Need help with building a grow cabinet

[Minnesnowta]

I have tons of leftover building materials and what not so I am looking to build a little cabinet to grow 5 or so plants indoors. I plan to try to keep the veg cycle somewhat short so I can keep trying out different strains and what not. I just wanted to get some suggestions on cabinet dimentions to grow 5 plants in soil through the flowering stage. Height, width, depth would be good. I plan to use lights that I can adjust to keep close to the plants. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, perhaps even some pictures of your own similar cabinets would be great. Thanks ya'll and hopefully I'll have some good pics for ya soon.

Also I would like to know some info on lighting. I plan to have one cabinet for early veg growth and one for flowering. I would like to know what lights I would need in each box in order to grow 5 plants at probably about 3' tall. Using CFLs what size bulb and how many would I need? Also what size HPS if I decide to go that route. Any information you could offer would be appreciated.

Minnesnowta Reviewed by Minnesnowta on 11-04-2011. Need help with building a grow cabinet I have tons of leftover building materials and what not so I am looking to build a little cabinet to grow 5 or so plants indoors. I plan to try to keep the veg cycle somewhat short so I can keep trying out different strains and what not. I just wanted to get some suggestions on cabinet dimentions to grow 5 plants in soil through the flowering stage. Height, width, depth would be good. I plan to use lights that I can adjust to keep close to the plants. Any suggestions would be greatly Rating: 5

[CanGroIt]

My suggestion would be to build a 4'h x 3'w x 2'd veg cab and a 7'h x 4'w x 3'd flower cab.... 6 - 100w equivalent CFL's in the veg cab and a 600w - 1000w HPS for flower.... My cabs are similar dimensions and I grow many more than just five....(perpetual SOG).... So you should have no problem fitting 3'ers in the flower cab.... Learn how to SCROG.... Improves yield when working with not so many plants....

Hope this helps....

CGI::::::

Oh and try not to start two threads with the same question.... Patience my friend....

[Minnesnowta]

Yeah my bad on the multiple threads, I just realized there were always 60ish ppl searching in here and only like 8 in the DIY section so I figured I'd repost. Getting somewhat time sensitive anyways since I already have the process started in a temp cabinet. But you really think I would need that wattage from the HPS? 600w minimum? I was thinking smaller but I haven't ever used them and don't have a clue I suppose. Either way is no problem I was just thinking about heat, and if it ended up getting too warm in there I would like to know my options. Thanks for the info by the way, 7' tall seems big for the flower cab, but I guess when you factor in venting/fans/lights and all that above the plants that makes sense.

Also... what is SCROG? I'll probably go look that up now, it sounds like a familiar term.

[CanGroIt]

The wattage for your flwr cab is really up to you....but the 600w or a 1k will give you the most penetration to lower growth as opposed to something with less wattage....

As far as heat goes - Get an air cooled good to go with your lamp so you can run ducting with a fan to cool it.... Works great if you loop outside air to run through the lamp and then back outside again.... Will minimize heat in your grow space....

CGI::::::

[Minnesnowta]

Thanks for the info, with a 7' tall box how big would you think I could get the plants to be? factoring in the lights/light distance as well as the pots the plants will sit in? And in order to achieve this height how tall would I want them to get in veg state?

[CanGroIt]

Thanks for the info, with a 7' tall box how big would you think I could get the plants to be? factoring in the lights/light distance as well as the pots the plants will sit in? And in order to achieve this height how tall would I want them to get in veg state?

You can figure each plant will double or triple in size when flowering....strain dependent of course....

As far as light distance, how big of plants and how big of pots and what not is going to totally depend on you.... I could sit here and type all day what I think and at the end of the day, you're going to get what you think is best anyway.... One bit of advice is to use smaller pots for veg and larger ones for flower.... How large???....is totally up to you....

CGI::::::

[silent leprechaun]

I would sell or burn the left over building materials and buy a good tent.

But that's just me.