CFL Auto Closet Budget Grow

So this is my first grow and I just bought my seeds yesterday. Picked up a 10 pack of regular auto speedy gonzales. Almost got the Purple Mazar but I have always been a fan of diesel.
Order came with a free feminized ufo#1 Sugar Black Rose so might plant that too.

Going to Lowes after I get paid tomorrow to pick stuff up. Thinking of planting the sugar black rose, and 4 Autos.
On a budget and right now my shopping list is 6 CFLs, 5-7 3 gallon pots, Soil with a time release fertilizer, Timer for the lights, Perlite, Rockwool cubes, thermometer, light fixture(and everything else to hang up the lights), mylar or foylon, ph testing kit and maybe nutrients(gotta read more about them still.

My grow area is about 1.5 feet deep, about 4.5 feet wide and about 5 feet tall.
Will take a couple pictures of the grow area(closet) empty before set up soon.

Sounds like a plan! Looking forward to seeing that closet in action. Pretty excited eh?

Right on, look forward to seeing some pics!

Yea I'm excited, think about it everyday haha
Here is a before picture of the closet, soon to be grow room. Will put up an after picture when its done. Hoping to have my seeds by Tuesday or Wednesday.


It is about 2.5 feet wider but can't see that due to the angle.

Sounds good so far man. Make sure to check what temp the CFLs you get are, I've bought the wrong ones before and it's always annoying to go right back out and have to switch them. Be careful with adding any major nutrients if you're using soil with fertilizer in it already. Closet space looks good, are you going to use the entire area or only a portion of it?

I figure I could technically fit about 8 to 10 three gallon pots in there but with wanting to get as much light on the plants as possible I will probably stick to 3-4autos and maybe the one big plants.

What's up man I just figured I'd stop by.....what do you plan on getting started in there?

**Like which of the seeds that you ordered?***

Thanks for stopping by!
Probably going to grow 4 of the speedy Gonzales seeds and the free feminized ufo#1 Sugar Black Rose. Still not 100% sure.

Nice.....I haven't ever tried auto's yet but that ill stick around and see how it goes lol. You should take a look at my journal sometime https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/410446-all-organi-all-cfl-goodness.html

I am all about using CFLs and growing in soil so I will definitely check it out!

Just got an update on shipping status. The seeds made it through customs and are on their way!

Seeds came today but wasn't here to receive them so will not have them until tomorrow

It has been a little bit since last post but not to fear I have been working hard.

Part 1: some pricing information
To contribute something that I haven't seen much of here is some prices (I went to price some stuff out earlier)
4 pack 26 watt daylight cfls $10.80
6 pack 26 watt warm cfls $13.88
Scotts 28.3L bag of soil $6.47
Miracle grow 8.8L perlite $3.97
3 gallon pots $3.97
The only plant food I could find that I liked was Shultz(10-15-10) 4.98 a bottle
Twin light socket $2.66
Porcelian keyless light fixture $1.71 a piece
Plastic keyless light fixture $1.45 a piece
This is all from the home depot I was at but I'm sure some of this could be found cheaper at say wal-mart.

part 2: some math, good thing I haven't smoked yet
I have 10 seeds. If 50/50 ratio of male to female I will be left with 5 autos.
A 3 gallon pot is about 10" to 10.5" in diameter.
Assuming 6 pots, I am looking at a grow area of about 22" x 33" inches.
This is about 726 sq inches.
726/144(one square foot) = 5.042 sq feet.
I want 5000 Lumens per sq foot so 5000*5.042 = 25,210 Lumens.
I think a 26 watt cfl produces 1,700 Lumens.
25,210/1,700 = 14.83 = 15 cfls are needed
A guess without looking at cheaper prices it would probably run me about $60 for 16 cfls + fixtures+ splitters.(which I am sure can be found dirt cheap). Thats just a guess with no math so.
Let me know if I did that right, also out of curiosity, anyone know if 400 watt HPS would be around that range or only slightly more expensive?

part 3: now after all that work here are some pictures.

I saw a complete package for a 400w HPS, bulb, ballast, cords and reflector for $99. Wish I had written down that link.

CFLs are more fun though in my opinion - kinda wish i was still using them now. You might be able to save some money looking for deals. I often find CFLs for $0.25 a piece on sale or in 4 packs at the dollar store. My Home Depot also has 12 packs of the warm CFLs 23w for $16.00 and they come with a 9 year guarantee. Some cheap bathroom vanity fixtures also make things cheaper: http://www.lightingdirect.com/savoy-house-kp-8-512-6-traditional-classic-6-light-36-wide-bathroom-fixture-from-the-liberty-collection/p335267

That is a 6 bulb for $5 and here is a 4 bulb for $4 http://www.lightingdirect.com/savoy-house-kp-8-512-4-traditional-classic-4-light-26-wide-bathroom-fixture-from-the-liberty-collection/p335262

Throw some Y connectors and get a piece of sheet metal for a reflector and you are golden.

Gastanker said:

I saw a complete package for a 400w HPS, bulb, ballast, cords and reflector for $99. Wish I had written down that link.

CFLs are more fun though in my opinion - kinda wish i was still using them now. You might be able to save some money looking for deals. I often find CFLs for $0.25 a piece on sale or in 4 packs at the dollar store. My Home Depot also has 12 packs of the warm CFLs 23w for $16.00 and they come with a 9 year guarantee. Some cheap bathroom vanity fixtures also make things cheaper: http://www.lightingdirect.com/savoy-house-kp-8-512-6-traditional-classic-6-light-36-wide-bathroom-fixture-from-the-liberty-collection/p335267

That is a 6 bulb for $5 and here is a 4 bulb for $4 http://www.lightingdirect.com/savoy-house-kp-8-512-4-traditional-classic-4-light-26-wide-bathroom-fixture-from-the-liberty-collection/p335262

Throw some Y connectors and get a piece of sheet metal for a reflector and you are golden.

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Thanks for the heads up on the fixtures, looking through your CFL grow now.

SwaggerJacker said:

Thanks for the heads up on the fixtures, looking through your CFL grow now.

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That CFL grow of mine went amazing. I was pulling an oz every week or week and a half once it was running smoothly. You won't see it in that grow but I now have several of those bathroom vanity fixtures and they make canopy coverage super easy. Still recommend bulbs hanging below the canopy though - I attribute this to my CFL success. If you have any questions feel free to spam up my x-ray grow.

I have found some cheap bathroom fixtures on craigslist and will most likely be using those and a modified version of seemorebuds setup from his grow 8oz bud book.
I will be putting my seeds after germinating into 3L soda bottles filled with soil until sex. Then the females will be transplanted in to 3 Gallon pots. I am still debating if I want to attempt to make feminized seeds or not.
Just some notes I am writing down, I am very forgetful.

Yeah dude you should def post some pics up along with your setup. Here's mine so far only one 200w(42w) cfl right now. I picked up 2 more 26 watters today for 3.50/each. I dont have a light fixture in my grow room right now that can accompany more then one light soooooo with that being said I'm gonna have to say thanks to gastanker for that link to the bathroom light fixture's........... i am saving the page...now...

I have a big grow area, about the same size as yours, but for mine I have them in a hydro bucket wit pure hydroton and I put a makeshift mylar around the outside so damn near all the light is getting concentrated on the plants. I will post some pics when i upload them.

stoner4201 said:

thanks to gastanker for that link to the bathroom light fixture's........... i am saving the page...now...

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I found this 5% coupon which is only like 25 cents off if you buy a bathroom fixture but whatever haha....THANKYOU5 is the coupon

I dont have a light fixture in my grow room right now that can accompany more then one light

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Should look at Y socket connectors, put 2 lightbulbs into every socket

I have never even looked up hydro/aero setups but have always been curious so I will definitely check out your journal when it gets going
And by the way for everyone: I know a lot of people do not like a lot of discussion on their journals but I am all for as much discussion as possible(as long as its useful) so go for it.