1st grow, done on the cheap.

H

hotbot

Member
Hi,
Just started my first grow about a week ago. I ordered some femmed short rider seeds and soaked it in warm water in the hot press for 24 hours and then planted it in all purpose compost. It broke soil about 3 days ago. I have it in a 5 litre pot under 2x85w (porcelain fittings) warm white cfls in a cardboard box lined with plasterboard and covered in reflective bubblewrap. Have extraction and a carbon filter(not connecting the filter til it starts to smell) and waiting on a cooling/circulating fan before I add more lighting(probably 2x25w cfl's). Box is about 1.25x1.5x2.5foot. Temp is currently 25ish. I'm not a very good verbal communicator so I hope to get a few pics up soon.:bigjoint:
 
H

hotbot

Member
I found out that these big cfl's dont mix well with the small ones possibly too close to each other for the small bulbs ballast to dissipate heat . It sends the temps from a stable 25 to 33. it was 25 when I ran with 4x25ws so i think the 2x85 are a better choice til I get some cooling.
 
georgyboy

georgyboy

Active Member
you can buy 1x1 wooden rods from your local hardware store very cheap (i just bought 4' long 1x1's for .99 usd each) and use that to make a frame for a box. Wood screws or nails are also very cheap (100 for 5 usd at lowes) Then you can just wrap the frame with black and white poly, mylar, or whatever reflective material you can find and you have a very simple grow box. run an extra rod across the middle of the top to support lights.
 
azryda420

azryda420

Active Member
I dont like the sound of germinating seeds in war water for 24 hours. lol It just needs to be in a moist paper towel. Glad to hear your seed cracked. But never heard of that method nor would I use it ever.
 
H

hotbot

Member
Gently removed plant and added about 1.5 liters of perlite to the mix, hope I didn't stress it too much.
 
H

hotbot

Member
She's perked up since the repotting into the perlite mixed soil, rewatered and the drainage seems better.Cheers for the input so far.
 
H

hotbot

Member
Just tucked her in, she looks fine to me at the end of day 4(but I never grew before and wouldn't know). Adding perlite definitely "lightened" the soil and made watering easier.
 

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Harrekin

Harrekin

Well-Known Member
azryda420 said:
I dont like the sound of germinating seeds in war water for 24 hours. lol It just needs to be in a moist paper towel. Glad to hear your seed cracked. But never heard of that method nor would I use it ever.
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I throw all my pips in a glass of water and just leave them in the dark.

Its fairly common in "real" horticultural trades, the paper towel method is just so noobs don't drown the taproots once they emerge.

Keep us updated and welcome aboard!
 
H

hotbot

Member
1shot said:
Put you lights sideways... produces more light over a greater area
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Good point but i'ts easier for me to move them up and down this way. When the plant gets a bit taller it will be getting alot of light from the sides I hope.
 
Haydoon

Haydoon

Well-Known Member
That box of yours looks very familiar. Mine looked exactly the same, similar size too by the looks. Once you get a few grows under your belt youll be surprized what you can get out of that box. My last grow was 13 zips from 2 plants, 400w :leaf:
 
H

hotbot

Member
Day6, she's grown a tiny bit in the last 2 days but looks alittle droopy, temps now 25 to 33. Might have over watered her a bit. Waiting on cooling fan to arrive. Hope to get a few pics up tomorrow.
 
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