I just moved into a new apartment and there is a balcony storage room that looks perfect for growing. I painted it white and rewired the light that was in there for a standard outlet, which is really easy to wire back for the light when i move out. I have grown once before but it was a few years back and it was stunted, but I learned alot. So my main question is, I have a 400w hps/mh and 4 regular flouro tubes, is this going to be enough light for 4 plants? here are the dimentions: 3'W X 4'L x 7'H.

Also one more thing is does anyone have any creative ideas on how to get fresh air into a room like this without doing any damage. It can be seen as of now by everyone from the outside, but it is on the top floor so the smell wont be too bad and from the outside it just looks like everyone elses storage closet.

And if anyone has any comments to say about anything they will be greatly appreciated. thanks, rep to people with good replys.

That's plenty of light for 4 plants, you could probably get away with 6-15 plants in there depending on size.

I would really really think growing outside as that you'll need to deal with quite a few things including but not limited to more bugs, smell (you're neighbors will smell it), light coming from the grow area, noise, temp changing, etc and just maintenance of the plants being seen from pesky neighbors, ...and yeah, pesky neighbors...

People see all sorts of things. And trust me, they pay attention to everything you do.

But if you think you'll be okay with everything here is my idea for the ventilation.., you could just pickup another door for pretty cheap, repaint it, and do something like this to it. Using the standard door vent cover on the outside.

I dont feel like explaining it, so i drew a pic.
Just build a air duct system into the door.

Store the old door inside the grow room if there is room for it, or somewhere in the house.

replace when you move.

Attached Images

door.jpg (20.1 KB, 110 views)

awesome idea, except i cant have a new door that has those vents, people would know whats up because all the other doors are just plain doors. Theres a heater right next to this room still outside, if I drilled small holes into that room would that be enough ventalation if I left the door on the heater room cracked open.

has anyone grown in an upstairs apartment and smelled downstairs to see if people can smell it. When I grew in my house the smell was pretty contained in my room, but maybe 4-6 plants put out enough stank for everyone to smell? if so then i'll have to make some sort of carbon scrubber.

Then just do the door and paint it, and put the vent at the bottom only, so no one can see it...

You would almost be better off going inside to a closet. Just personal opinion, you're neighbors will notice a 400w hps inside an outdoor closet the first time you open the door at night when the light is on.


Not to mention if the water heater is right there, that is a pretty "high traffic" area of your house if a maintance person came in to check on things...compared to a bedroom closet.

just my .02

yeah its really the only space i can grow in, im thinking of putting a bamboo skirt on the railing so nobody can see the balcony. For the light I think im going to make a thick black sheet or comforter right when you open the door to block the light and also make it more light sealed. That will allow me to open the door step inside and then close the door before i lift the sheet.

Is that a good idea or does that just seem like a good idea because I just smoked a bowl?

I guess it would work.

I would be very discrete about when you "go into" the closet...

Smokinmec....
I'm planning on the very same thing...another question we havent heard from is temp controll.....will that mh/hps create enough heat in the winter???? too much too little?
As for light escaping....I'm only using that outside closet for flowering....so the lights will be on from 6 am to 6 pm.....it gets dark outside, it stays dark in the flower room...no need to go in after dark. Heres what I plan for the door/vent... go to the hardware store, buy some of that thic 1/2 inch "sticky" weather stripping and install it around the frame/jamb of the door. It should create an impenetrable seal...(should)
Venting...my door has about 1-2 inch gap at the bottom. I plan to get a dryer hose, flatten it a little, stick it under the door, up against a small fan and vwallah! Light proof it, if you need to with a 2x4 "doorstop" placed just inside the door....or leave that porch light on!, shove a bench in front of it...what ever works!!

I would be more paranoid about the smell, even on the top floor, and semi-outdoors i would invest in a carbon filter or ono gel. That investment will be well worth it if it keeps ya from gettin busted =p

Don't grow in an apartment without carbon filters and watch the bullitens that get posted in the lobby for inspections or whatever.