My First Grow!

Here is my FIRST grow. I am not even in the planting stage yet. I want you guys to be included in it from the very beginning. Here is my set-up.
The plastic grow bin ---> but a little bit longer. Basically the same height.
I have wired about 10 inches from the bottom of the tub. I am going to be laying the CFLS directly on this wiring. I can raise the wiring at anytime. I'll just remove this wiring and hang the CFLs directly from the top of the box once the plants that high. I plan on growing 2 plants my first time. I'll be separating them by about 1 week. I plan on germinating one on Thursday, planting on Saturday. I'll have about 4 of these laying on top of the cage wiring. I'll be using 23w 6500k bulbs the whole time. This will allow me to have it DIRECTLY above the plant while positioning it to get as much of the sides as I can. I'm trying to keep the plants as small but thick as possible. I'll be germinating a Sweet Seeds Fast Bud Feminized. In total, I plan on using about 9x23 = 203 watts. I'll be using 1 fan to suck the hot air and passive (I think it's called) to bring the air in. I plan on installing the fan and cutting the passive holes soon. I'll be using Scotts Soil .07 .01 .03. If anyone could recommend a better soil or better nutrients they got from Home Depot, I would appreciate it.

Looks like you have done you're homework and should have a good grow. Only thing I can recommend is putting a fan on either side of the rubbermaid, one intake, one vent. My first grow was 2 plants in a rubbermaid and found I needed an intake fan.

Midwest1228 said:

Looks like you have done you're homework and should have a good grow. Only thing I can recommend is putting a fan on either side of the rubbermaid, one intake, one vent. My first grow was 2 plants in a rubbermaid and found I needed an intake fan.

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I'll update the thread with things I currently have
and things I plan on adding.

Updated, taking suggestions.... Or recommendations.

i wouldnt use that scotts stuff man, i did and the continuous feeding will fuck ya if you arent careful......BEWARE

fatality said:

i wouldnt use that scotts stuff man, i did and the continuous feeding will fuck ya if you arent careful......BEWARE

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What do you mean by continuous feeding? Also, what substitute do you recommend? Hopefully something obtainable from walmart or home depot?

From walmart or homedepot you probably wont find the best stuff. I think fatality is talking about feeding your plants nutes. Good soil like Fox Farm has nutes packed into it, using organic materials. Most cheap soil is just bark and dirt lacking nutrients.

Midwest1228 said:

From walmart or homedepot you probably wont find the best stuff. I think fatality is talking about feeding your plants nutes. Good soil like Fox Farm has nutes packed into it, using organic materials. Most cheap soil is just bark and dirt lacking nutrients.

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Keep in mind my plant is auto flowering and is suppose to be harvest ready within 2.5 months. I don't expect maximum yield, It is my first grow and I'd like to make some starter money off of my yield. Then I can start going for fox farm and big plants. Do you think Scotts Soil and a pack of nutes from Home depot or walmart would be okay for this?

You can use the Scotts. Just let your plants grow a bit before any nutes, (2-3 weeks). Also for the first use, use 1/2 or 1/4 of whatever the directions say. Your plants will tell you what they need or don't need. I wouldn't count on much income from this grow. For me, I had a hard time selling any of my first harvest, there is just something about smoking Your weed. Gl tho man. I'm sub'd to see what comes from this grow.

Midwest1228 said:

You can use the Scotts. Just let your plants grow a bit before any nutes, (2-3 weeks). Also for the first use, use 1/2 or 1/4 of whatever the directions say. Your plants will tell you what they need or don't need. I wouldn't count on much income from this grow. For me, I had a hard time selling any of my first harvest, there is just something about smoking Your weed. Gl tho man. I'm sub'd to see what comes from this grow.

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How much harvest do you think I should expect? I was figuring on using 18/6 lighting from start to finish?

Can't really say what yield you'll get. I have no experience with auto flowering plants, but I think 12/12 would be better after a decent veg period. In my experience plants do most of their growing and bud development at night. So, more dark hours would logically mean more growth. But like I said, I have not used auto plants, so I have not done much research about them. I'm sure there is lots of stuff on what is best for autos on RIU.

Midwest1228 said:

Can't really say what yield you'll get. I have no experience with auto flowering plants, but I think 12/12 would be better after a decent veg period. In my experience plants do most of their growing and bud development at night. So, more dark hours would logically mean more growth. But like I said, I have not used auto plants, so I have not done much research about them. I'm sure there is lots of stuff on what is best for autos on RIU.

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Alright, do you think this would work well? Running the lights ON most of the time at night and OFF most of the day. That way it will keep temperatures down. Seeing as it's usually cooler at night and warmer during the day.

Foolet said:

Alright, do you think this would work well? Running the lights ON most of the time at night and OFF most of the day. That way it will keep temperatures down. Seeing as it's usually cooler at night and warmer during the day.

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Yep, that's a good idea. Only down side is, any light leaks will be more visible during night. Also make sure your grow area is 100% light proof during dark periods. If you did On during day, you can avoid light leak issues and dark at night will help prevent light leaks into your grow room. So weigh the pro's and con's and do what works best for your grow.

Midwest1228 said:

Yep, that's a good idea. Only down side is, any light leaks will be more visible during night. Also make sure your grow area is 100% light proof during dark periods. If you did On during day, you can avoid light leak issues and dark at night will help prevent light leaks into your grow room. So weigh the pro's and con's and do what works best for your grow.

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The only possible light leaks would be during the night (leaking out useful light), the box will always be in darkness aside from the inside lights. I'll have to use some method to stop light from leaking out the air holes and the fan slot.

Get some pic's up of your grow area and box when you get a chance. I and others will have a better idea on how to help. You've got a good start though no doubt. I just stress the light leaking in during night because my current grow went hermie due to a small light leak at night.

Check my grow out if you'd like: https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/428176-my-3rd-grow-3-plants-2.html#post5694513

Midwest1228 said:

Get some pic's up of your grow area and box when you get a chance. I and others will have a better idea on how to help. You've got a good start though no doubt. I just stress the light leaking in during night because my current grow went hermie due to a small light leak at night.

Check my grow out if you'd like: https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/428176-my-3rd-grow-3-plants-2.html#post5694513

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I'll sub to yours once I finish reading this lowryder grow under 80watts. Do you recommend I put the outtake fan up high or down low. I figured hot air rises so put it up top?

Your assumption is correct sir. Up top would be best. Cfl's don't get too hot, they are pretty easy to manage.

Do you think the passive intake with a fan blowing inside will be enough to keep it in the 80's? As stated I have a small outtake fan. Pictures in the original post.
EDIT: Also planning on buying a power strip and 4 more socket adapters so I can have a nice wall of CFL's separating my plants. Going to go hit my magic vape then off to bed. Night.

I would think you'd be better off with a active intake fan. Instead of inside of the box put your larger fan outside of the box blowing directly into the box via cut hole (if you can or want). That way your blowing air in and then out. Blowing air>Pulling air imo. I would set your full grow up, without the plants. See what your temps get to after and hour or so. You'll have to mess with it to get it right, room temp will be a factor.

Here's what I did with my rubbermaid grow:

Cut holes on either side like this:
Put 2 pc fans in those slots, one intake, one exhaust.

Or you could cut a hole in the lid with a pc fan fit in that.

I tried this but I shanked the cut terribly as you can see lol.