My first try

Okay I am still only a padawan at this whole growing thing.I got my first seed germinated the other dayIts nothing special I'm just giving this a shot and will probably end up getting better seeds depending on how this goes.I was a little tight on cash so I made do with what I had.Here are a few pics of my setup.I have it all in my closet (thats small and painted white). I got the Long Fluorescent from Wal Mart for $9.The package says "growing light" so I figured what the heck.It is a 40w I believe but it says it puts out 75w.I have the pot in a crate I used to have my records in so I could suspend the lamp a couple of inches above.The small lamp I had on my desk and put a 60w Fluorescent in that. It sits only a few inches away from the pot. I did all this about twenty mins ago and am just kinda wingin it.
I do have a question though.
how long should I be leaving the lights on the plant.I bought a timer for them incase I had to do it in intervals.
any tips will help. thanks.

-kick

Only tips that could help are, get better lights in the future, perferably before flowering. And have it on continuously or at 18 hours on and the rest off.

Set your light timer for 16 hours on and 8 hours off per twenty four hour period. Keep this light pattern for the first two weeks in the containers.
When I grow with mh or hps lighting, I like using a fluorescent light for these first two weeks of seedling growth. A standard 48 inch fluorescent light fixture sometimes used in garages and kitchens can be found at most department stores. You don't need special grow lights for this purpose, 'cool white' bulbs made for standard 48 inch fluorescent light fixture are cheap and will do a fine job.
After about two weeks under the 16 hours on and 8 hours off light schedule the plants should have put down a good root system and grown a few sets of leaves. At this point you should increase light by an hour a day. You can leave the light on from 18-24 hours a day at this point in the plants life (vegetative phase).
If you have mh or hps lights, now is the time to introduce them to your garden. As you increase the light, the plants grow faster but power consumption increases. This power increase doesn't make a lot of difference with low wattage lights, but mh and hps lights require more power. The more power you use, the higher your electric bill will be.

When the plants are about 12 inches turn the timer to 12 on and 12 off. This will makr them think it is the end of summer and begin to flower.

nice. I just started my first solo plant. Its been in dirt three days and I am seeing some green. I am going to have to get a light setup as the one now I can't adjust its height.

I know a place where you can get really cheap light:

High Tech Garden Supply

Inside Sun

or you can check your local craigs list.

I also reccomend growing at least 10, because you have a 50/50 chance of them being male and female.



HAPPY GROWING.

Thanks for the info Pennywise!I'll try to stick to the 16 hours on and 16 off for 2 weeks like you said.

http://www.e-conolight.com/Product/EProductDetail.asp?ProductFamilyID=7&FGNumber=E-MT6H151G

check this out for cheap hps
click link twice to see
20 bucks for a 150 watt hps =)

Sweeet thanks for the link Nice

no problemo dude