Greetings Everyone, and especially myself.

I'm using this as a true grow log, a step by step to my successes and failures using a CFL Cabinet. Before I get too in depth, I'd like to point out that the main reason I decided to use CFL's was heat - It was not cost. Originally I thought CFL's would be 30-40 degrees cooler in a cabinet, and my heat issues would be null and void. Where I'm growing, I have no need for carbon filters, no matter how bad the stink is, I'm covered.

That being said, my germ/clone box is in top of the cabinet (of course, for the additional heat). I'm germinating 12 strains for personal use, the main ones are Chocolope, GrandDaddy Purple, Amnesia, AK 47, Super Haze, Lemon Express, Pineapple Express - If you consider the values of some of these strains, you can see that I'm ultimately creating my own strain using different variables of these. All my seeds are feminized, I do however have a male GrandDaddy Purple and a male AK that I will be using as my pollinators when I'm ready to start my first generations of my own strain. For now, lets get to the grow box.

Expense has been no object here. I was actually considering purchasing a coliseum grow-box, however current living space requirements put me in the range of a box or utility closet. I opted for the utility closet, and since my original intentions were to grow no more than 6 plants, I got a rather small and cheap closet, 27" wide, 15" deep, 68" tall. This would have actually been perfect for 6 plants, however, I've already outgrown it, and my first seeds haven't finished germinating yet! (Doesn't that figure?)

Future plans are already being made, this will be turned into my veg cabinet - So, for now, lets continue once again, I purchased a plastic cabinet that was on sale for about 50% off, there was a much nicer wood cabinet (white interior) for about $70 more, I didn't buy it originally because I didn't think I had the room. The plastic cabinet I'm using now ran me $49 at Home Depot. The wooden cabinet was $130, and I will be purchasing it on my next trip. (Don't worry, I'll show pics of that as well)

Originally for my germination/clone box I wanted to use daylight T5's, however, none of the hardware or lighting stores around here had anything over 5k for T5's, I also couldn't find a T8 frame I liked, so I went with the T12 frame, and put in GE 610 nm daylights in. The top part of this cabinet is adjustable, and the light currently sits 4" from my clone box (perfect for clones, a little high for seeds, but I will set the box on a harry potter book when I sow). I would adjust the shelf for the seedlings, however, it takes roughly 15 minutes, and since its setup for clones, I'd rather not mess with it.

My veg box is powered by 6 syvania 100 watt 6500's, these are micro CFL's and I'm not too happy with the current lighting arrangement, however for this first grow, we'll see how it goes. this cabinet is adjustable, and is current setup to let the plants get about 9" high, which is when most of them will be going into flower, I do have some strains that will need 12-14" before flower.

For the flower box, I have 12 150 Watt Syvania 2700's on top, as well as 1 150 watt Syvania 6500 for full spectrum while flowering, I originally wired in series (doesn't work, do not wire your CFL bulbs in series!!!) which took about an hour, and another 3 hours to fix! Reading through other grow logs, I've noticed that one of the biggest complaints is undergrowth lighting. Since my original plan was to only flower 6 ladies at a time, I fixed this problem with 2 100 watt 2700 flood lights wired into the base of the cabinet to shine up into the undergrowth. I know... killer idea, and yes, you should use it!

Problem - Since I'm germinating about 12 strains right now, my plan is to get the bigger grow box before flower and use this setup only for veg - I'm planning on using a new technique using a 5" deep storage tub, and letting all my roots inter-tangle. I recently read on another thread that using a small growing space, and this technique, helps get rid of the need for 5 gallon buckets, so I'm very interested in trying it out, and my results will be posted here.

As far as yields, honestly, I'm hoping for a lot. I'm looking forward to at least 8 ounces per plant, now this is my first grow, so I know the possibility of that is slim to none, but I will work on it.

Cooling/Ventilation:
The box with all the lights on gets to about 100 degrees, There is a window conditioner right next to the box, and if the door is cracked with the air and all the lights on, its right around 80 degrees - I haven't put fans in yet, I am planning on putting in 3 120mm quite fans, and 1 for exhaust - This hasn't happened yet because I was under the impression that the CFL's would be much easier on heat (I'm still looking into my fan options at the moment)

Germination:
As you can see from my pictures, I'm germinating most of my seeds in the bags they originally came in. I'm doing this because I don't want to clutter my shelves with tons of shot glasses filled with seeds. My GrandDaddyPurple strain is being germinated in the same fashion, only using sandwich baggies. These are put into a glass jar, and covered with a beer cup.

Rooting:
After germination (all my seeds have cracked at 18 hours, some showing a 1mm tail, I plan on rooting at 5mm) I will be placing them into a seedling box which is designed to hold 72 seedlings (this is for cloning, and has a humidity dome for the clones). Since the box currently holds decent temps for seedlings, I'm not using a heating pad.

The seedlings will be put into MG potting mix inside the trays until they are about 2" and showing good leaves

Veg:
As stated above, I am going to be placing my seedlings into veg at about 2" and will start to top them ASAP, I'm looking for 8 main branches on each lady before we go into flower. I will be giving tomato nutes when the soil is dryer on top until the plants go into veg, I'm using MG organic choice, diluted by 50% for the feeding. Most of my strains will be put into flower with 8 tops and around 9" tall.

Flower:
At the flower stage I'm currently not sure if I'm going to use a screen for scrog, depending on how the arrangement looks in veg, I might just do that - I'm hoping however that my under-lights will help keep everything well lit - I have considered doing 3 smaller boxes with 4 plants each arrange around the under lights instead of just 1 big tub, depending on my schedule the next few weeks, we'll see which route I take! I am using MG Bloom Booster for flower feeding.

I am aware that many growers shy away from MG - However in my experience, MG is a wonderful product as long as you use it correctly for your precious ladies. Never use it as directed, always water it down by at least 40%, and if your paying special attention to your girls, you should be able to make any corrections you need to.

I realize this is my first grow, but I also realize first and foremost that this is a weed. Too much attention, and you'll kill it, honestly, its best to sit back and do nothing than to over do it.

As for the pictures, sorry the cabinet is mostly empty at this time, but I will be updating this on an constant basis up until harvest time. I can tell you, I'm totally looking forward to this first trimjob I have coming up!

PS - some of these strains are clone to harvest in 45 days, seed to harvest in 60, so some will be going into flower much quicker than others. I also realize there maybe a few questions of lighting schedules. the veg stage will be 24/7 and flower will be 12/12. I know many people like 18/6 for veg stage, and I may switch if I need to, perhaps a veteran grower can give me some advice here, I would appreciate it.

Now for the Pictures!


This is Super Haze, you can see the root at about 1mm right now


This is Amnesia, you can see the root just coming out


This is my germ station - Just two glasses with bags of seeds + distilled water


Clone Tray without lid for seedlings


Veg box - About 12" tall total. You'll notice I wired my flower box in a much better fashion,
I will be duplicating the process on my veg box when I upgrade soon (hopefully a month)


Flower box shot, notice the under lighting. 13 150w lights above, 2 100w floodlights below


As I said, this is a cheap cabinet


Do NOT wire your CFL's in series


These are my flower lights - 150 watts, 2700k 2600 lumens, that means my flower stage
is 2150 watts, and 39k Lumens!!!!


Flowering lights - 600 watts total, 8700 lumens total - I plan to up this to 2k watts and
29k lumens when I upgrade cabinets.


This was the bottle we got to celebrate the box and seed order! (Not really, we got it for
my promotion, but it was about the same time!!!!)
low_rdr Reviewed by low_rdr on . First Grow - 2600 + watt CFL!!!! Greetings Everyone, and especially myself. I'm using this as a true grow log, a step by step to my successes and failures using a CFL Cabinet. Before I get too in depth, I'd like to point out that the main reason I decided to use CFL's was heat - It was not cost. Originally I thought CFL's would be 30-40 degrees cooler in a cabinet, and my heat issues would be null and void. Where I'm growing, I have no need for carbon filters, no matter how bad the stink is, I'm covered. That being said, Rating: 5