Just Do It

[mem]

I've done a good bit of reading on how to produce nice plants with fat buds but the more I read, the more I think "this takes a lot of work and cash." I decided that I'd see how efficiently I could grow a plant from bag seed with minimal work (very basic indoor environment construction, no measuring pH, etc... just let it grow) and minimal expense (cheap fluorescent lights, recycling parts to make a growing chamber, etc). Right now I have a healthy 30cm (~1ft) plant growing in a clean reusable setup that cost me less than $50, and I plan on tweaking my technique as I go, keeping my work and expense ethics in mind.

Here are the components:
1 Metal Trash Can w/ Lid (~$10)
2 "Work Light" Fixtures (~$5 each)
1 Conic Light Fixture (~$10)
1 Oscillating Fan (free, found in house)
3 Fluorescent Bulbs (~$10 pack of four)
Flowering pots, fertilizer, soil, water (~$10-15)

First, I cut a hole in the top of the trash can lid. This is where I set the conic top light. The other two lights, I just hung them upside-down inside the trash can, opposite of each other. The lid is set loosely on the trashcan, allowing the oscillating fan to blow fresh air inside the system. Overall, the system stays cool and I'm pretty confident that it's not going to start any fires (knock on wood).

Anyway, that's pretty much it. I'll report back here if I actually get any buds from this system. I plan on reusing the setup and adding more growing "pods" to my garage. I figure that one oscillating fan can effectively ventilate three of these trash cans with no problem, and for less than $50 a pop I really think I could save some money in the long run. My only concern is the light. I did purchase a HPS bulb ($20), but I'm not sure if using that light will increase my yield noticeably enough since I'm only growing one plant.

It is my hope that this at least encourages anyone that's on the fence or on a budget to just try growing some weed. I have absolutely no growing experience and I was a bit intimidated by all of the science and technique (which will almost undoubtedly lead to better herb than mine), but starting with such a simple set-up has already taught me a lot and is actually very easy to do. I've found cannabis to be a very tough and resilient plant, and just watching it grow is a very rewarding experience in itself.

[codybridges69]

F-in sweet!