After I put roof on it (with the duct work to extract the heat) I can seal the closet completely ..
Im glad you mentioned it I probably would have over looked it completely .
I'm guess the growshops would have 250W cfls , or the 150w halide lights ?
Also I think Ill stick to soil at least the first time around ..

I think thats the way to go at first. Remember, even though it is scientific, it isn't science. Whatever works for you, if it gets the restults, WORKS!

You can grow 3 plants really easy, or one bigger one under those lights, in a single pot. If you got with more pots, maybe more. Just remember, that there is a limit to the square fet any one light can do. I think your best best is 3 plants in one bucket under your lamp. If you completely seal the closet, you are going to have to put in a intake fan or passive intake hole at the bottom of the closet door or a simular place. You do want fresh air in the room. The two main advantages to sealing it near completely would be pest control and odor control.

I have used metal hallyde but I would suggest if you were going to get only one ballst/lamp you either use the 250 watt cfl, a 4 or 8 bulb T5 or a 150 to 250 watt high pressure sodium. Anything bigger than 250 will make super heat in a closet that small. The t5's and CFLs can be put very close to a plant. They do put off heat, and use electricity, but not as much.

If you can score a simple garden Hydrometer/Thermometer from a Ace Hardware or Home Depot or Garden Store, it will give you temp and moisture of the area. Probably 10$ to 20$. You probably need an oscilating/moving fan as well. Circulating air is great for the plants, and will move around the CO2 and limit pest and mold some what.

If you have an intake, put panty hose or a simple paper filter on it, so you can limit spores and insects. Insects love light! They will be attracted to the light. You can buy Serenade if you get any fungus or mold. A pre mixed bottle of 32ozs is around 11$. If you get any insects or larva/worms. You can get praying mantis kit's from Home Depot or any such store as well. They eat everything but the plants.

If you really want your plants to pop off big time, in an area that size, get a CO2 boost bucket, 150$. You can put it on the same timer as your lights(you only want CO2 on when the lights are on), and it will put out Co2 appropriate for that room size while your lights are on. This will make your plants bigger, healthier, and they will have more and denser buds.

Are you growing from seeds, or clones?

You asked if Hydro would be affordable or practical. . . yes. Depending on what you mean by affordable.

http://cgi.ebay.com/WaterFarm-Comple...item19b74abc2f

There is a link to a current sale on ebay, for a simple Hydro set up, there are ones that are bigger, but you could easily do 1, 2 or 3 plants in this. Then you could buy a 2 or 3 part General Hydroponics Nutrient setup for 100 dollars. This would cover 90 of your nutrient needs. I would use the 3 part. Not as easy, but cheaper, and I get better results personally.

It consists of grow micro and bloom. You would need probably get away with a quart each. You could also get some liquid koolbloom and florablend(32 oz or 16 oz would do more than one grow for you). A foliar pray(leaf spary) would be good to. Chi is simple, but apply when lights are off. Liquid Light is good if you want the plants to stretch, Chi(also from General Hydro) would make them bush out.

As an example of a simple grow setup it comes with everything you need but plant and nutes, and the Flora kit mentioned, might be the nutes I metioned, its common enough with these types of deals. (but the light and air of course).

• 4 gallon reservoir
• 2 gallon growing chamber
• Pumping column
• Drip ring
• Grommet
• Drain level tube
• Air pump
• Clay pebbles
• Flora Kit

Debate it all you want, as a general rule(not a blanket rule) soil is cheaper and easier. You have your medium, buffer, and a large percentage of your nutrients already built into the soil. It is harder to fuck up with soil as well.

Now if you want to make customized soil, or buy the worlds most expensive soil, I understand it could be pricy, but generally that is not the case.

A bag of fox farm is between 10 and 35 dollars. A 8 bucket hyrdro setup without nutes and clay pebbles would be around 400$. So, for this closet I would say a single bucket hydro setup, or a big bucket full of soil.