Right. Been browsing this site a lot and I'm just about ready to start my very first grow, with the aim to be totally self sufficient! I've picked a large cupboard in a spare room. Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment You can see from the diagram that there's space under the floor of the cupboard, where I was thinking about putting vent in the side wall, and putting a desk fan down there (to pull in the air)(...the red lines are what you can see in the photo). I'm covering the walls in black&white and I'm going to put a hole up into the attic, to vent the carbon filter (which I guess will be on a shelf near the top).

Now I've got some autohindukush seeds from a while ago (seemed like a good first try). Any advice on equipment to go in the cupboard would be appreciated. What lights/type etc and what carbon filters to prevent smells? I guess I'll be using potting soil or something (hydroponics looks a bit complex at the moment). Anyway, help a fella out. Cheers. Sisyphus.

I would investigate a HPS light and try and get a cooled reflector or cool tube to manage heat - but a lot of these decisions are dictated by how much you have to spend. Try looking through the grow diaries on this site, to find someone who has a similar set up to you and get some ideas from there.

The best carbon filters available are phat filters, the budget ones use recycled carbon which isn't as effective and doesn't last as long.

whats the dimensions of the room in meters mate

Yeah I've definitely being doing that, but it's all a bit confusing. Money wise - it's all swings and roundabouts - and tbh if I can get self-sufficient it'll be better than throwing money down the drain (which I regularly do - thieving posties, gritweed etc).



That's some hard maths. I measured in feet (dunno why).

whats it in feet then

Or inches even. . It's on the diagram (in miniature writing). Don't ask why. There is none!

5ft by just over 3ft funny old shape that

id get a 600w with a 6inch and 5inch rvks

id maybe coles the room down a little 4x3 would be better , black and white sheeting will do

Have a look at my profile and drobe thread and that should be some help!

best of luck with the grow

so it's a triangular space with no horizontal floor ?

So it's 2 foot 9 deep, how wide is it ?

.

The photo shows the cupboard, but there's more space under the cupboard too (the triangular bit). Does this help?
Click to view attachment

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

so it's 3 foot 2 wide, by 2 foot 9 deep - by 5 foot high (minus extractor) ?

8.7 square feet - a 400 watt HPS would give approx 46 watts PSF.

I would be inclined to go with a 600 myself.

The height is a bit of a challenge though.
What I did once with a full height cupboard was continue it up into the loft with a chipboard tube...

My brain doesn't really do dimensions. If you have any specific suggestions for equipment (like make of lamp etc) that'd be really helpful. I tried posting a link to one that I've had my eye on, but it didn't let me post it.

Since I've got autohindukush seeds (a type of lowryder I believe) is height that much of a problem this time around? I just don't know. . (Being a newbie is hard, and trust me, I've read the board, bought the video and got lots of books. Just wish I'd paid more attention during horticulture (not))

equipment depends on how much wonga you got to play with

the more you got( notes) the more you get

Well I'm just after self-sufficiency, not factory style output and like I've said earlier in the thread, it seems better investing now, than to throw money away purchasing the shittest stuff I've ever had to smoke (so bad in fact, I often throw away - the pain, the pain).

do some reading around mate , look at other grows

youll want a 600w light , and a pair of 6in rvks i reckon, carbon filter to match and you away

like i said read theres loads of info in this forum

I know, I know. I have btw. I joined in April, and this is my first thread (cos I've been thinking and planning). But I was shit at CDT at school and my DIY is only passable now, so I just wanted someone else to blame. ha.

Anyway, you can laugh when I update with the next pictures and I've bought all shit stuff. Ha.

All I want out of life is a field of weed with my name on. Is it really too much to ask?

Yep. I would go for a 600 - if only your space was a bit taller.

I've never used a 600, but let's assume you need 18 inches of headroom...
So comparing to my grow.... I have 5 foot 6, plus 1 foot for extraction and can grow pretty much what I like.

Click to view attachment

You have 5 feet less 6 inches for the filter / fan., less 9 inches for the more powerful lamp - so you're 1 foot 3 down... so limited to indicas, or seriously trained sativas.

Any chance of cutting into the attic with a "chipboard tube" for more headroom. ?

As for the dreaded ruderalis hybrids. I struggle to understand why people rave about them.
They were bred for outdoor growing. Indoors, controlling growth is easy using a timer / relay.

Got the measurements adrift. :-

Click to view attachment

I guess I could cut into the attic. The hatch is a fair bit away, and there are some fucking big spiders up there. Don't quite get what you mean about chipboard tube tho.

Hey and anything (and I mean anything) is better than the stuff I can source locally.

On a side note. Just to clarify. Can I do it all with one lamp? I've only really got this space to grow in, so the easier the better. For example is 194468 from Green's what I'm looking for?

Cheers again for all the ideas.

So today I've rewatched a number of DVDs and read through a load of posts (plus looked at online retailers) to try and get a grip on starting. Problem is, my brain is having a hard time assimilating it all (and specifically trying to work out what I'm going to do, given the scale/size setup I have/want)

Couple of things then. Like I've said, I'm going to be using this space for both propagating/veg and flowering. I'm not opposed to having non-lowryders, but it seems to introduce more complexity (but hey, shout me down and tell me I'm wrong). And like I've also said, I'm not looking to grow more than say 5 plants at a time (unless that leaves me seriously short of stuff).

First off then, I see some people use different lights for propagation and for flowering. Is a 600W gonna be okay for the propagation stage? Presumably I put the light on a chain and move it up and down. Will heat be a problem - or lack thereof. It's getting cold where I am now, might I need a heater for inside the cupboard - opinions please.

Opinions of lights would be good too. I put a model number from Greens in the last post, if someone could say "that's perfect" or "that's fucking lame" that'd be greatola.

Apologies for the newbie questions, but I'm sure once I've done one or two grows, I'll be a much happier person all-round!

What I mean is to open up the full area of ceiling and building a chipboard box up into the loft - but best to take some expert advice about fire risks - maybe make it from heavy duty plasterboard - or at least line it.

You'll want to put some fluorescents under the main grow for mums and propagating -99p from the cheap shop.
I recommend spur shelving brackets for the main lamp. I have found it convenient to separate lamp and reflector.

Don't get hung up on plant numbers - you can veg. one plant for a long time or lots of plants for a short time - clearly the latter is an expensive option if growing from seed. The key thing is to fill the space.

Have I mentioned my current long vegging / bending strategy yet ?

Okay, jeez, I'm still confused. I probably won't be building up into the loft, given my DIY skills. Cutting a hole to vent into the loft is going to be difficult enough.

As for propagating, I've seen a few people who seem to use their main lamp for the early propagating stage too. Is it not easier to put the lamp on chains and move it up and down as you need it?

Finally, I'm going to take the plunge on a 600W lamp this weekend, so would a diamond grow light with 600 Grolux dual spectrum grow lamp be the kind of thing I'm looking for?

Again, apologies for the newbie questions. I'm not stupid (just confused) and no, I don't have any billy-bob mates I can ask.

i just got the 600 watt ajusta wing m8 mint i would have that my self get it really close to the plants m8 i was struuglig with my temps i only had a standard light till i invested best money i spent gl m8

im a newbie m8 myself im in a tent 3 week away with a 600 12 inchs away temps lovley25.5 so i got know complaints with the wing was hitting 29 with the standard light

Right. So I plucked up the courage to knock a hole in the wall.
Click to view attachmentClick to view attachmentClick to view attachment
There's a vent on the outside, and a power supply leading into the cupboard. First off, you reckon this is enough ventilation? The desk fan was super cheap (£2.50 from the local tesco) but already it's a bit noisy from the outside. I've seen people suggest putting the fan on a timer (segmented). Maybe it only needs to come on every once in a while...

And am I right in thinking that a 600w is no good for the early stages (propagation etc) because it leads to stretching and weakening of the plants? If so, is it worth spending lots more on some cfls for propagation, or is some kind of cheap fluoro good enough until the 600w comes on.

Anyway, I really don't want to buy the wrong bits, so any advice (as usual) is appreciated. And yes, I've read and read and read, but shit, this stuff is like rocket science...

Don't all clamour to answer my questions at once? I'm just concerned that 600 is going to be too much etc etc...

Well I took the plunge and got some stuff. This afternoon it arrived, and I've been working on the cupboard.
Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

Anyway, any ideas on how to setup the phat filter and fan? Filter>Fan>attic? Hang it, or put it on a shelf.

I stood on a plug (in socks) and now i'm taking a break

Yes thats correct although i hear it works the other way too. As for hanging it i find that the bungee straps from diy stores are good. They also help to keep the noise down as they stop vibrations which you would get if you placed it on a shelf. I use metal chain for the carbon filter, although that one doesn't look too big so a bungee strap would do for that too i'd imagine.

Atb

Kc

OK. If I use bungees, what am I securing them to? Shall I put a bar up there (not alcohol)? Hmm and was just wondering, do I need ducting between the fan and filter or can I just duct-tape them together?

Sorry for the late reply

I'd use the screw hooks that you can get from Diy shops assuming there is something solid for them to screw into. As for connecting the fan and filter i would use something better than duct tape personally.

For my small fan and filter i did wrap duct tape around them then put a clamp between the two to secure them properly. On my flower room i use a bit of ducting between them due to it's position but i also use proper clamps on there too. You can buy them from growshops for a few quid.

Late reply is better than nowt. So I got some bungees and I'm going to put a few hooks up (maybe even a bar across the cupboard). Maybe even start the whole process this weekend...

fingers crossed...

Just started my own cabinet. setup is a 600 W but much like yours except i don't have floor intake
i will be looking into yours, good luck with it

e2a : have a look in the indoor grow

Yeah cool man. That helps a lot. I'm just waiting for a few more room bits and then I'll defo get started.

BTW do you use a fan controller? I've just got the one ruck and I'm holding off getting a controller until I've hooked it all up (and seen how noisy it is).

Last quick question. The lamp hanging at the moment is the 250 cfl (it's bigger than I expected). I was going to swap it for the 600 when they'd grown a bit. That sound okay?

Should be ok for seedlings and young plants yea ... but like you say ;; 600 wen they've grown a bit will do em the world of good !

try and fill your profile in about growroom / soil / extractor / light etc etc ! it'll make gettin help easier and quicker for ya wen peeps are lookin in

good luck dude

dammmm man its bad that standin on a plug aint it !

just lookin at ur light there pal and it may be better if you were to have 2 vertically square chains runnin up to and connecting to the ceiling ! t'wud make movin ur light up a whole lot easier !

u can get little S hooks that push and clip onto the chain : : u can move ( un-clipp) one side at a time,,, move upwards the re-clipp on securley !


hope you've got your head around gettin ya fan/filter up ! need any help just shout m8


easy now

J.C

Yeah, the plug injury is still painful!

I've got some easyroll hangers coming, so I'll change that up. I got that hook out of my garage and wanted to see what it would be like. Anyway, I feel a trip to homebase coming on...

Cheers for the responses. Making me feel better!

So I'm itching to start germination. What kind of temperatures am I looking at maintaining in the cupboard? My min/max shows 13c but that's obviously without the light on. This okay, or should I leave the light on for extra warmth...?

Yeah deffo, They need the warmth and humidity while germinating. Propagators help a lot.

Edit: Good Luck mate.

Yeah, I got a propogator. Just wondering if leaving the light on is a good idea. I read somewhere the seeds need darkness..

Thx!!

Yeah leave the light on for Warmth and put the seeds under some black bin liner temporarily to make it dark. Paper towel method usually gives me best results but its personal preference.

Cool. All good advice. When I've germinated them, I'll start a grow diary, rather than keep this thread alive. Altho might need some help hanging the fan and carbon filter.

Things will fall into place, they usually do. it makes me happy when more people abandon shitty dealers to grow their own

Shitty dealers doesn't even come close mate. And I'll be as happy as larry if this all works out!

Hi m8

once they crack and show a tap root , u can plant em in small pots of seedling compost . water soil till nicely wet. then the light is ok over em 24/7 until they pop up ! make sure soil doesn't dry !

IMO - u dont need propagator for seeds ! only for clones that! seeds would be more succeptable to any slight mould/germs that could be in the humid propagator.. and it dont take much to make the inital root die off or damp off as i think its known

i think you should be aimin for about 25 - 26 degrees constantly,,, and usually after a week or so ill change my light to 18/6 then i'd expect my lights off temp to be 20 degrees !


u can use a small tube heater on a timer during light off to warm your incoming air near your intake vents !


hope this helps pal ! im a little stoned off 1st reef of the day



J.C

Okay. Crap. I'm cooking dinner, skinning up, and I just dropped 5 seeds in a cup of water (left in the cupboard (covered), with the light on). Since these seeds are autohindukush, I've been reading that you should just pot them up into their big container. Anyway, as soon as I see root, I'll pop them in the root riot propagation cubes, and them pot up when I see first sprouting. How's that sound? Stay with me man.

Awww crap. I dropped my ruck fan on the 250W CFL and smash. Not having a good weekend. Was supposed to get some nice 'ahem' stuff, turned out to be 'worst stuff ever' (almost). I'm not smoking it anyhoo. Oh and I turn 30 in 2 days.

Maybe I should just give up before I've started. I feel a trip to dissapointmontville acoming. Ha.

Hiya Sisyphus

Im not to sure about the 'str8 into the big container' thing. Ive never read about the auto flowering strains but i'd assume they would want a couple of pot-ups to get the best out of the roots ! and then observe them for flowers i totally wouldn't be 100 % on that !

any seeds cracked in the water yet ?




dammmm man ,, looks like you may have to use the 600 then mate ! sorry to hear of your bad smoke ! but hey keep ya chin up mate ! dont give up easy !

J.C

Hmm, I read this a while ago:

(from here)



I soaked em overnight. 4 had dropped to the bottom of the cup. I planted them in my riot cubes yesterday morning. Looks like there's some activity.

Anyway, getting old is hard to do! Ha.



You reckon it's worth getting a new 250, or will I be okay with the 600? Smashingfuckingtastic!

Last question. Yesterday I spent a lot of the day fixing a shelf into the cupboard, because the hooks weren't staying in the ceiling (plasterboard). The shelf is very secure etc. Anyway, how the fuck am I going to set up the fan?? Piece o'shit...

If I didn't know I needed my brains for this, I'd smoke a spliff to calm the fuck down!!

Hiya dude !

yea you may be better with a 250 ! it could probably be done with a 600 but you would have to put it a good few feet away from pots ! like maybe 3 or 4 foot then moving closer carefully !

ive just done a 2 minute bodge effort in paint to gi u an idea on how to hang filter /fan etc ! ! i would of clipped a pic of mine but my flower room is in dark till this evening !

Click to view attachment

it would be best in the middle as u'd get rid of the spread of heat around the top of the cab better !

if it was at the side where the red hooks are it might be too much weight on one side of the piece of wood u put in ! although u may get to play wit a bit more headroom that way if it suits

u could hang another bungee at the other side with a fan for air movement too


another thing too ;; the hole for the extraction pipe looks like it could do wit bein a bit bigger to fit pipe better and then seal it up wit tape !


are u sure u got fresh enough air for the heat off a 600 w and what extractor u got again ?



J.C

E2A --- in the pic,, make sure fan next to filter is secured with a bungee ! ( forgot to draw that )