Newbie needs some suggestions

first and foremost, allow me to introduce myself, i'm happyweed, and as you already know i'm new to the RIU boards, and i've already learned A LOT, but i'm still a little confused...

you see, i want to start growing a single plant or two, and i'd prefer to do it hydro/aero. potentially, i have a small growing area, and i figured a plant or two for personal use should be just fine for me. i looked into several kits that they have here online, but i don't know which is suitable for me. i looked into the autopots and thought maybe that would do, what do you guys think?

as far as lights, would one light at a smaller wattage, say less than 250, be okay? i understand that lights with both the MH and HPS are ideal and produce a far better yield, but i would like short, stocky plants. nothing taller than a foot or two if possible. so would i be better off with just an HPS? how about LEDS? yay or nay?

one more question...seeds? i live in the states, and i heard that ordering seeds from canada is best bet, is there any truth to that?

i hope i haven't pissed anyone off with newbie questions, i know there's a million threads on a million things, but i like to be sure.

thanks guys!

okay LEDs naw bra. Go HPS/MH or CFL.

Wat is ya height for ya grow space? If its low you might wanna either go SOG(Sea of green) or do CFL's

250w is great fo 2plants you'll have a nice yield.
Go indica dominant as it sounds like you got space issues.
What hydro systems are you leaning towards?
for 2 plants DWC 5gal/2.5gal bubbler is good fo low budget.
You can actually get all supplies from da Walmart except fo da hydrotron n net pots.

Canada doesnt really have problems with customs i hear but i have no exp on that, i order overseas.

You can make a pretty good hydro system for mere dollars with easy to find parts from local hardware/wal-mart stores.

and let's not forget T-54HO's (T-5's)
High Tech Garden Supply

first off welcome to RIU.YOU SAY SMALL how small?? no to the leds, and if you can only get 1 get the hps with hortiluxeyebulb.as far as just growing 1 plant not worth it.imo u need at least 30 watts per sq ft of hid to get nice buds i dont use cfls for flowering so cant help u there there good for vegin and to keep your mother plants but there kinda a snail grow very slow the best advise i can give you is keep it simple and before you spend alot of money make sure you like growing its alot of work sometimes ive had a few m8s be all gung ho and after 1 grow they stopped.said it was to much work for them.try dirt first then after a few grows if you like it go hydro.just my 2 cents.

These are the three factors you need to consider: money, space, time spent
I would not recommend going hydro/aero for your first time. Stick with soil or a soiless mix. as mentioned above, forget the LEDs. Go with a 250 or 175 watt HPS and use it all the way from start to finish. You can order seeds pretty safely. Visit Nirvana seeds. Worst that's happened is the feds jack your seeds and you get a letter saying so but I bet you will be fine.

And don't tell everyone you are growing!

the size of my growing space hasn't really been determined yet. i would like to get some sort of small grow box, collapsible if possible, i know i saw one somewhere online, so i can store it in a closet or pantry perhaps.

i'd be willing to try soiless, but hydro/aero sounds like fun, lol, but it's all about baby steps, right?

as far as lighting for growing short, stocky plants HPS is the way to go?

bump-- anyone?

oh yea u want short n stocky go HPS bra.
baby steps yea.
Wat kinda soiless u doin?

mane2008 said:

oh yea u want short n stocky go HPS bra.
baby steps yea.
Wat kinda soiless u doin?

Click to expand...

thanks, man, preciate it. what kind of soiless mixture do you recommend?

I dont do soiless never have.

The only mediums ive used is hydrotron/rockwool and soil.

Some pple use cocoir fiber or suthin like that.

Someone will come along n help u with that tho.

Put that grow diary up when u get started bra.

bump-- anyone else have any suggestions on anything?

yeah, i'm trying to do the same thing also. I don't want to yield about 300-400 grams, a good 20-50 grams should be enough, is there any techniques?

welcome to riu!

sorry if it has already been said but have you looked into lowryder? because of there small size they only have a small yield maybe this is ideal for you? the thc content is an avarage according to people who have smoked it but noone realy knows what the true thc level is....if im wrong please correct me on that .... lowryder is an autoflowering strain so it starts flowering almost automaticly hence the name autoflowering. if i remember rightly its grow and ready for harvest in about 8-10weks from seed obviously depending on light condition ect ect blar blar lol

seeds are cheap and im sure someone on riu might have a handy seed they could post, ask..

easy grow, grows realy quickly, good high, not a massive yield(but should be suitable for your needs), dont take up alot of space over all i think this is a wonderfull berginer plant were its so quickly grown it gives you a little idea what its like to grow and i think it would give you some well needed experience before growing 'big guns' lol

also you could look at misty or ealy misty something along those lines because there realy hardy plants your less likely to kill them off first time!!!!!! LOL

good luck m8! all the best!

you have to make a thread on the grow..if you do grow. We will all help you as much as possible especially with the first grow, people at riu love grow threads so make one if you do! lol

YO Happyweed - welcome from a fellow newbie!

I'm just doing my first grow - in soil with 3 CFL's...I bought a 2-pot autopot system for my next try...hell if your growing in a small cupboard and are only growing for occaisional personal consumption why bother with more eh? (unless the amount doesn't last till next harvest...)

Try the autopot if you can - I watched the "Mr Green" videos on youtube and the self-watering pump thing got me interested straight away!

Generally with lights - what the guy suggested with the CFLs and the tubes, tubes would probably work just fine...like I say I'm on CFLs and I've not got enough, I've been told 6-8 per plant and allsorts..I was thinking of a 125 or 250-watt CFL Blue/Red spectrum for my little cupboard next time (ebay link - Dual 125w Hydroponics CFL & hanger grow light lamp bulb on eBay, also Hydroponics, Plants Seeds Bulbs, Garden Plants, Home Garden (end time 20-Aug-08 17:17:12 BST) ) along with the autopot just to see the difference (I've been flowering for 3 and a half weeks and I've probably got a spliffs worth so far) I'm also using Vitalink "Buddy" which enhances bud production during flowering...if I get the larger "grow light" I'm definately gonna be using the CFLs I've currently got as well for sidelighting...hopefully get some more from the bottom/side bud sites that way...

Also check out Paradise Rox seeds...they're small-ish plants, and what I'm starting with!