Hey everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster. I live in the desert of Southern CA where it can get really hot during the summer, and still pretty hot during very late summer and early fall (we're talking low to mid 90s during the day in September and October), but I still want to try to grow a few plants for personal use. I read the FAQs, but they don't address very dry conditions like the desert, so would it still be possible to get a few ounces in 10 - 20% humidity?

Also, I have a few questions for the veterans here. 1. How essential is indoor lighting? Is it possible to just grow exclusively with natural light like any indoor plants? If not, what are the most energy efficient lighting methods so I can keep costs and suspicions down? 2. What are the best methods to keeping smell down without having to buy stuff? Would incense in the room work, or would the smoke be bad for the plants? 3. Is it absolutely necessary to have a grow room, or can I just grow in my room?

Well, I think that's about it for now with the questions, so here's a little background info on me: I'm 22 years old, and I didn't actually smoke weed for the first time until June 30th of this year. I had promised a buddy of mine that I'd smoke with him once school was out, and June 30th was the day. I know that a lot of people say they don't get high their first time, but I was absolutely thrashed. I was so high that I was having mild visual hallucinations and moderate auditory hallucinations. I really didn't like the feeling, and I thought about swearing off the stuff forever, but it was recommended that I try it at least one more time, so I did, and I liked it a lot better that time.

Since then, I've smoked about 10 times, so I'm a pretty light to moderate user of the drug, but I like it better than alcohol, since it doesn't give me any sort of hangover. I've always been a supporter of decriminalization/legalization, even before I even thought about smoking, so I'm not an advocate for it all of a sudden.

Anyway, thanks for all the help in advance!

a grow room is not abosutly needed a closet will do great but um the lighting is veery important and if ur gona grow in a closet u will need ventalation like a fan of somthing and the smell u can use any old air freshner. smellness wont get to strong untill you cure ur buds. the least amount of light of anyone ever using for 1 plant is a 75 watt bulb but i think he said he got like 1 or a lil more oz. more light = big bud

Does anyone else have advice? I think I may have found a spot to grow outside, but it's kind of risky, since my uncle still lives here.

CFLs (Compact Flourescent Lights) are a very cost effective lighting option. Check out my gallery for an example of a CFL setup I put into a closet in the bathroom. Not a huge area, but my baby seems to like the space, and is now filling it comfortably.

My last outdoor grow in Southern California (a couple of years ago) resulted in 12 "stunted" plants. I'm not really in the desert, but might as well be. A few miles East of Riverside, High 90's to low 100's (f.) all through the summer. About 4-15% humidity (it only hits 20% at night). I was growing in 5 gal. buckets but the plants (Sativas) never got over 36-40" tall, after spending six monthes under the Sun. Once the weather got hot, they just didn't seem to grow anymore (very slowly!!). I had to keep them watered twice a day, once in the morning and once after work. But they survived and looked healthy, for those conditions anyway!
So, the answer is yes, it is possible - with a lot of TLC - but don't expect to grow monsters.

Hey everyone! After a long hiatus, I've finally started a grow! I germinated 16 seeds and put them in soil today, so I'm BARELY starting off with my grow. I honestly wasn't expecting so many seeds to germinate, so now I'm hoping that at least half of them are males so I won't have to worry about caring for so many plants. I don't live at the house I described in my first post anymore, and instead live with 3 of my friends who all smoke weed at least occasionally, so having them know about it isn't a problem. We also have a nice garage to grow in, and we're probably going to get a shed, so things seem all ready to go for our grow! I'll keep updating as time goes by.