts of soil of miracle grow moisture control in the bottom of the grow box and I'm planning to grow one plant about 20" tall after the flowering is done. I'm hoping to get about 2 more grow boxes like this. I ordered 5 feminized white widow seeds.

So I've read quite a bit about growing but I just want to get my plan down and get a last couple of questions answered.
-How much would one 20" white widow plant yield if I did a reasonably good job? How about if I did a great job?
-Seedling and through vegging phases are about 20 hours of light and 4 hours dark right?
-Flowering is 12 of light and 12 of dark right? and you're supposed to keep the starting hour of night the same when you switch times to minimize stress right?
-How much is it going to grow during the flowering phase? I need to know so that it can get done right at about 20".

Last odd questions, I know plants use CO2 during the calvin cycle IIRC high school bio correctly. Would using bubbly (CO2 filled) water have any advantage over using tap water?

Thanks guys!

EDIT - BTW. it's a 13"x8"x22" grow box. I'm assuming that's going to be about just right for one plant right?

SnowGrow Reviewed by SnowGrow on 01-10-2011. First Time Grow Hey guys, just get done setting up my grow box for my first time grow. It has a 300W equivalent CFL (about 4500 lumens) hanging over the plant with a color temp of 2700k and 2 24" tube fluorescents (about 1k lumens each) that are like 70W equivalent each with a color temp of like 7200k. I used almost 8 quarts of soil of miracle grow moisture control in the bottom of the grow box and I'm planning to grow one plant about 20" tall after the flowering is done. I'm hoping to get about 2 more grow Rating: 5

[SnowGrow]

Here's what it looks like...



I made a little duct out of tape to facilitate the air and to block light.


Here's the fan

[tevfik]

I can answer some of your questions.

I'm planning to grow one plant about 20" tall after the flowering is done. I'm hoping to get about 2 more grow boxes like this. I ordered 5 feminized white widow seeds.
Why two more boxes? Isn't it better to use all together as one unit. Good for lighting, air, fitting.

-Seedling and through vegging phases are about 20 hours of light and 4 hours dark right?
You can do with 24/0, 20/4 (mostly for auto flowers), 18/6 (This is most people do)

-Flowering is 12 of light and 12 of dark right? and you're supposed to keep the starting hour of night the same when you switch times to minimize stress right?
Yes, 12/12. Normally, when the last vegging day ended, switch the timer for 12/12. 12 hours later flowering day will start. If you need to change starting hours just make sure you don't give a long day. You can give a long night. Even up to 36 hours or 48h (I think, I don't remember well) to tell the plant "flowering period started".

-How much is it going to grow during the flowering phase? I need to know so that it can get done right at about 20".
Depends on lights. 1 - 1,5 size normally, with your bulb this can be more than 2 size. You can train the plant to keep compact.

Last odd questions, I know plants use CO2 during the calvin cycle IIRC high school bio correctly. Would using bubbly (CO2 filled) water have any advantage over using tap water?
You don't need to worry about CO2 with your setup.

EDIT - BTW. it's a 13"x8"x22" grow box. I'm assuming that's going to be about just right for one plant right?
8" space is narrow for a plant. When i looked at the pictures i thought that was the light fixture only
Like i said in the beginning, you can put together aall those boxes to have one proper box. 13"x24"x22" sounds good for two plants.

[SnowGrow]

It seems to be a pita to keep my temp controlled. It seems to fluxuate between 78-85. And it gets down to like 68 when it's not on. Are these temps ok? I know 78 is optimum and 90+ is plant death. Is the higher end of 78-85 going to cause problems?

[SnowGrow]

Man this board doesn't respond very quickly...

Turns out it's not a good idea to have the exhaust pointing toward the intake... Now I got a cool 77-78F pretty steadily

[tevfik]

It seems to be a pita to keep my temp controlled. It seems to fluxuate between 78-85. And it gets down to like 68 when it's not on. Are these temps ok? I know 78 is optimum and 90+ is plant death. Is the higher end of 78-85 going to cause problems?

Keep the thermometer in shade and major like that. Not under direct light.
Always be careful after 80, it does not effect directly but can cause side effects. For example, you may feed for optimum dosage but if your temps are not optimum, there can be nutrient problems because of that. It's like a chain. If one of the link is weak, the chain is weak.
For cooling the temperature down:
-You can place an intake to the bottom and point it to CFL.
-Remove those foil from the walls. Paint it flat white.
-Keep the door open.
-Use ice cubes, also helps to raise humidity.

[SnowGrow]

Keep the thermometer in shade and major like that. Not under direct light.
Always be careful after 80, it does not effect directly but can cause side effects. For example, you may feed for optimum dosage but if your temps are not optimum, there can be nutrient problems because of that. It's like a chain. If one of the link is weak, the chain is weak.
For cooling the temperature down:
-You can place an intake to the bottom and point it to CFL.
-Remove those foil from the walls. Paint it flat white.
-Keep the door open.
-Use ice cubes, also helps to raise humidity.

Well it's a digital thermometer so I just put the probe down in the soil for soil temp and there's a second readout for the sensor that's on the device (one probe sensor and one sensor in the device). So I can get the air temp and then soil temp. I have my exhaust fan up top sucking right on my 300W equiv. bulb which is convenient because it's also the hottest and it stays pretty cool to the touch. I also made a new grow box that is much better organized and works much better than the one I have pictured. I need to take pics.

It's actually pretty funny. After I redirected the exhaust air up instead of down toward the intake, it's actually too cool now. I get a constant 71.8F now. At least I've heard that'd the perfect temp (72F) for flowering strong buds. 78F-80F is optimum for vegging and like 72F-74F is optimum for flowering from what I've read.

Just need to get those white widow seeds!!! C'mon nirvana seeds! I'm germ'ing some bag seeds of shitty weed I had from awhile ago just for fun.

EDIT: Also that's a really good idea about the ice cubes. Like a really great idea.

[SnowGrow]

Even more pathetic... it's night and I'm running it. At night my house drops like 4-5 degrees so that the ambient temp is like 65F-66F. My grow box is a pretty constant 67.1F now. that's freezing. I'm going to have to just find the right amount of heat recirculation and exhaust direction I guess...

[SnowGrow]

well I repositioned some stuff and now I get about 74-76F so I'm golden.

Does growing smell? Like if I have like 3 plants in their own little grow boxes, will it smell like hell? or does it not really smell at all? or what? It's going to be white widow if that matters.

[TheScrogBox]

The smell will definitely be noticeable, but not to worry, there are a few simple things that you can do to mask it considering that there are only a few plants. You can get a carbon filter and put it on the end of the exhaust, this will cut back on odors. Also, you can simply go and purchase some odor absorbing gels and place them near the exhaust. Ona gel is always a safe bet. Hope your grow is going well!!