Alt0's Grow (1st timer)

Alto · #1 04-04-2008, 03:16 AM

Hi all
Decided to give this a shot and I am quite excited about it all.
First off I need to thank everyone here for the wealth of good info.

Set up:
Hydrofarms "Emily's Garden" passive wick hydro.
well constructed and solid system low cost 89.98 USD
came with grow medium, nutes, extra bubble stones, and PH test kit.

Starter light, Sun Systems New Wave T5 2' x 4 bulbs.
purchased both the veg and bloom bulbs but plan on getting a 400W HPS for flowering stage.
(staying at 400W due to electric bill concerns, and limited space)
Also have 4 150W CFLs to use as side lights during veg after plants gain some height.
Total at the Hydro Shop 303 USD

1-Here are some early shots of the space and initial setup.
This is looking into the room toward the veg box, box consists of a 36" high 4' x 4' shelf with about 4 feet above it.
2-This is a front view of the "box"

the vent next to the hydro has been installed in the shelf to allow for some air flow once the curtain is up
(curtain will cover front of box to separate from bloom area. I used velcro and 2 sided vinyl)

next post will be blooming area

Alto · #2 04-04-2008, 03:26 AM

1-This is the opposite side of the room
(where the HPS will hang)
its about 4' x 4' with 8' height
I intend to build another shelf here but much lower to allow for plant height.
Seeds
I have ordered seeds via Dr Greenthumb in Canada (not to sure about this one), and Golden Seed in the UK.
This one [Golden Seed] seems very good! received several emails regarding my order and according to the tracking number its almost here!
From Dr Greenthumb I ordered Grenadine 10 seeds 125 USD with 25 USD being for faster shipping (expensive but was the first thing I did to get this hobby started)
since then I read some more here at RIU.org and decided to order again from a more reputable supplier.
So from Golden Seed I ordered the Mega Mix pack (30 seeds) 80 USD
I wanted to try several seeds to see what will grow here best and what I like best for cloning.
Hopefully I will be able to re-veg the plants I like (to clone) and keep a good variety going.

A bit about me:
I am a pretty decent gardener with outdoor plants,
and have some nice things going on in my yard.
I also worked in a commercial greenhouse with flowers,
and on farms growing vegetables. (Sweet corn and Tomatoes mostly)
My Grandparents lived on and ran a farm all their lives,
so its been in my system since birth I guess.
I look forward to applying some of what I know to this
but I am sure to learn a lot as well during the process.

Next post will be seed delivery. =)

toolage · #3 04-04-2008, 05:43 AM

I'm subscribing to this one. Your setup looks well planned out, you did your reading! You doing tall plants or SOG? I'll be in touch!

Alto · #4 04-04-2008, 06:36 AM

I don't have any experience with doing a screen grow (yet) so I will stick pretty much to basics for the first time out.
I like the idea of a SOG grow and I will certainly try it next round.
From what I have read it would make sense that the clones from this batch would be better suited for that anyway (tend to stay smaller and bushier)
we shall see.

This weekend I am hiding the "room" with an artificial wall. I will of course document that as well.
Got to have something to keep me occupied while I wait on seeds =)

toolage · #5 04-04-2008, 06:53 AM

Getting stoned always seems to work

, if not take some regular bag seeds and practice germing until they get there

Alto · #6 04-04-2008, 07:04 AM

Heh

Hiding the room does wonders for wife faction.

toolage · #7 04-04-2008, 08:06 AM

she doesn't know your growing? And I thought hiding it from the cops was hard lol!!

Alto · #8 04-04-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toolage

she doesn't know your growing? And I thought hiding it from the cops was hard lol!!

Ahh no she knows quite well, its just she will worry less if its stealthy =)

Alto · #9 04-06-2008, 03:28 AM

OK
Yesterday was a busy day.
I built the wall to conceal my growroom.
I should say the room itself is concrete block and cement that is situated under my driveway. The outside dimension of the house would never give away the fact there is something further on out, and the wall I built (dimensionally) matched the rest of the interior walls of my basement.
(give or take a few inches) God only knows why the original homeowner had this room constructed? But it was in use as storage when I purchased the house.

1-This is the room (door open) before I started. You can see some 2x4s I placed prior to starting to get a feel for if there were any obstructions to deal with. And there were. I had to move the "wall" a few inches in closer, but that helped it blend in with the other walls of the basement so a win situation in the end, and much easier than re-routing plumbing =)
2- This is the exhaust vent tubing coming out of the room that ties into my dryer vent. (yes the in line carbon filter comes UPS this week) I hit it with some dark paint to reduce any reflections that may give it away. It is hard to see in this photo, but thats the idea right?
3- Here you can see my progress, I used stained wood panels and 2x4 lumber to do the main construction.
4- This is the wall almost completed with the door open. I used 1x3 lumber to trim out the panels so as to hide the hinged door more than if it was a small panel amongst larger ones.
5- this is a shot of the wall almost done (a few pieces of trim left to go) with the door closed.
Who would ever suspect there was a room full of hydro behind this wall?
Hopefully not the authorities =)

Today I will stain the trim lumber (not as dark to keep the nice pattern visible) it will then match the rest of the finished areas of the basement.
Still no seeds delivered, but I am patient.
I was a little disappointed nothing came today, I did pay for the expedited freight from Canada

, but as I said earlier, that one is a bit dodgy at best.
I am sure my Mega Mix from Golden Seed will arrive soon tho.
Well, I'm of to paint a little, and clean out and prepare my water containers for pre mixing nutes in.
I have a nice 10 gallon rubbermaid dog food container (with lid) that should work out just fine.
And I can't let the rest of my weekend chores slack off either can I?
*snickers to himself*

next post will be finishing the wall!

OK stained the trim and hung up the tools (rakes and shovel etc.)
bottom two are the finished wall. The door is the panel behind the hammer.
Cleanup time, and hockey game on in about an hour =)

next up is water containers

toolage · #10 04-06-2008, 12:43 PM

absolutly beautiful!!! i just can't wait to see this whole OP in action. Keep u the good/hard work!!!