Here are my materials. Can I grow?

[horror business]

I'm 16, obviously underage, but before you tell me not to grow in my parents house, the risks involved, etc... let me assure you that my mother is aware of this, and was the one who bought me these supplies. Now I'll continue:

I just got back from Wal-Mart where I purchased the following:

Schultz Professional Potting Soil Plus : For African Violets & Flowering Plants
Shultz Horticulture Perlite
12" green plastic pot
GROW LIGHT Portable Light. It's 24" and says it's "undercabinet". It says it saves up to 80% energy costs, which I heard is good, so the electric bill doesn't get to high and obvious. The light I got says 75 Watt Light Output but says it only uses 17 watts of energy.

That will be my main light, but since I'm growing in my closet, I was planning on putting the light (since it's undercabinet) on my closet ceiling. I figured that it wouldn't be good to put it on just one side. My closet is very small inside, but is just as tall as any other door or closet. I was planning on covering the entire inside of my closet with alluminum foil (dull side). Since I'm obviously on a budget, I'm not trying to have the PERFECT grow closet, etc... I just want to grow my own decent bud.

Also, I have a little 30 watt-max lamp, and bought a pack of two Pre-Tested 15W/120V Incandescent Aquarium Plant Growt Bulbs, which I plan to use when my plants sprout.

So, my question is, does this sound like a good beginner set-up? Also, my main light is very bright, and when I turn it on, it's a glowing light purple, which is very bright. Having my light way at the top of my closet ceiling, will it still reach the plant, which will be on my closet floor? That's my main concern...

Please reply asap with any suggestions and tell me if this set-up will grow me any pot. Thanks. :rasta:

horror business Reviewed by horror business on 05-03-2006. Here are my materials. Can I grow? I'm 16, obviously underage, but before you tell me not to grow in my parents house, the risks involved, etc... let me assure you that my mother is aware of this, and was the one who bought me these supplies. Now I'll continue: I just got back from Wal-Mart where I purchased the following: Schultz Professional Potting Soil Plus : For African Violets & Flowering Plants Shultz Horticulture Perlite 12" green plastic pot GROW LIGHT Portable Light. It's 24" and says it's "undercabinet". It Rating: 5

[horror business]

Also, assuming (or hoping) that my set-up will work, one question that I've always wondered is: once my seeds germinate, how far down in the soil should I plant them?

[Th3 sand m4n]

when you put the seeds in the soil use a pen to form a hole in the soil about a half inch (or how ever long the tap is) then place the seed taproot down in the little hole u made and then cover the seed with a little bit of dirt and wait a day or two.

[Th3 sand m4n]

O and your 16 and your mom lets you grow? Thats cool and bad at the same time lol. Ok about your setup you have a lot of random lights, you should have just bought one hps light. The lights you have will probally work just not as good as a hps, mv or metal halide. One of the lights you mentioned was incandescent... incandescents are the worst type of light for your grow! since your mom is cool with growing just go get a hps light and dont use the other stuff (trust me it would be better in the long run) As for the other stuff every thing sounds fine to me. :thumbsup:

[nemf 2000]

:thumbsup:

O and your 16 and your mom lets you grow? Thats cool and bad at the same time lol. Ok about your setup you have a lot of random lights, you should have just bought one hps light. The lights you have will probally work just not as good as a hps, mv or metal halide. One of the lights you mentioned was incandescent... incandescents are the worst type of light for your grow! since your mom is cool with growing just go get a hps light and dont use the other stuff (trust me it would be better in the long run) As for the other stuff every thing sounds fine to me. :thumbsup:

MV light is no good if your gonna use a hid light! MV= Mercury Vapor. If it were me i would go with the flouros for veg as it will keep the $$ down on the bill for MOM!! And you wouldnt hav etodeal with the heat issues from the hid light. You can always add a small hps light when you go 12/12 andrun it with the flouros.

[BigBudDaddy08]

Hey 'horror'' i know where your coming from the low budget .Here are 2 links to my previous grow it costed under 20 bucks .If your read through it you may gain a little information of stufff i went wrong with.Then you wont go through problems i went through .If you do read it dont listn to anything about the 250hps i got on the threads it blew up a few days after i got it.Also i got 2 1/2 ounces off her.Good Luck

http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=28932

http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=37165

[nemf 2000]

You must keep your plant at the most 2" from your flouros to avoid stretching to much. And get a small fan touse for air movement in your closet. And this is a great forum for you to learn as much as you want and the search button is the greatest tool for that! Not being a smart ass either so dont take that the wrong way. But its nice to read instant answers to most of your questions because there is a ton of info on everything you need to know. GL

[horror business]

Well the incadecent light was just a small little bulb I got, it's made for aquarium plants, I was just going to use it when the plant is a baby, so it's not too strong. Anyway, what about my main light that I bought? I just drilled holes in my closet ceiling and put it up there. Damn, it's bright when I close the door. Anyway, I don't have alot of money, in fact, it's my mom buying most of the equipment for me, and I looked everywhere at Wal-Mart for lights, and all I found where flourecent lights, such as the one I got (at least it was in the flourecent section, and it says it's a grow light...) But, I might go to this plant farm (if that's what they're called) that is about 10 minutes away. They have all kinds of plants, and I'd assume they'd have the lights I need. Also, in my closet, about 1-2' from the ceiling, I have a shelf that I can take off. I was thinking, I could put my plants up there, so they're closer to the light?

So, how much would a good but cheap light cost me? And should I mount it on the ceiling, or put them on the sides? If I put it on the ceiling, for a while I was giong to put my plant on the shelf, so it gets more light, but if I have to put it on the ground, my closet on the inside is carpet, so should I cover that with alluminum foil as well?

ALSO, one last question...: I know they (to mix the soil) say to put 80% potting soil, and 20% perlite, so do I just mix it all together, or put the perlite on the top or bottom or something? Thanks again, and please reply asap, as I want to feel at peace when I go to bed tonight, that I'll soon be on the right track.

[Th3 sand m4n]

:thumbsup:
MV light is no good if your gonna use a hid light! MV= Mercury Vapor. If it were me i would go with the flouros for veg as it will keep the $$ down on the bill for MOM!! And you wouldnt hav etodeal with the heat issues from the hid light. You can always add a small hps light when you go 12/12 andrun it with the flouros.

sorry you are right nemf its just that they are better then incandescent
Mercury Vapor lamps are less efficient than fluorescent (FL), and can not be positioned as close to the plants, so the plants will not be able to use as much of the MV light. The light distribution is not as good either. MV lamps simply are not suitable for indoor gardening.

[horror business]

Also, one more thing: later tonight, I'm going to try to borrow my moms digital camera, and take some pictures, so you guys can get a better idea of what I'm working with. As far as smell is concerned, as long as it doesn't fill the whole house up with that smell, I don't really care, because my room usually always smells like a mix of pot and tobacco, as well as "Fizzy Pop" insence which smells just like Sprite... So, if I get like a regular cheap but good fan, to move the air around in my closet, will that be good?