CFL/small grow space

CaptainKussh72

New Member
I just started growing a plant a week or so ago and i dont have very much space to work with. Outdoors is not an option and indoors is very restricted. I've been looking into ways to keep the plant small and still produce buds but while I experiment with that to come up with a system that works for me I need to construct a grow space that will work for the plant and me. I came up with a small cabinet about 3ft tall and 2.5ft wide with a couple slots for ventilation. For a light source most guides Ive read have suggested CFLs so my question is for the amount of space i have to use what wattage bulb would you recommend and how would I go about keeping the cabinet ventilated without allowing light in during the 12hrs of dark in the flowering stage? I can adjust the size of the cabinet somewhat its mainly to keep the smell to a minimum without compromising the amount of light the plant gets. The tallest I can make it would be about 4ft and no wider than 3. Any helps appreciated :D
 

datboytrue

Active Member
Hey bud, just giving my two cents..if your growing one plant in that space you can do alot with CFL lighting..i do suggest going to your local plant store and getting cfls from them because the spectrums will be alot better...another thing, its really easy to control plant height, just remember this simple guide line, vegetative stage = in most cases is how tall you want your plant flower stage = your plant fills out so you could easily veg to 2 ft then put that baby in to flower and have a nice bushy plant! Always remember to find out peak and off peak hour for your power company it'll also save you money! #good luck!
 

datboytrue

Active Member
Shit and about venting...for a cfl box you can simply use computer fans...go online and look in to computer fan venting
 

Ogonzo

Member
I agree with Datboytrue. They say you should have about 100W for your first plant and 50W for every plant there after. If you get yourself a couple of 46W 6500K and a couple of 23W 2700K, you should be good with that for the time being while your plants are vegging.
With regards to light during dark, you can build yourself a light trap, they are very simple to make and you need very little supplies for them.

Here's a couple of links to some light traps:
http://forum.grasscity.com/do-yourself/543791-easy-light-trap-cpu-fan.html
http://joemacho.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Reuse-an-Old-Computer-for-Growing-Plants

If you google light trap pc grow, you'll find lots of examples.
Good luck!
 

CaptainKussh72

New Member
Thanks for all the help, theres no plant stores near by but there is a home depot im going to check out. i actually have some computer fans laying around so ill probably use those for ventilation, it shouldnt be too hard to install them in the cabinet i designed. When my plant gets to the height I want should i start the flowering stage? or is there a method i should use like topping tying it down?
 

Mr.Vega

Well-Known Member
I run two set ups each round a 3 by 3 space w around 26-28bulbs ranging from 23watters to 65 watters...totaling around 650actual cfl watts mixed spectrum thru all stages...7gallon pots....the purple strain was beleive it or not in a handful of bagseeds my buddy gave me....sd it was from sacks of dank over the years..."them sacks u only find like one or two seeds in" he sd.....that was the first one and only one ive popped frm those seeds.
 

Mr.Vega

Well-Known Member
Started throwing purple pistils rite off the bat....gradually turning into a purple monster....smelled like straight lemon pledge tho....she was awesome....very stoney.
 

althor

Well-Known Member
650 watts of CFL??

So you spend a lot more and get a lot less than just going out and getting a 600 watt HID.

Doesn't make sense but if you dig it, more power to you.
 

stone1977

Active Member
600 Watts of cfls is cooler. You could not put 600 Watt hid in a 3x3 space. I have been know to grow the smallest plants in my town LOL. When they are at fith node I top then top again again. My last plant was 1 foot and had 18 tops and I got 3/4 of a oz. I wish I could post pictures but phone wont let me.
 

Mr.Vega

Well-Known Member
Im getting quarter pound plants w extensive training in my set ups....somthing abt the intense light in a small space....mixed spectrum.....cfls themselves have a better quality of spectrum than hid as far as what the plant uses....im not gonna get into the hid cfl debate tho....im happy w what I have goin and its doing very well for me....if I ever expand my grow where im using a bigger space ill go hid....for what im doing...growing 3 by 3 bushes basically filling the entire space w plant and lights....im pulling quarter pounds of the dankest densest bud ive ever had in my life....I like cfls and cant imagine any lights outperforming them in my set up the way I grow.
 
Top