Questions about first grow.

So this is my first post but I have been researching on here and other sites for the last month and a half. I plan on being an active member and contributing my own experiences, once I have some that is!

So I’m going to give brief “concept” of what I have in mind for my first grow with some questions at the bottom so those of you who don’t really care about what goes on in my head but wouldn’t mind answering a few of my stupid questions just skip to the bottom!

The goal of my grow is not for profit but for the personal enjoyment of me and a few close friends with maybe a little of the extra getting sold to cover costs and maybe a bit of profit down the line. That being said I am going for QUALITY not quantity and am willing to sacrifice some techniques that produce yield but may lower my quality.

THE SETUP:

• 4x4 plywood flowering chamber, 7 ft tall with a height adjustable 600w HPS in an air cooled cylinder reflector with 4-6 additional 3000 lumen “cool white” fluorescents just for a different spectrum

• Attached is a 2’x4’ veg area under lots of fluorescents ( 3000-4000 lumens / Sq. Ft)in mostly that “cool white” spectrum with some “warm whites” for good measure

• The box will be plastic lined for air/moisture insulation then covered top to bottom in Mylar.

• I plan on growing from seeds to begin but eventually taking clones from each plant before it goes into flower and creating a cycle of 8 weeks clone/veg and 8 weeks flower (depending on strain)

• A homemade Carbon filter will scrub the air and a 200 CFM fan removing air from the chamber through duct work.

• A 90 cfm fan will provide the air input and 4-6 smaller computer fans or equivalent will be placed inside for air movement

• The plants will be in 5 gallon pots of organic soil and fed organic nutrients. Not sure which brand yet, open to suggestions. I plan on reusing the soil for a couple of grows by flushing it well and mixing in a bit of new stuff. (This is almost an entirely different topic though and i won’t go into detail)

Now that you have a bit of an idea of what i’m looking for, I have a couple questions, please answer the ones you want/can and all the advice you can give will be appreciated, like i said i’m not asking for hand outs just some clarification of what i’ve already researched.

QUESTIONS

1. Does LST’ing or ScrOG affect the overall quality? I don’t really plan on starting out with them on my first grow just wondering

2. How many plants in the 4x4 area without any LSTing and minimal “pruning”?(was thinking 4 in a 2x2 layout or 9 in a 3x3)

3. Suggestions for a type of plant, i’m looking for a sativa type head high, would like a white widow but would my grow conditions above be suited(I plan on giving a lot of time and attention to my plants)?

4. Will my 8 week veg cycle make the plants to big before they go into the flower chamber? If so how can I limit their size as I have to wait for the current flowering plants to finish before I can switch?

5. ANY comments on my setup will be GREATLY appreciated.

I plan on starting this in a month or so and will do a detailed grow journal and maybe it will even help somebody else some day!

Thanks in Advance

Welcome to the sight...I've only got one grow under my belt, but I'll see if I can help ya out a little...

1. LST/SCROG doesn't affect the quality, it just makes the most out of a small space by keeping an even canopy of colas with short, bushy plants.

2. I myself am ina 4x4x7 tent...with 1 month of veg from seed, 2 months of flowering and no pruning/LST, I was pushing the limits of my smalls space with just 2 sativas and 1 indica...I underestimated the horizontal growth, and SEVERLY underestimated the lateral growth of sativas. Had they been properly pruned, and I had been prepared, Id say probably no more than 4 plants on my 3x3 flood table before the competition for space became detrimental to plant health (or at least the amount of light they got)

3. If you are able to go to a nursery and get clones, or order seeds online, try and find a sativa with an indica phenotype...if you're just using bagseed (which is what I did) well, it's pretty much gonna HAVE to work (but dont worry, it will!)

4. It depends on how much pruning you do. Keep in mind that once you start flowering, expect the plant to triple in size in most cases. Also, you MIGHT get lucky to harvest in 8 weeks of flower, with some indica or autoflower strains...otherwise, expect at LEAST 10 weeks for most, and some sativas can take up to 20 weeks.

Other than that guy, its all trial and error. You're just going to have to get a grow or two under your belt and see the rate of growth for yourself, and adjust accordingly...good luck!