hope this is the right thread to post at. i have built a pc grow box from scratch it has cost in total maybe 75 bux which is much better then the 400-800 i have seen on the internet. i have 4 cfl. 2 30 watts for the sides of the plants and 2 35w for the top so hopefully that will be enough wattage for my stealth grow. its about 20 - 30 more watts then the internet pc grow boxes. i also have a red and blue spectrum led grow light panel. so at first i was going to go the hydro route however being that the water resevoir was to small i heard that it wouldnt be that much of a stealth because i would have to check the ph and nute level to much through out the day. so i am going the dirt way. so my question for anyone out there is. If i have a pot to grow them in the is about 4 inches tall but as long as the pc its self. how will that effect the grow. to roots grow horizontally or would they prefer a vertical grow in the pot it self. i know i have a lot of space issues so im curious about the way the roots grow in plants. i also need to know a good mixture of soil to use that will help it grow fast because i will be putting it into flowering fairly soon after veg. im also using chicken wire to help the vertical growth of the plant it self. i have done nothing yet as far as the start of the grow because i need these last couple questions answered. also if you have any other input for me please let me know. im new to growing but have study up on it for the past 2 years so i have a very good knowledge of growing just have never done it. so i want to be successful. i hope to hear back from some people at least please

peace

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huge pot head, tired of buying. first time grower.

Gwiito.... Since the space you are working in, is so small. I'd recommend Happy Frog Potting Soil (about $ 8 for a 12 quart bag). It's very well made and is properly balanced NPK wise. It will easily carry your plant or plants for three weeks - with nothing else but plain water.
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Container size does affect overall size of a plant, plants grown in small containers stay smaller in size. The size of the rootball, being the limiting factor.
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I would normally recommend mixing up soil, rather than just buying it, but in your case - buying a small bag would be more cost effecient.
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Since you really will not need grow nutes, I'd go with Bontanicare's Pure Blend Pro Series - Flowering Fertilizer - it's all organic and very well made. Other good, all organic fertilizers are Metanaturals, Earth Juice and BMO.
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Hope this helps...
Keep it Real....Organic...

use a short bowl or a deep plate the roots will spread wide making ur plant more sturdy and it will closer to the ground. also id flower asap otherwise ur plants will out grow ur little box with no buds

so its a good thing that the pot is shallow because it will stunt the plants growth? will it stunt it to the point where nothing will happen or will it just not allow it to reach for the sky? im sorry i sound so dumb. also what kinds of fert should i use? this whole time i was studying on growing i was studying on how to do it hydroponically. well my recent change of heart has kind of brought me back to square one as far as fert goes. im looking for somehting that will kind of act as steroids since its such a small encloser. i had everything set and then i realized that checking the ph 3 times a day wasnt going to be stealthy because my GF and my roommate will have no idea im doing this. so checking something 3 times a day isnt very practical. whatever input you guys think will help me will be much appreciated.

peace

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huge pot head, tired of buying. first time grower.

really not cool to have room mate and not tell him whats going on. that being said, the shallow pot will work to your advantage. the plant will still bud but it won't be able to grow 3 ft tall, which is to your advantage. the roots will spread out to wherever they can to find water. make sure you have drainage holes in the bottom to avoid root rot. with that small a space you should probably run your lights 12/12 from the start or you will still run out of space, you'll have the space the lights are taking up to contend with too. you don't want any nutes at all for at least 2 weeks and if you get a soil with ferts in it (would have an N-P-K rating on the bag) then you don't want to use any for 4-8 weeks really. that small a space the last thing you want is plant "steroids". they grow pretty quick on their own. But like i said before if you're not growing legally then you are putting your roommate, your GF, and anyone else living there at risk. they should know about it or you shouldn't do it. If you can't trust them enough to tell them, then you shouldn't do it.

true that 27 to life for 1 plant in any stage of cultivation

noob...it will smell what then?