New Grower Here

[Savage Nature]

So by that I want a DMH for blue light and a HPS for red light? *confused*
...but that would be for a bigger operation and optimal growing correct? And I'm not shooting that high yet so... you said I could go with a CFL which is a compact flouresent light. Correct? I don't see that on the chart at all... But just taking your word and going with that; can I get two types of CFL's, one that will emit red light and one that will emit blue light? Also I have vaugly heard of Flo's but don't know what they are.

It would be so helpful if you just told me in 'stupid person english' what to get... *weak grin* I just can't seem to grasp this lighting element...

[Psycho4Bud]

So by that I want a DMH for blue light and a HPS for red light? *confused*
...but that would be for a bigger operation and optimal growing correct? And I'm not shooting that high yet so... you said I could go with a CFL which is a compact flouresent light. Correct? I don't see that on the chart at all... But just taking your word and going with that; can I get two types of CFL's, one that will emit red light and one that will emit blue light? Also I have vaugly heard of Flo's but don't know what they are.

It would be so helpful if you just told me in 'stupid person english' what to get... *weak grin* I just can't seem to grasp this lighting element...

CFLs and Flo's are the same spectum light. Flo's are like the tube lights...you know,...skinny and anywhere from 2 ft. long to 8 ft. long. Usually you'll see them in drop ceilings ...they are the 4 footers...most common of the flo's and the lowest cost also.

Just in case...Flo is just short for flourencent. :thumbsup:
Good Luck!!! :thumbsup:

[Savage Nature]

OK that makes alot of sense now. Yeah I want to use Flo's in this design as I think it will give me a better coverage of light on the plant. So I can pick up Flo's in red and blue spectrum then? If so that just made things 100% simpler.

I was just about to search the forums for this but I might as well ask it incase I don't find it.

How do I tell the difference between male and female plants? Is there a really really easy way? And when will I be able to tell for sure (EX: Approx. 2 weeks of growing)? Heh... yeah... I feel so dumb asking these questions.

[Psycho4Bud]

OK that makes alot of sense now. Yeah I want to use Flo's in this design as I think it will give me a better coverage of light on the plant. So I can pick up Flo's in red and blue spectrum then? If so that just made things 100% simpler.

I was just about to search the forums for this but I might as well ask it incase I don't find it.

How do I tell the difference between male and female plants? Is there a really really easy way? And when will I be able to tell for sure (EX: Approx. 2 weeks of growing)? Heh... yeah... I feel so dumb asking these questions.

When ya buy your flo's get the cool white and an equal amount of soft white. Run the combo at the same time and that will take ya all the way through the grow. Good Luck!! :thumbsup:

[Savage Nature]

Thanks a ton Psycho, you really have helped me out alot.

Anywho I hope to have happy growing soon! Just need to assemble the growing station, go find some parts I need from the shed and get my seeds together!

If I got anymore questions I can't find on my own I'll be sure to ask. xD

EDIT: Here is a basic compilation of what I have for the growing element of this project so far:

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Soil
-Should drain well. That is, it should have some sand in it and also some sponge rock or pearlite.
-The pH should be between 6.5 and 7.5 since marijuana does not do well in acidic soil. High acidity in soil encourages the plant to be predominantly male, an undesirable trait.
-The soil should also contain humus for retaining moisture and nutrients.

1 - Germinate
-Place the seed between six moist paper towels.
-Wait between one day to one week for the sprouts to develope
-Plant the seed as soon as it crack open and begins to sprout. Place it on some moist soil and sprinkle a little soil over top of it.

2 - Grow
-Lighting
-One 2 foot flouresent lighting unit, cool white and soft white tubes.
*Keep light 2 inches above plant
*Plants grow during the day and flower during the night
*24 hours of light till plant is 10 inches tall and then 12/12 lighting

3 - Harvest
First, pull the plant up roots and all and hang it upside down for 24 hours. Then put each plant in a paper grocery bag with the top open for three or four days or until the leaves feel dry to the touch. Now strip the leaves off the stem and put them in a glass jar with a lid. Don't pack the leaves in tightly, you want air to reach all the leaves. The main danger in the curing process is mold. If the leaves are too damp when you put them into the jar, they will mold and since the mold will destroy the resins, mold will ruin your marijuana. you should check the jars every day by smelling them and if you smell an acrid aroma, take the weed out of the jar and spread it out on newspaper so that it can dry quickly. Another method is to uproot the plants and hang them upside down. You get some burlap bags damp and slip them up over the plants. Keep the bags damp and leave them in the sun for at least a week. Now put the plants in a paper bag for a few days until the weed is dry enough to smoke. Like many fine things in life, marijuana mellows out with age. The aging process tends to remove the chlorophyll taste.
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[Psycho4Bud]

Soil
-Should drain well. That is, it should have some sand in it and also some sponge rock or pearlite.
-The pH should be between 6.5 and 7.5 since marijuana does not do well in acidic soil. High acidity in soil encourages the plant to be predominantly male, an undesirable trait.
-The soil should also contain humus for retaining moisture and nutrients.

I use 2 parts potting soil, one part peat, and one part perrilite.

1 - Germinate
-Place the seed between six moist paper towels.
-Wait between one day to one week for the sprouts to develope
-Plant the seed as soon as it crack open and begins to sprout. Place it on some moist soil and sprinkle a little soil over top of it.

Just drop the babies in a coffee cup full of water and leave it by a heat duct for about 48 hrs., cover the top so it don't get light...don't touch the seed or root...use a tweezers. plant it down about a half inch.

2 - Grow
-Lighting
-One 2 foot flouresent lighting unit, cool white and soft white tubes.
*Keep light 2 inches above plant
*Plants grow during the day and flower during the night
*24 hours of light till plant is 10 inches tall and then 12/12 lighting

When ya go to 12/12 you may want to add some lights to the sides...that'll help with the bud in the under gowth.

3 - Harvest
First, pull the plant up roots and all and hang it upside down for 24 hours. Then put each plant in a paper grocery bag with the top open for three or four days or until the leaves feel dry to the touch. Now strip the leaves off the stem and put them in a glass jar with a lid. Don't pack the leaves in tightly, you want air to reach all the leaves. The main danger in the curing process is mold. If the leaves are too damp when you put them into the jar, they will mold and since the mold will destroy the resins, mold will ruin your marijuana. you should check the jars every day by smelling them and if you smell an acrid aroma, take the weed out of the jar and spread it out on newspaper so that it can dry quickly. Another method is to uproot the plants and hang them upside down. You get some burlap bags damp and slip them up over the plants. Keep the bags damp and leave them in the sun for at least a week. Now put the plants in a paper bag for a few days until the weed is dry enough to smoke. Like many fine things in life, marijuana mellows out with age. The aging process tends to remove the chlorophyll taste.
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First I trim off all the leaf that has no trichomes (garbage). Then I hang the full plant for 15 days. Trim off the branches from the main stalk and prune the leaf off your bud. Leave the leaf sit for about 2-3 days and then put into mason jars. After about 7 days put your bud into mason jars. Open the jars for a half hour each day for 2 weeks and then all you have to do is enjoy!

That is at least my method...there are others. Good Luck!!! :thumbsup:

[Psycho4Bud]

Don't forget about your fan and filter either or you'll have a lil' odor problem in the future. Good Luck!! :thumbsup:

[amstron]

hey, savage. If you were usng a HPS light 250 watts would be optimum for this size a box, seeing as you are not, 2 ft fluoro tubes come in low wattages so sadly youd have to get a lot of them. Everything else sounds good.
Get a fan in there anyway to strengthen the stems of the plants when they are young

[Savage Nature]

Thanks alot for the help on that Psycho, the things you have said have been noted and added/changed in my notes.

And I am thinking of revising my box a little, so I can add a two more lights and a fan in, by filter I'm not sure what you mean though.

Top - 2 ft. Flo ballast
Sides - lights, not sure of what kind yet though
Bottom right - Fan tilted upwards, either towards to roof of the box or on the plant, depending on the strength of the fan.

I am going to the hardware store hopefully at lunch to check out some lighting gear and lights.

[Savage Nature]

Oh I almost forgot; why do you transplant? As in:
-Germinate
-Plant in smaller planter
-Transplant
-Harvest
Can't I just put it into the bigger planter to start?