Hello friends! Newbie closet grower here. Saying hi.

Hello all. I have been reading posts for the last few months and finally this weekend took the first step to starting my own project and hopefully future hobby. My project so far consist of 16x29x56 2 door custom closet inside my bedroom closet. (pics attached) I was planning on 2-3 plants. Personal use only. I was trying to stay away from HPS, due to cost, but if all of you suggest I go that route, I most likely will. I want to stick with soil due to ease of grow, being my first time.

I went to Home Depot today and purchased 4 "Ecosmart" 27w. Daylight Compact Fluorscent lights. I believe they are rated at 5000K lumens. (pic attached) I am using 6.5" clip on shop lights with Y brackets. Total cost so far in lights and hood is $30.00. Next I plan on putting a computer fan as intake and one as exhaust with diy carbon filter.

I will be getting clones very soon from a friend. I'm not too sure of the strain but its my first grow so I just want to start with female clones.

I am here to ask what your suggestions are for me now. I am trying to keep this as stealth as possible. My roommate puffs but I don't want him knowing I'm growing. Please give me your feedback on if I have the right lights, or what you think I should be doing. I'll be starting a journal once I get my babies. But until then, I'm still getting the space ready.

Hey, 1st off welcome

You're going to need more light than that.
If you're using cfl's, get the 42 watt 1's instead of the 27watt.
Or you can go get a 125, 250 watt 1's with a reflector on E-bay cheap or your local hydro shop will prolly have 'em.
You want 27000k day light cfl's for veg stage & 6500k for flower, but you have to add more of them (for flower stage)
Good idea with the comp fans. I don't know how much you read so I'm gonna say this
just make sure your intake is at the bottem in 1 corner and the exhaust is in the upper opposite corner

Thanks man! Yeah. I plan on exhaust on top and intake on the bottom. So I'll take the lights back. Will 4 42w work? I have been reading a lot about lights and still am super confused. I was just looking locally online at a hydro shop and found a setup 400w MH Ballast, 400w MH bulb, w reflector and cordset for $170. Like I said I'd like to stick to CFL cuz I just think its cooler (different) but if I'll be spending 90 bucks on cfl bulbs twice. (4 for flowering and 4 for veg). I think tomorrow I'll stop by the grow shop and look at some cfl they stock and ask some questions. Thanks for your response!

Yea, your best bet is cfl's with that closet, check out the grow shop like you said, and get a 125 27000 watt with reflector and then if you can...save up and get a 250 watt cfl for flowering 5000k
That would prolly be your best bet

hardroc said:

Yea, your best bet is cfl's with that closet, check out the grow shop like you said, and get a 125 27000 watt with reflector and then if you can...save up and get a 250 watt cfl for flowering 5000k
That would prolly be your best bet

Click to expand...

This is wrong. You want 6500k or thereabouts for veg. 2700k for flower. Sorry to correct you.

Oh shit my bad. I get the cfl's confused, I use Mh and Hps.
Thanks for the correction, I feel like a dumbass now lol
Most of the large cfl's like the 250's come in 5000k
for a more full spectum, but for the smaller cfl's 2700k is the way to go.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I guess I am learning stuff on here. I'm heading to the shop tonight after work. Ill let u know what I come home with. Thanks for ur help. Would only one light be enough? I'm only planning on two or 3 plants.

Also I have been wonderning about the inside my cabinet. Most people say flat white paint. Some say Mylar. I was thinking about white tagboard inside. Then I won't have to paint. Suggestions are always welcome.

Yea, mylar is really good, but paint and white card board (but might get soggy from the humidity)will work as well.
Panda plastic is a great alternitive. It's black on 1 side and bright white on the other.
Sorry about the mix up earlier......I get mixed up with the kalvin ratings sometimes on cfl's
Blue light ones for veg and orange light for the flowering or you can stager the lights for flowering for both spectrums.
1 125 should work well for veg and 250 would be excellent for flower, but a few 42 watt ones will also work.
Just however many lights you use for veg double or close to for flower if you can.

Ok.. Update. So I stopped by the hydro shop and the guy talked me into a 400w HPS. He is hooking me up with a bulb, shield, ballast for $120. Not too shabby.. He tried growing with cfl's and really suggested if I'm going to be investing this much time go with the 400 hps. I'll still use the cfls for veg but will probably switch to t-5s on the top of the cabinet for veg and clone room.

They also had sheets of vinyl covered reflective sheets he said kick ass for inside the cabinet. I didn't buy anything there today. I think I'll get the cabinet 100% ready then start vegging the clones till I put the hps in. I did however stop by Powell's books in Portland and picked up the Cannabis Grow Bible.

I'll keep all you posted on how the cabinet and the rest are coming. I can't wait to get my babies and really start bothering yall with questions!