$2000 Budget - (Stimulus Check) - 1st Time Grower

My name is Rob. I'm in KY where this sh*t isn't legal (yet) but the wife has Crohns disease and it helps with her nausea and pain.
Anyways, thanks to this damn virus and the stimulus check coming, I have a wife approved $2000 budget for a grow in our detached garage.
I'd like to make it as simple as possible but also want to get as much yield as possible (5lbs) and was thinking of setting up two 4x8 tents with LEDs.
I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'm a long time smoker but I've just never had a chance to grow my own until now, so I'm excited.
I will keep this thread going with pictures of my progress along the way. Win or lose this will be fun and a good learning experience for me.

1st Step: Find seeds and purchase all equipment needed...

kickapooh said:

My name is Rob. I'm in KY where this sh*t isn't legal (yet) but the wife has Crohns disease and it helps with her nausea and pain.
Anyways, thanks to this damn virus and the stimulus check coming, I have a wife approved $2000 budget for a grow in our detached garage.
I'd like to make it as simple as possible but also want to get as much yield as possible (5lbs) and was thinking of setting up two 4x8 tents with LEDs.
I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'm a long time smoker but I've just never had a chance to grow my own until now, so I'm excited.
I will keep this thread going with pictures of my progress along the way. Win or lose this will be fun and a good learning experience for me.

1st Step: Find seeds and purchase all equipment needed...

Click to expand...

If you're starting from scratch 2000 isnt going to be enough to fully equip 2 4x8s

kickapooh said:

My name is Rob. I'm in KY where this sh*t isn't legal (yet) but the wife has Crohns disease and it helps with her nausea and pain.
Anyways, thanks to this damn virus and the stimulus check coming, I have a wife approved $2000 budget for a grow in our detached garage.
I'd like to make it as simple as possible but also want to get as much yield as possible (5lbs) and was thinking of setting up two 4x8 tents with LEDs.
I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'm a long time smoker but I've just never had a chance to grow my own until now, so I'm excited.
I will keep this thread going with pictures of my progress along the way. Win or lose this will be fun and a good learning experience for me.

1st Step: Find seeds and purchase all equipment needed...

Click to expand...

2 4x8 won't happen try a 4x4 you might be able to stay in budget and yield at least 1lb get that 5lb idea out of your head and be happy with 1lb with that budget

kickapooh said:

My name is Rob. I'm in KY where this sh*t isn't legal (yet) but the wife has Crohns disease and it helps with her nausea and pain.
Anyways, thanks to this damn virus and the stimulus check coming, I have a wife approved $2000 budget for a grow in our detached garage.
I'd like to make it as simple as possible but also want to get as much yield as possible (5lbs) and was thinking of setting up two 4x8 tents with LEDs.
I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'm a long time smoker but I've just never had a chance to grow my own until now, so I'm excited.
I will keep this thread going with pictures of my progress along the way. Win or lose this will be fun and a good learning experience for me.

1st Step: Find seeds and purchase all equipment needed...

Click to expand...

P10p said:

If you're starting from scratch 2000 isnt going to be enough to fully equip 2 4x8s

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Ryante55 said:

2 4x8 won't happen try a 4x4 you might be able to stay in budget and yield at least 1lb get that 5lb idea out of your head and be happy with 1lb with that budget

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Hey Rob, these guys are right. Start smaller with the right gear and get some practice first. You might be able to do one decent 4x8 setup with 2k, but stuff starts adding up when you add all the extra stuff you need. And I would just hope for a successful harvest my first time, and be happy with whatever I got.

ok thanks guys. so all the "extra stuff I need" is essential if I'm growing in soil ? I'll have a portable AC unit in each tent and a C02 bag in each one as well. I'm seeing 1000w LED grow lights on Amazon for about $150. 5 of them would only be 750. Two 4x8 tents and a 4x4 veg tent would run about $500. Portable AC's I already own. Like I said i want to make it as simple as possible but I do think I can do it with this budget if I set my mind to it. What am I missing?

kickapooh said:

ok thanks guys. so all the "extra stuff I need" is essential if I'm growing in soil ? I'll have a portable AC unit in each tent and a C02 bag in each one as well. I'm seeing 1000w LED grow lights on Amazon for about $150. 5 of them would only be 750. Two 4x8 tents and a 4x4 veg tent would run about $500. Portable AC's I already own. Like I said i want to make it as simple as possible but I do think I can do it with this budget if I set my mind to it. What am I missing?

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Don’t waste ur money on that Chinese jack 1000 watts my ASS maybe 3 hundred at the wall. Not all that shines is gold trust everyone it is a rewarding hobby but there’sre always bumps in the road. Take your time go slow be patient.

kickapooh said:

ok thanks guys. so all the "extra stuff I need" is essential if I'm growing in soil ? I'll have a portable AC unit in each tent and a C02 bag in each one as well. I'm seeing 1000w LED grow lights on Amazon for about $150. 5 of them would only be 750. Two 4x8 tents and a 4x4 veg tent would run about $500. Portable AC's I already own. Like I said i want to make it as simple as possible but I do think I can do it with this budget if I set my mind to it. What am I missing?

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I'd stay away from amazon LEDS if you aren't experienced with them. Lots of people trying to sell garbage for a quick buck

Go to local hydro store they usually have used HID LIGHTS FOR CHEAP. Get ur 4x8 tent just do a couple plants on one side under 1000 watts and learn and build your knowledge of how things work

First time around do a 2x4 or 2x5, there may be mistakes and if your budget is tight you won't be faced with having to sink more money to get properly setup, it's a buffer. When you get that down and learn some tricks, tips and efficiencies go larger and you'll put your money to better use. Think of this as a journey not a destination (5 lbs).

I have a small tent but good equipment check out my post right above 7r blueberry muffins

Dont do the cheap leds. For a lower price, 4x 1000w hids. 2 per tent

I'm just saying... I've had all the fancy equipment and if I could go back in time I'd just make my own hydroponics setup using cheap 5gallon buckets from Home Depot with some drip lines and hydroton. You can make these somewhat advanced but I'd just keep them simple and spend as little time/money as possible. Then spend the rest on lights, fans, filters, nutrients, and a sulphur burner to prevent mold. Keep costs low initially by keeping everything simple.

People will tell you to buy all kinds of crazy shit and unless you're running a large op, like a warehouse, you just don't need a lot of the gizmos and whatnot like the intellidose automated nutrient doser and ph balancer. Just focus on the basics, it's really not rocket science unless you want it to be lol.

kickapooh said:

ok thanks guys. so all the "extra stuff I need" is essential if I'm growing in soil ? I'll have a portable AC unit in each tent and a C02 bag in each one as well. I'm seeing 1000w LED grow lights on Amazon for about $150. 5 of them would only be 750. Two 4x8 tents and a 4x4 veg tent would run about $500. Portable AC's I already own. Like I said i want to make it as simple as possible but I do think I can do it with this budget if I set my mind to it. What am I missing?

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They are not 1000w I promise you that if you get a QP per light with those you would be lucky

Hey Friend...your biggest and best investment in the beginning should be knowledge, and lots of it.
Research, ask a million questions, search forums.
The expert knowledge is out there, you just have to do a little digging.
Good luck op. Hope your wife is doing well during all of this, I know stress can make her condition very bad. I wish her all the best.
FF

kickapooh said:

My name is Rob. I'm in KY where this sh*t isn't legal (yet) but the wife has Crohns disease and it helps with her nausea and pain.
Anyways, thanks to this damn virus and the stimulus check coming, I have a wife approved $2000 budget for a grow in our detached garage.
I'd like to make it as simple as possible but also want to get as much yield as possible (5lbs) and was thinking of setting up two 4x8 tents with LEDs.
I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'm a long time smoker but I've just never had a chance to grow my own until now, so I'm excited.
I will keep this thread going with pictures of my progress along the way. Win or lose this will be fun and a good learning experience for me.

1st Step: Find seeds and purchase all equipment needed...

Click to expand...

Hey friend,
I know i am a recent new member, and this is my first grow. But honestly, i think $2000 budget for your setup is quite reasonable if you shop. I have only $300 invested in mine (2×4×5 tent, and 1 1200w led and a 600w led) i started flowering mine on march 14th. All i grew was bag seed.yes i planted a lot but i ended up with 6 great females and had 1 with bananas. Also when it comes to leds, it says mine is an exlevence 1200w it draws 235 true watts. Always check the actual draw wattage and you will be fine with them. Do the math on how much watt per sq ft per plant is needed and it will work. But i would ask around to find ones you need, i am not a pro. Here is what i have done with $300 and 54 days from seed (bag seed).

Alabamasf said:

Hey friend,
I know i am a recent new member, and this is my first grow. But honestly, i think $2000 budget for your setup is quite reasonable if you shop. I have only $300 invested in mine (2×4×5 tent, and 1 1200w led and a 600w led) i started flowering mine on march 14th. All i grew was bag seed.yes i planted a lot but i ended up with 6 great females and had 1 with bananas. Also when it comes to leds, it says mine is an exlevence 1200w it draws 235 true watts. Always check the actual draw wattage and you will be fine with them. Do the math on how much watt per sq ft per plant is needed and it will work. But i would ask around to find ones you need, i am not a pro. Here is what i have done with $300 and 54 days from seed (bag seed).View attachment 4520008View attachment 4520009View attachment 4520010

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If he's got 2k, he doesn't need any blurple.

Well you may think not but im from tennessee. And it wasnt legal there either. So you better not grow with anything other than blurple. All other lights are hot and will be picked up by the infrared camera on the pot chopper. As for the electric bill, if it goes up too much suddenly theylike to get warrants to check out whats going on. Pot is still a wicked state and federal offense in some places like tn and ky. Ive seen too many people get busted because their garage was smoking hot on infrared.

Hey there!

We have similar stories. I'm not a user at all (recovering alchoholic/addict) but my fiancé has Crohn's and the only thing that worked for her was weed. So I started growing about 3mos ago when I got sick of paying $600oz from the local dispensary. (yes...it's that much here!)

I just did a whole 4X8 for under $2K and it honestly rocks. Check out my grow-room setup thread, and my grow journal and it takes you through the entire build.

I'm only growing Autos so I can keep the light schedule the same. I'm planting 2 seeds every 2-3 weeks so I can always have a plant or two ready to harvest every month. That will net about 8-10oz a month, which is way more than she can smoke, but it lets me give weed to my friends too. Anyway - here's my shopping list.

Tent: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DXYMSMM/ - $175
Lights: 2 of these - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLYR5HG/ - $270ea
(These come with the hangers and timers and temp gauges)
1 of these - https://www.amazon.com/MARS-HYDRO-Commercial-Hydroponic-Greenhouse/dp/B07VPF7KKR/ - $479
Vent Fan: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074XBXFPD/ - $150
Carbon Filter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YXPZR4P/ - $65
Hose: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0791V19H7/ - $25
Fan: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FXOFM56/ - $25

That takes you to just under $1,500. You'll need the other $500 for stuff like fabric pots, medium, tools, PH meters, nutrients, and a million other do-dads that pop up here and there.

Oh...and seeds. Plan on $150 for those to get you started there. Order from either Seedsman.com (site sponsor) or HomeGrownCannabisCo.com - Both have a great selection of Autos if you choose to go that direction, and I've had no issues shipping to a "red state" thus far. They both also give you a lot of free seeds with your order, and often will do BOGO sales.

Good luck and PM me if you have any questions!

Alabamasf said:

Well you may think not but im from tennessee. And it wasnt legal there either. So you better not grow with anything other than blurple. All other lights are hot and will be picked up by the infrared camera on the pot chopper. As for the electric bill, if it goes up too much suddenly theylike to get warrants to check out whats going on. Pot is still a wicked state and federal offense in some places like tn and ky. Ive seen too many people get busted because their garage was smoking hot on infrared.

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That's some funny shit man. Are you trying to play an April fools joke on us, lol.

Those blurples put off a lot more heat than the quality LED's, which is why they need a fan.

But just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you. The choppers are probably monitoring all your movements now, not just your new grow, lol.

kickapooh said:

My name is Rob. I'm in KY where this sh*t isn't legal (yet) but the wife has Crohns disease and it helps with her nausea and pain.
Anyways, thanks to this damn virus and the stimulus check coming, I have a wife approved $2000 budget for a grow in our detached garage.
I'd like to make it as simple as possible but also want to get as much yield as possible (5lbs) and was thinking of setting up two 4x8 tents with LEDs.
I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'm a long time smoker but I've just never had a chance to grow my own until now, so I'm excited.
I will keep this thread going with pictures of my progress along the way. Win or lose this will be fun and a good learning experience for me.

1st Step: Find seeds and purchase all equipment needed...

Click to expand...

I found 4x8 tents on ebay for $125. Looks pretty muck like the one Ive had for 2 years 600d cloth. Next I'd go alibaba for your lights.Four 320W kits from Meijiu will run you about a Grand. I recommend starting with one 4x8. You should be able to get 4 to 5 pounds. with 10 plants. You need a carbon filter and fan probably $100 to $150, and a 4x4 tent about $100.. Another 320w kit to veg out the 4x4 about $250. 3 small fans 60 bucks. Timers and hangers about $80. Pots and trays 5 gal about $50. Ph pen and Tds meter $50 to $200.