New Grower Total Newbie Here

[HalcyonGlaze]

I've been asking myself whether or not I should post here for a while, and finally I decided to just go ahead with it. I've been searching through this site trying to find all the information I need to start my first grow, but it's really overwhelming all the information I need to know about and keep in mind, especially considering my circumstances. I've never grown before. At least not Cannabis. I have quite the green thumb in other more legal plants. The problem lies in that I can grow these outdoors. With this, indoors is a necessity for me. I've cleaned out my closet and plan to set it up to grow, but other than that I haven't done anything. I've decided I want to try for my first ever grow, three Lowryder 2s. My first question is, lights. I originally was thinking of going with LEDs, but they're too expensive for my blood at the moment. So instead I think I'll go with CFLs. Exactly how many CFL's do I need to purchase for three plants and at what wattage? What else do I need to consider? Second, is Hydro really harder than soil? I figured if I could manage a ebb and flow system it'd be really easy, but I've been reading that soil is easier for beginners. Ventilation and a carbon filter. I'm not even sure what I'm looking for here. If I go to Lowes or Home Depot, where would I find such a thing? Also, getting caught due to smell is a particular worry for me so I want to make sure I get something that's good. And finally, how much money would everything cost me? I'm trying to save up enough so I can buy everything all at once...not at the same places, but just so I don't have things sitting around while I'm waiting for other things. I just want a ballpark figure to work towards saving to before I start going places or ordering things. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[insert name here]

wow lots of questions, and Each one can giveen a multitude of answers. I can answer one based on my very limited experience, I am nearing the end of my first grow. I started with a hydro system, I think that when people talk about hydro being harder, it just requires more vigilance, I am checking the pH and EC in my grow at least twice a day. So if you were going to be out of town during your grow for a couple of days, then maybe hydro would not be for you. Also there is the higher initial startup cost with hydro, but I diy DWC system can give you some amazing results, check out some of the grows on this site.

I never had an issue with smell untill i got later in the flowering phase. Even with the carbon filter, there is some smell, and everytime you open that door to check on your babies, its gonna reak, and your going to be checking on them alot! so if you like to have people over to your place and throw parties every weekend, you'll have to research some ways to get rid of that air!

another suggestion that I can make is to check and see if there are any grow shops or hydro stores near you, some of the stuff you need you can easily diy depending on your skills, but other things like inline fans and carbon filters are easier to just buy.

As far as CFL's go, I am using a 400WHPS, and I can tell you that thing cranks out some heat, but the CFL's should be that much of a problem. there are also lots of cfl grows on here that can give you an idea, I think that it really depends on how much light you want you plants to get, and maybe you can use multiple light fixtures so that your plants can get light in the lower areas as well as the upper areas. Hope that this helps, its a fantastic journey.

 

[namvet]

Let us know the size of your closet,is it empty or does it have shelves? will pots be on the floor or a shelf? We will go step by step with your needs after we know this.

 

[Muddy]

Welcome to AFN and the New Growers forum. Along with Joe Dirt and Jackal, I moderate this forum and we're here to help. I see you've already gotten a good bit of information in response to your questions. As Namvet said, we'll need to know the size of your area before we can make solid recommendations regarding lights and ventilation.

While LEDs are more expensive to buy, there is a considerable savings on electricity that can reduce their cost fairly quickly. A 240 watt Blackstar can be purchased for about $275. Unless your closet if very large one of them should be sufficient and will do a great job on 3 plants.

 

[UHF]

Welcome to AFN

 

[HalcyonGlaze]

Sorry it took me a while to reply. My closet is about five feet long, seven feet tall, three and a half feet deep. There is one shelf about two feet from the top, but that's it. It leaves enough room for plants on the floor I think, and lights hung from that shelf. I'm sure I could afford a LED for 275$ if three plants can get by on just one. I would like to too, since it'd cut down on heat. Hempy Buckets seem really easy and cheap, so I'm definitely going to go with Thai Buddha Man's advice and grow with them. So if that's lights and medium down, I just need to consider...everything else.

 

[fromseed2weed]

I am also brand new to growing so I can't offer much advice but I can tell you the mistake I made which ruined my first grow, I accidentally bought soil that had slow release nutrients and by the time I figured it out it was too late, DO NOT get soil that has these because most auto's can't handle this and it will severely stunt their growth.

 

[Muddy]

That's a nice sized closet and more than big enough for 3 plants. One 240 watt LED puts out enough light to grow about 4 plants, depending on what pot size you use. If you wanted to completely fill your closet with plants you could probably fit about 8 in there using two of those lights.

Sorry it took me a while to reply. My closet is about five feet long, seven feet tall, three and a half feet deep. There is one shelf about two feet from the top, but that's it. It leaves enough room for plants on the floor I think, and lights hung from that shelf. I'm sure I could afford a LED for 275$ if three plants can get by on just one. I would like to too, since it'd cut down on heat. Hempy Buckets seem really easy and cheap, so I'm definitely going to go with Thai Buddha Man's advice and grow with them. So if that's lights and medium down, I just need to consider...everything else.

 

[SeNiOr-FuN-gHi]

i think all youll need is a 4 in carbon filter and a small fan, not to sure but also make sure you get a good ph meter, ive read alot of journals about ppls grows getting messed up from ph problems.

 

[HalcyonGlaze]

So here's a new question. I'm not a fan of germinating seeds outside of a growing medium of some sort, (the paper towel method is sometimes done for tomatoes and I've never liked it) so what is something else I could germinate the seeds in before moving them to the Hempy Buckets? I've read elsewhere you could use those Jiffy Pucks with the Hempy Buckets, and Jiffy Pucks are something I'm already familiar with and like. Anybody use Hempy Buckets and germinate in Jiffy Pucks? Also, how do you even install an air filter for a grow? I don't really understand.