New Grower White widow autofem XTRM CFL closet grow

[Son of Hobbes]

WTF IS A BALLAST??? I just wanna screw in and screw off... Here's a pic of $150 with of light bulbs my dumb ass didn't even do a scrap of research upon.. and I thought CFL was cheaper, at the very least *easier*. Live and learn. Still have time though, onto painting.

Hey bud, just a bit of advice but why not get your grow box setup before germinating? It sounds like you aren't even remotely ready, and why waste seed and time and energy and money when a night or two of research with a pad and paper and you'll have way better idea of how to tackle this. Get your box built and get your lights put in. Run the lights in a dry run and put a thermometer in there to see what your ambient temps are going to be. You'll need a form of heat extraction. What are you doing for smell?

Where did you come up with the formula for your soil mix? I can feel your excitement, but don't put the cart before the horse! You'll enjoy this so much more when you have a solid plan and a little better understanding of the basics to start. You can check out our New Growers Academy and use the Search function for help too! Good luck man, get a few pics of that grow box put up here so we can help advise!

 

[Benjamin Squier]

Hey bud, just a bit of advice but why not get your grow box setup before germinating? It sounds like you aren't even remotely ready, and why waste seed and time and energy and money when a night or two of research with a pad and paper and you'll have way better idea of how to tackle this. Get your box built and get your lights put in. Run the lights in a dry run and put a thermometer in there to see what your ambient temps are going to be. You'll need a form of heat extraction. What are you doing for smell?

Where did you come up with the formula for your soil mix? I can feel your excitement, but don't put the cart before the horse! You'll enjoy this so much more when you have a solid plan and a little better understanding of the basics to start. You can check out our New Growers Academy and use the Search function for help too! Good luck man, get a few pics of that grow box put up here so we can help advise!

I know, I know, I am really excited. The grow box will be completed tomorrow night. I can work with the current lights I have, for a day or two if needed, I figured that circuit out, it as won't be a ton, but hoping enough for seedlings. I believe I saw the needed ballasts for today's purchase of 42 w CFL bulbs at home depot, though they stocked my other bulbs without any components. Also, getting an analogue high/low thermometer, possibly liberating from work... It's in the basement for other temp concerns and the previous owners left a few space heaters. Smell will eventually be carbon scrubbed. Two weeks till next payday. The soil was just kind of a guess, I guess, my own asparagus (experiment) of sorts. I often do have many irons in the fire, apparently I have ADD; not chiding, I do. I guess the ballasts won't be too bad, I just have never seen anything akin to that previously. I think I also will need liquid nutrients in the future, also.

Quick check on the babies finds one possibly just beginning to crack its shell, nothing on [HASHTAG]#2[/HASHTAG]. I don't think I'm behind yet, but I'm ahead by no means.

Edit: @Slater if it works, I keep forgetting

 

[Benjamin Squier]

Turns out, my lights are for outdoor security lights, sooo guess what I bought.... At least things are functioning. Going to purchase two more ballasts for my 42w CFL bulbs, but currently (sort of) I'll have the two triple tube 65w 6500k flat lights at 3800 lumens, 2 65w 4100k 3800 lumen square configuration and 6 19w 2490k 900 lumen incandescent style bulbs inside a 3x3x5 shed/closet in the basement. Seeds are germinating. I do feel I'm behind schedule currently. As soon as I can get everything put together I'll be much happier and less anxty. Thanks for putting up with my scatteredness. Does anyone see any glaring problems or things that may evolve into issues? I've got a few desk fans I plan on implementing for temperature regulation.

 

[orrganic]

Good luck with this all man best wishes from the get go!

Its worth saying that i relate to your story man, haha at my beginnings i was putting plants in the girlfreinds cupboard under two 18w fluros and a desk fan and thinking nah It'll be right no stress haha.

Reading through there are a things that could eventuate to problems as son of hobbes said, but not to worry.

Whats sticking out to me the most are the lighting and soil parts. Ive recently told a freind to not spend another on household fluorescent and cfl globes.. For what they are they can work, but not with the standard you want as a hobby grower. If possible return some of the new/old lights you've purchased leaving just enough for seedling stage and go back to the drawing board.

Do yourself a massive favour and BINGE into the diy led section.. invaluable information. One stand alone cree cxb 3590 or others would give you immense light efficiency and quality over miscellaneous fluro and cfl. They are relatively cheap and easy to order online and are night and day between lower tier grow lighting. You could make one of these happen in a matter of weeks.

Also it looks like you have a lot of nutes ready to mix, a good thing but that can open up a whole can of worms, i would try keep it simple such as all purpose blood and bone mixed into a potting mix and perlite blend or something along the lines, just leaves less room for error.

and finally as son of hobbes said, get your grow box sorted asap. It will make for a smoother ride to a heavier harvest all the gadgets and gizmos aren't for naught.

 

[orrganic]

And have fun! good luck mate.

 

[Benjamin Squier]

I've got my run off pH. It's not looking good, 8.4, & 8.8 . I'll look around, but I've heard of pH up/down. Just about to finish my lighting, then hinges and we're good with the grow box

 

[orrganic]

White vinegar is a natural ph down that i've use with success before usually a lid or two to a bucket does the trick. Chemical ph up and down are pretty serious stuff they react if accidentally mixed and burn patches of the house (or me) if they leak.

So your sticking with the flood lights?

 

[Benjamin Squier]

I'm so glad you said vinegar, I was hypothesising that would be sufficient

 

[Benjamin Squier]

Good luck with this all man best wishes from the get go!

Its worth saying that i relate to your story man, haha at my beginnings i was putting plants in the girlfreinds cupboard under two 18w fluros and a desk fan and thinking nah It'll be right no stress haha.

Reading through there are a things that could eventuate to problems as son of hobbes said, but not to worry.

Whats sticking out to me the most are the lighting and soil parts. Ive recently told a freind to not spend another on household fluorescent and cfl globes.. For what they are they can work, but not with the standard you want as a hobby grower. If possible return some of the new/old lights you've purchased leaving just enough for seedling stage and go back to the drawing board.

Do yourself a massive favour and BINGE into the diy led section.. invaluable information. One stand alone cree cxb 3590 or others would give you immense light efficiency and quality over miscellaneous fluro and cfl. They are relatively cheap and easy to order online and are night and day between lower tier grow lighting. You could make one of these happen in a matter of weeks.

Also it looks like you have a lot of nutes ready to mix, a good thing but that can open up a whole can of worms, i would try keep it simple such as all purpose blood and bone mixed into a potting mix and perlite blend or something along the lines, just leaves less room for error.

and finally as son of hobbes said, get your grow box sorted asap. It will make for a smoother ride to a heavier harvest all the gadgets and gizmos aren't for naught.

Well shit. I wish I had done lighting research. Could've got a light tent combo for the price of an ounce. Soil temp is 69f.

In de soil dey iz.

Very light watering, added 2 TSP of white vinegar to a 2 gallon watering jug probably overkill but it's done. Green house bubble domes by bed time. Lights at at 20/4. We're on the road, gang. Thanks to everyone so far. I think in a week, I'll start a third as a control to my experiment. I've already got ideas and aspirations for six months from now. More bulletins as events warrant

 

[Benjamin Squier]

So they peeked their beautious heads out yesterday, a light sprinkle with the water. Put the water in the shed to warm it up, hadn't thought of it previously, but read it today and seems logical, so here we are.

Pics of 'princess pine' and '2sticks' (sorry, my mind is very kaleidoscopic right now), and the absolute ugliest fucking chandelier that Tiffany's wishes they could pump out!