Journal: Poor College Student Cultivates in Closet

[PassItToTheRight]

Alright, from the title you can see that I'm poor and I don't have much space. I also don't have much time. I'm moving out by July. But I think I'll be alright. This is my official first grow. I'll be using an ebb and flow system that I bought off ebay for 75 big ones. It came equipped with grow media, pots, water pump, nutrients, 2 reservoirs, and a whole lota love. The system can grow 9 small plants. For lighting I have a 95watt 6100K cfl and a 30watt wide spectrum cfl. When I get some more money I'll be buying either a 250watt hps or a 400watt hps ( I don't know how hot it will get in my closet with a 400hps ANY opinions).

I sprouted my seeds 5 days ago (everyone sprouted) I have 2 juicy fruit and 7 middie seeds. It sucks that I couldn't find anything better but I am very interested in seeing if I can grow good chronic without dank seeds.

I put the plants into the system yesterday, but to make things simple I'll use the first of the month as the official day 1 of VEG. woohoo. I'll be putting pics up this weekend so ya'll can check it out.

I would also like to note that I am doing this grow more or less for a little experience. I'll be moving to a state with much more lenient laws soon. So if your willing to give me some advice, I'll be more than willing to listen.

I hope this turns out to be a learning experience for everyone and I make out with some nice buhda.

PassItToTheRight Reviewed by PassItToTheRight on 03-01-2007. Journal: Poor College Student Cultivates in Closet Alright, from the title you can see that I'm poor and I don't have much space. I also don't have much time. I'm moving out by July. But I think I'll be alright. This is my official first grow. I'll be using an ebb and flow system that I bought off ebay for 75 big ones. It came equipped with grow media, pots, water pump, nutrients, 2 reservoirs, and a whole lota love. The system can grow 9 small plants. For lighting I have a 95watt 6100K cfl and a 30watt wide spectrum cfl. When I get Rating: 5

[MisterE]

On the 400w question. I have a 400w digital ballast and "cool breeze" reflector. I set the ballast on a high shelf, and I have a thermometer mounted on the wall right above it and it's never gotten over 79 degrees.

All I've ever used is a small Vornado brand desk fan, lol. Blowing half through the reflector, half over the canopy it's worked perfectly. I could lay my hand right on the reflector and it's just warm. However I do have attic access in the closet ceiling which I've left half open which is allowing tons of warm air to rise out.

Also, those ballasts come with long cords. You could put it outside the room entirely if you absolutely had to.

[PassItToTheRight]

Alright I have some pictures to share with you.

MisterE how small of a space are you growing in? I haven't got a thermometer yet but the temp is not a probable right now. I'm thinking a 400watt is probable the way to go but I still can't make up my mind about the heat.

On another note I went to Lowe's today and found a 150watt hps and a 70watt metal halide but they are for outside and need to be hardwired to the circuit board or whatever. Anyone know if its pretty easy to do or not. I'm not to sweet at the whole electrical thing. I would imagine I could buy something where I could bypass wiring it up to the circuit board, but I don't really know. It kinda seems like it would be to much trouble to install a light since I'll be moving after this grow.

And on another note I came up with a plan to grow in 2 cycles in a small room with a closet. I won't be doing this now but for my new house I think I'm gonna try it. The plan is to veg in the closet and then build a loft for my bed out of 2x4's and then close it off on 3 sides, except for one side where I can put a hatch. I'd be able to put the side thats not closed off right next to the window and wallah I'll have a good ventaltion system and constant fresh air.

thanks for listening

[MisterE]

My space is about 5 x 7 feet, 8 ft ceiling.

[Trainer07]

get a roof reflector on that envirolite, losing alot of light up into the top of your room

[Cornelius]

the 400 could work running through a cool tube with a good fan.

suggestion: build a carbon filter to take care of the smell, because i guarantee you it will get awfully smelly in there.

[BlazeIdo]

Get that cfl as close to those plants as possible, keep eum short and stout. Also blackout your rez somehow, roots dont like light, and you will run into algae problems. Why they dont sell them like that is beyond me. Good luck Peace

[PassItToTheRight]

Yeah I bought a aluminum foil cooking pan and put it up over the lights. Seems to work alright for $3. I also lowered my lights right after I took those pictures. Their about 4-5 inches above the plants. I'm hoping to get a deal on some nutrients today. I'm hoping my tax refund comes soon so I can get that hps. Right now I'm kinda leaning toward getting another 95watt cfl and then a 250watt hps. Total that would cost about $190 w/ shipping. I forgot my camera today but, I'll try to get pics up tomorrow. I think it looks much nicer than it did from the first day. Still working out the kinks but I think its gradually coming along nicely.

[PassItToTheRight]

I'm getting another 95watt CFL and Cutting Edge Solutions Grow, Micro, and Bloom nutrients. I am also getting a product called Sweet ( supposed to enhance aroma and flavor) All of this with shipping is gonna set me back about $130.

I have been wondering what I'm going to do about CO2. I'm thinking either by the pellets that you mix in water and it releases CO2 into the air (about $20 on ebay) or i'm gonna go to the make your own beer store and get sugar and yeast and combine it in a large jug. Then use a rubber stopper with a 8ft tube coming out of it. I'll have the tube's end coming right out at the canopy. If you dump out some of your mixture every couple of weeks and add more yeast, water, and sugar then it should be a constant supply of CO2. If anyone has tried doing this or has any knowledge they would like to share I would like to hear it. I don't think there would be too much CO2 from doing that but I don't really have any idea on the range of ppm would be released.

Here are some pics. The last one seems to be growing its leafs a little odd. I dunno thou.

[tomasinho]

Why are you gonna get CO2? How hot is it getting in there? Do you have a ventilation system? The only reason I ask is that - if you are about to move anyway and that grow is small - its probably not worth getting CO2 unless you really have no ventilation whatsoever and your temps are higher than 80. Its more of a pain in the ass to try to fit more stuff into that small space than its worth. Poor college students unite!