First grow, what do you think?

[Stoney]

Hello Zandor and whoever else that can help me!

I am in the process of setting my first grow and I have a few questions. I am hoping to use a small SOG-like setup. I plan to have two separate areas, both in cabinets. A clone area and a veg/flower area. The main area is 60x60x120cm (23x23x47") and I will be using a 250w MH for veg and 250w HPS for flower.

The second area is smaller, 50x40x68cm (20x15x26") and I am planning on using a few small CFLs. The idea would be to take clones from the plants in the main room just before they go into flower and then keep the clones in the smaller area until the plants in the main area have finished flowering. Then move them into the main area to veg and flower. When they get mature I take clones again and repeat the cycle.

So to the questions. Are there any gaping holes in this plan? Like something that I wouldn't have thought of since it's my first grow. How much light would I need to keep the clones while the other plants are flowering? How many plants do you think I should have flowering at once considering the size of my grow area? Finally, are there any specific strains you would recommend for this particular setup?

PS. I love the show! Feel free to read this on it if you want to.
Thanks
-Stoney

[sttony]

... I plan to have two separate areas, both in cabinets. A clone area and a veg/flower area.

You might want to rethink this idea too... One cabinet for the veg/clone and the other one for flowering.


The main area is 60x60x120cm (23x23x47") and I will be using a 250w MH for veg and 250w HPS for flower.

Those dimensions are real small, especially after you subtract the height of the soil container (8"-12") and the (8"-12") from the light. After that is figured in you'll only have 23" - 31" left for flowering in. It can be done, i'm growing a hydro set-up with 24" of vertical space. I used a product called Bushmaster (http://nationalgardenwholesale.com/ngw/gardening_supplies.aspx?request=HUMBOLDT_BUSHMASTE R&title=Nutrients%20__%20Supplements&type=product) Link to keep them short. Bushmaster can be used in soil also.

Here's something to concider, if you have the space. Look into the laws where you are at. What is the least charge for growing in your area? Where i'm at its 1-19 plants. That means if i'm caught with 1 plant, i'll get the same charge as if I had the 19, might as well have 19 then. Just something to think about.

Do you already own those lights or do you still need to purchase them?


The second area is smaller, 50x40x68cm (20x15x26") and I am planning on using a few small CFLs. The idea would be to take clones from the plants in the main room just before they go into flower and then keep the clones in the smaller area until the plants in the main area have finished flowering. Then move them into the main area to veg and flower. When they get mature I take clones again and repeat the cycle.

This space would work good for that. I have a preference for the T5 (24w) lights (link) (http://nationalgardenwholesale.com/ngw/lighting.aspx?request=HORT_SUN_BLAZE_T5_REFLECTORS&title=Fluorescent%20Lighting&type=product). They come in lenghts as small as 24" and you can get tubes in either spectrum (blue or red) and they're linkable. They can be mounted vertically or horizontally, and would fit this space.

If I read you right, your going to take a plant and grow it out in box #1, take clones from it then transfer it to box #2, then flower it out, while the clones refill box #1 again...and the process continues... Using T5's (by changing to the red spectrum bulb) you could even start the preflower in box #1, there's no need to veg in box #2, 24" is more than enough room. With only 23" - 31" in box #2, you would have to start flowering the plants at somewhere around 8" - 10".


...How much light would I need to keep the clones while the other plants are flowering?

Clones need very little light (20w works good for clones). They don't need direct light either. A T5 mounted on both of the 15" sides (One in each corner would be best.) would be enough light to go from veg too preflower.

How many plants do you think I should have flowering at once considering the size of my grow area?

No more than 4.


Finally, are there any specific strains you would recommend for this particular setup?

We'll leave this question for somebody else to answer.

:) Have a nice day.

[Stoney]

Firstly, I really appreciate your help! Yes, I already have the lights. The only reason I was planning to do veg in the second box was because I only have one reflector and ballast. So I can't use the MH and HPS at the same time. But your idea makes more sense, I didn't know that four T5s would be enough for veg. This works out pretty good for me anyway, since I can't get the MH to work.

Your idea seems better and easier. So basically, first time I go from seed and through veg in box 1 using blue T5s. Then when they are ready, I take clones and move the main plants into box 2 with the 250w HPS. Then repeat minus the seedling phase. Did I get that right?

Again, thanks for the help. Since I got all this stuff home it hasn't been easy sailing so I need all the help I can get. I got a full set including Homebox XS, fan, carbon filter, reflector, ballast, 250w HPS and I got a 250w MH that wasn't part of the set. It may have been a set, but a lot of this stuff doesn't seem to work together very well.

[Oldbay]

My $.02

You asked about strains for small spaces. Obviously you will want to grow a strain that you think you would like. For a very Sativa high in a low space (translated into good lst/scrog) I would go for a Cindy 99, or an Apollo 11. They finish quick, take abuse fairly well, scrog well, and yeild pretty good, and you will have some really nice smoke. Indica's can be whatever you want to put in there really. Strains like NL as Zandor advises, and even some along the lines of a white russion are pretty durable and give a good finished product.

In a small space like that, make sure you run the cab for a few days to get the temp issues in check. Make sure this is done with your odor control in place if that is something you need. Do this now, not once you have growing buds reaking up the place, and then you cut your air flow with the scrubber and raise temps, loose your girls and get discouraged.

You would be well advised to plan on getting your cycle in full stride at first to get a few jars on your shelf. Plan on keeping the flower area will all seats sold out.

Push through some of your bag seeds too. Seeds grown indoors, to full maturity (by tricome), flushed, dried and cured well, will be a completely different animal then what you picked up in the zip lock bag. I mean WAY better. Most of all this will give you variety. Even the best of smoke can be boring after a while. Get Mom's of your best strains, and push bag seeds through just to give you some options until some time in the future when you can get more of a variety of choice strains (and see that you are disapointed in how much better some of your bag seed is then some of the seeds you paid good money for)

I agree with just keeping the flower cab for flower (in case you couldn't tell) but for your clone/veg area you may want to give CFLs a try. Cheaper and effective. Get a couple of each variety (soft white/day light) and keep in mind the watts per sq foot. Clones don't want anything close to the whole 50 watt/per foot, and the ones in veg won't complain too bad with the lower lighting while they wait for the babies to take root (though I am fully expecting to get stoned for saying that)

I like the digital heavy duty timers over the mechanical ones

Buy ferts that are for cannabis. You don't need the whole line up and specialties right away, but at least get the grow and bloom of whatever you want to go with (I am assuming it is prudent to start in soil)

Learn to check your PH. The sooner the better. Don't overwater, don't overfert. Less is more utill you KNOW that the girls can handle it.

[Oldbay]

Hello Zandor and whoever else that can help me!

The main area is 60x60x120cm (23x23x47") and I will be using a 250w MH for veg and 250w HPS for flower.

How many plants do you think I should have flowering at once considering the size of my grow area?
-Stoney

Missed this question in my first reply.

This is really more a strain question IMHO for you. Check for plant number laws where you are at to make sure you know if there is a line you may not want to cross, but really you could easily do 4 different strains at once (make sure you give each plant its own screen). Less veg time of course so they don't overgrow each other. Total yeild may suffer some, but you will have more choice. If you really wanted to push it, you could go away from scrog, go to sog and see how many 6 Inch pots you can get in there and make a lot of sog popcicles. Not a bad way to find keepers in your bag seed to reveg later and make a mom/clones.

If you are just pushing through to get some of your favorite, you could go down to two, or maybe even better 1 in a big pot of soil, have the screen a little higher and fill the area, veg until the screen is half full and then flip.

[Stoney]

Thanks a lot for your great input Oldbay! I have now gotten the MH running so at least for the first time I will veg under the 250 MH. I ran some preliminary tests over the weekend to see what the environment would be like. Temp was way up, but after lowering the temp of the surrounding room and directing the air intake from a cooler part of the room I think I've got it within acceptable limits. Humidity was only 15% but I guess that will change when there is soil and water etc in the box.

I got Biobizz soil and fertilizers with the packet. I have a few more things to pick up before I get started. For example, if I can't get hold of jiffy-pots would it be ok to put the seeds straight into soil when they have sprouted?

Because of the size of the box and the heat coming from the light I was thinking of using LST to keep the plants short but still veg for a longer period. But I'll read up on SCROG also before I start.

Thanks guys!
-Stoney

[Steeldiehard]

Ok...maybe I'm missing something, but will you be starting from feminized seeds or female clones? If so, you can stop reading. :)

If not, you are planning on growing from seed, veging, cloning, and flowering the veged plants. Please be prepared for males and ensure that you mark your clones so that you know which ones came from any males that my arise. You may run into space issues, since your plants will likely have to be 12" - 16" tall to take enough clones...provided they are good branchers. Keep in mind that many beginners (and advanced) growers experience anywhere from 50 - 100% clone survival. Plan for the worst...taking two clones from a small veging plant...do the math.

A safer approach would be to take clones from your veging plants, root them to about 6" and then flower those to determine sex. Weed out any males, and then take lots of clones from the mature mothers. if you do it in reverse, and your clones don't make or are male...it takes sooooooo much longer to reveg a flowering plant or for clones taken from a flowering plant to root, reveg, and grow.

I strongly encourage you take the safer route.

Good luck in whatever you decide, Stoney! :)

Best,

Steel

[Oldbay]

... Humidity was only 15% but I guess that will change when there is soil and water etc in the box.

I got Biobizz soil and fertilizers with the packet. I have a few more things to pick up before I get started. For example, if I can't get hold of jiffy-pots would it be ok to put the seeds straight into soil when they have sprouted?

Because of the size of the box and the heat coming from the light I was thinking of using LST to keep the plants short but still veg for a longer period. But I'll read up on SCROG also before I start.

Thanks guys!
-Stoney

Humidity is one of the things that as a new grower you may not want to stress over <I can here the stones flying at me for that one ;) > It will raise for the simple fact that you will be watering your plants.

Don't sweat the jiffy-pots. Those will be better served when you clone. Straight in the soil is fine. The peat makes it nice to not have to water as much but it isn't a big deal.

LST can also be easily done with little stakes instead of having to learn 14 sailor knots and drilling holes and bolts all over your container. You can use pieces of metal coat hangers or whatever with a little hook on one end and just shove the long straight part into the soil, hook the plant to just sort of bend them over a little at a time. Then when the side branches come out, stake them too for an even canopy. Very quick/easy. Scrog is great and will probably give you a slightly better yield, but it requires more time and attention.

Leave the ferts in the pack for longer than you want too. Then when you want too, leave them in there some more and start at low strength.

You may want to not kill off your males right away. They make for good cloning practice and if you like what you have, it is easier to make and keep seeds long term than it is trying to keep a mother long term.