1st grow!!! HELP!!!

Sirsmokealot91

Well-Known Member
Hi all this is my first grow ever. I've read and read and figures what the hell. As a new grower I do have some "things" to figure out and that's where I'm hoping you all will come in and steer me in the RIGHT direction lol. But onto my setup and equipment etc so we can get to my QUESTIONS and hopefully some ANSWERS. I'm growing in a walk in shower in a spare bathroom.

EQUIPMENT:
600 watt dimmable ballast with basic wing reflector currently dimmed to 250 watts (600watt hps bulb).
Fox farm ocean forest soil
Barneys farm blue cheese fem seeds
Panda film
Solo cups
5 gal fabric pots

My setup is fairly simple and straightforward. This is a shower grow in a non used bathroom. I gorilla taped panda film on all the walls but the opening. I'm confused about that as well like should I make a "panda film door" for that shower opening??? I bought an extra shower curtain rod and fitted it into the shower. Using the included rope ratchets I hung the light and wing reflector from said shower rod. I successfully germed 4 of the seeds using the paper towel method and paper plates. When taproot was "acceptable" length to me I planted them a pinch deep in four solo cups that I filled with the fox farm and that I had cut holes into the bottom of for drainage. 3 are doing fine and one has yet to sprout. They are almost 2 weeks old. Have ballast dimmed to 250watts on a 18on/6off timer. Barely watered until sprout popped up from the dirt. I use tap water that has been left out for 24hrs. Now I water once a day until I get a little runoff because the soil dries but not bone dry. I use paper plates for saucers. Pour the run off right down the shower drain. When they get bigger I plan to transplant them into the fiber pots and just let the runoff run down the drain as well. Heat isn't much of a problem right now. I know that this isn't everything I need. But I feel like it's what I needed to get started. I know I will probably have to invest in fans, nutes, filter, ducting blah blah blah and that's where I'm hoping you guys can help. I plan on getting some clip on fans today. Oh yea it's an apartment grow if that means anything so stealth is MAJOR but it's laid back. My goal is to get about a lb. So now to my questions
QUESTIONS:
1. As far as filtering. The bathroom is not that big. Should I aim to "seal" the shower and filter that alone or should I aim to just filter the whole bathroom.

2. Ventilation. I have a standard bathroom fan on the ceiling as you can see in the pics.
Should/could I use this to vent? And as far as intake would opening the door sometimes work or would it be best to run ducting under door to draw fresh air from other room.

3. There is an ac vent on the wall that you can't see in the pic. Should I cover and seal this or leave it alone to help with temp control.

3. Like I said my plants are almost 2 weeks and 3 are ok but one has yet to break soil. Should I germ another and try to repot another one?

4. Is 250watt enough light for the kids at this age?

5. What type of training do you think would best benefit this type of setup.

Any feedback will be appreciated
 

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OnePrays

Well-Known Member
Hi all this is my first grow ever. I've read and read and figures what the hell. As a new grower I do have some "things" to figure out and that's where I'm hoping you all will come in and steer me in the RIGHT direction lol. But onto my setup and equipment etc so we can get to my QUESTIONS and hopefully some ANSWERS. I'm growing in a walk in shower in a spare bathroom.

EQUIPMENT:
600 watt dimmable ballast with basic wing reflector currently dimmed to 250 watts (600watt hps bulb).
Fox farm ocean forest soil
Barneys farm blue cheese fem seeds
Panda film
Solo cups
5 gal fabric pots

My setup is fairly simple and straightforward. This is a shower grow in a non used bathroom. I gorilla taped panda film on all the walls but the opening. I'm confused about that as well like should I make a "panda film door" for that shower opening??? I bought an extra shower curtain rod and fitted it into the shower. Using the included rope ratchets I hung the light and wing reflector from said shower rod. I successfully germed 4 of the seeds using the paper towel method and paper plates. When taproot was "acceptable" length to me I planted them a pinch deep in four solo cups that I filled with the fox farm and that I had cut holes into the bottom of for drainage. 3 are doing fine and one has yet to sprout. They are almost 2 weeks old. Have ballast dimmed to 250watts on a 18on/6off timer. Barely watered until sprout popped up from the dirt. I use tap water that has been left out for 24hrs. Now I water once a day until I get a little runoff because the soil dries but not bone dry. I use paper plates for saucers. Pour the run off right down the shower drain. When they get bigger I plan to transplant them into the fiber pots and just let the runoff run down the drain as well. Heat isn't much of a problem right now. I know that this isn't everything I need. But I feel like it's what I needed to get started. I know I will probably have to invest in fans, nutes, filter, ducting blah blah blah and that's where I'm hoping you guys can help. I plan on getting some clip on fans today. Oh yea it's an apartment grow if that means anything so stealth is MAJOR but it's laid back. My goal is to get about a lb. So now to my questions
QUESTIONS:
1. As far as filtering. The bathroom is not that big. Should I aim to "seal" the shower and filter that alone or should I aim to just filter the whole bathroom.

2. Ventilation. I have a standard bathroom fan on the ceiling as you can see in the pics.
Should/could I use this to vent? And as far as intake would opening the door sometimes work or would it be best to run ducting under door to draw fresh air from other room.

3. There is an ac vent on the wall that you can't see in the pic. Should I cover and seal this or leave it alone to help with temp control.

3. Like I said my plants are almost 2 weeks and 3 are ok but one has yet to break soil. Should I germ another and try to repot another one?

4. Is 250watt enough light for the kids at this age?

5. What type of training do you think would best benefit this type of setup.

Any feedback will be appreciated

1.Try covering it up with panda film as they begin to veg you don't want any light peeking thru disrupting their sleep cycle, it can stress them out you. could get hermies and you wouldn't want that.
2. That vent could help with exhaust ad humidity control it will beachallangeof its own thin sureyou will figure it out, just make sure to have some kind of hygrometer, so you can control temps and humidity.
3.cover the Grow room you've made.
4.. Should probably try popping some new seedling that one may have not made it but don't give up on it yet! I've had some seedlings take up to three weeks!
5. 250w is more than enough just try raising the light about 20 inches too close, it can get you soil to hot and harm the roots/seedling or kill it.
6. Look into LST and Mainline there is a few threads on the advance marijuana forum.


Good luck bother and welcome to RIU :bigjoint:
 

Sirsmokealot91

Well-Known Member
1.Try covering it up with panda film as they begin to veg you don't want any light peeking thru disrupting their sleep cycle, it can stress them out you. could get hermies and you wouldn't want that.
2. That vent could help with exhaust ad humidity control it will beachallangeof its own thin sureyou will figure it out, just make sure to have some kind of hygrometer, so you can control temps and humidity.
3.cover the Grow room you've made.
4.. Should probably try popping some new seedling that one may have not made it but don't give up on it yet! I've had some seedlings take up to three weeks!
5. 250w is more than enough just try raising the light about 20 inches too close, it can get you soil to hot and harm the roots/seedling or kill it.
6. Look into LST and Mainline there is a few threads on the advance marijuana forum.


Good luck bother and welcome to RIU :bigjoint:
Thanks for replying!
1. I know that this gap needs to be covered. The problem I have is what/which way would be better and more efficient. I had a few ideas about this... One idea was to use cardboard with panda film on it as a little door. Cut 2 holes in said door for intake/outtake. This "door" would seal the shower and then I could just focus on filtering the shower for smell. Problem I seen with this is it will be a pain to get in and out. Another idea was to just hang panda film over the opening and instead of sealing the shower in focus on carbon filtering the whole BATHROOM.
2. When you say "vent" for outtake you mean the bathroom ceiling fan that sends stinky poopy air out right and not the AC vent that sends in fresh/cold air.
3. Definitely. Only reason I have not is because of what I said in #1.
4. By my other 3 being 2 weeks older this won't mess up/affect my lights on lights off schedule? For example the 3 already planted will be 2 weeks closer to harvest than my new one. Or should I just wait and flower them all at the same time?
5. Gotcha
6. Gotcha
 

Sirsmokealot91

Well-Known Member
Went and bout some new equipment yesterday. Got a small desk fan and have it set enough to make the leaves gently rustle. Also picked up a temp and humidity monitor. Temps are currently 72 F with the lowest over last 24 hr being 64 F and highest 78 F. Humidity currently 50% with the lowest over 24 hr being 41% and the highest 54%. Next I want to pick up a ph and light tester
 

ilovetoskiatalta

Well-Known Member
@Sirsmokealot91 Keep your temps in check. It will get hot when you turn that up to 600.
This is a great thread for small grows. Genetics are without a doubt important but learning to grow is just as important. You can be given the best seeds/clones but if you can't grow it does not matter.
Remember every environment is different. Most common mistakes are over watering, over feeding, temps not in check. Air temps and air flow are crucial.
K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid)
Good luck.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/the-main-lining-thread.542308/page-216
 

Sirsmokealot91

Well-Known Member
@Sirsmokealot91 Keep your temps in check. It will get hot when you turn that up to 600.
This is a great thread for small grows. Genetics are without a doubt important but learning to grow is just as important. You can be given the best seeds/clones but if you can't grow it does not matter.
Remember every environment is different. Most common mistakes are over watering, over feeding, temps not in check. Air temps and air flow are crucial.
K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid)
Good luck.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/the-main-lining-thread.542308/page-216
Thanks!!! Yea I turned it up to 400w about 2 days ago. Temps remain constant around 73 F. In your opinion when should I crank it up to 600w in order to maximize my grow. I was just going to wait till I set up my exhaust for the heat lol. They are growing WONDERFULLY so far. Can't wait to see what they do with the 600w
 

Sirsmokealot91

Well-Known Member
So I transplanted today . Don't know if I should have or did it correctly but I did lol. They are a little over 2 weeks. I skipped watering this morning when the lights came on. Soil dries out fast enough in the solo cups anyway.... I prepped my fabric bags by washing and rinsing them real good in regular water. Filled bags with fox farm ocean forest. I proceeded to lightly water the soil no runoff just to get it wet. I then dug holes in said soil about as big as the solo cups. Then I grabbed a solo cup and just cut a slit down the side. I opened my palm and gently placed it over the solo cup. I turn the solo cup over and the plant, rootball, and dirt fell out into my hand. It's amazing how many roots a plant can grow in 2 weeks!!! Roots were looking good and looks like I decided to transplant at a good time because these plants seem aggressive. I know that most ppl post saying "knock off the dirt" but being a newbie and this my first time I just took what was in my hand and placed it in the hole/s. Then I covered with more soil. Haven't watered yet and don't plan on it until next watering as the soil is already moist and I don't want to overwater. Adjusted lights and will be looking for updates
 

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coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Can you remove the fan in the ceiling and attach the proper fan and filter to the duct which is already in place? (to remove smell and heat)
Will the ac double up as a passive intake? Or can you just turn it on and pump in fresh cool air?
 

Sirsmokealot91

Well-Known Member
Can you remove the fan in the ceiling and attach the proper fan and filter to the duct which is already in place? (to remove smell and heat)
Will the ac double up as a passive intake? Or can you just turn it on and pump in fresh cool air?
I know I can remove the cover. The actual fan idk. But I was thinking that as long as the cover was removed and my fan was strong enough it wouldn't matter. I don't plan on actually having that fan in the ceiling running. Just the hole for exhaust. Don't know how to answer your second question but i plan on installing a backdraft damper or whatever it's called so I can utilize my ac without smell leaking threw it when it's not on
 

Sirsmokealot91

Well-Known Member
Also I transplanted them but I don't think I set them deep enough in the soil. I mean they are fine but I was hoping for a more even level of soil. The way I transplanted and moved the dirt I have a little "mound" around the base of the plants. I know I could add more soil but I don't have anymore on hand and have to order some and wait for it to come. Could I maybe wait until the soil is dry, dig up plant, re adjust soil, then re add the plants. Or would it be better to just maintain them as they are and wait for more soil. Will probably be at least another week before I get the soil in as I have spent my "grow budget" for this week on a 6in inline fan with 440 cfm, a fan speed controller, ph meter, ducting, gorilla tape etc
 

ilovetoskiatalta

Well-Known Member
Also I transplanted them but I don't think I set them deep enough in the soil. I mean they are fine but I was hoping for a more even level of soil. The way I transplanted and moved the dirt I have a little "mound" around the base of the plants. I know I could add more soil but I don't have anymore on hand and have to order some and wait for it to come. Could I maybe wait until the soil is dry, dig up plant, re adjust soil, then re add the plants. Or would it be better to just maintain them as they are and wait for more soil. Will probably be at least another week before I get the soil in as I have spent my "grow budget" for this week on a 6in inline fan with 440 cfm, a fan speed controller, ph meter, ducting, gorilla tape etc
@Sirsmokealot91 leave them alone. I would water them just my .02
Especially under the light turned up.
 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
I know I can remove the cover. The actual fan idk. But I was thinking that as long as the cover was removed and my fan was strong enough it wouldn't matter. I don't plan on actually having that fan in the ceiling running. Just the hole for exhaust. Don't know how to answer your second question but i plan on installing a backdraft damper or whatever it's called so I can utilize my ac without smell leaking threw it when it's not on
Leaving the fan in there will cause some resistance but could work. As long as your extraction is on 24/7 and it creates negative pressure then air and smell should not go out of the ac unit.
The issue might be that usually bathroom fans are 4" and that limits you to 4" fans, although you could go bigger and use a reducer but your then overworking the fan by creating more resistance.
I would be tempted to remove the fan completely and safely cap off the wiring, if its a rental property you can always put the fan back later. If you own the property then its no problem.
I don't think the situation is ideal but sometimes we have to work with what we have.
 

Sirsmokealot91

Well-Known Member
Leaving the fan in there will cause some resistance but could work. As long as your extraction is on 24/7 and it creates negative pressure then air and smell should not go out of the ac unit.
The issue might be that usually bathroom fans are 4" and that limits you to 4" fans, although you could go bigger and use a reducer but your then overworking the fan by creating more resistance.
I would be tempted to remove the fan completely and safely cap off the wiring, if its a rental property you can always put the fan back later. If you own the property then its no problem.
I don't think the situation is ideal but sometimes we have to work with what we have.
Lmao. I already ordered a 6" fan lo
 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Lmao. I already ordered a 6" fan lo
lol, I used to run 6" cool tubes (3 in a row) with my 8" isomax fan and use a reducer to the cool tubes and a reducer after back to 8" duct. It worked fine and dandy, just not as efficient and a bit louder. That fan has run for 7 years non stop. Still going strong, although I don't use cool tubes any more.
 
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