Hello Boys & Girls, I'm new here, and new to growing cannabis. I have a small farm in Michigan, and am very experienced with organic growing, knowledge of soil properties, etc. But, I'm new to this crop, and wouldn't be getting involved if it weren't legal. I, personally, am not a smoker. But, I'm 100% certain that it has many benefits, and I hope I can help some folks (and make some $). I'll be a Medical Grower/Caregiver, which means I'll probably start off with about 12-24 plants, and add 12 at a time as I add Patients (Michigan Regs.) I hope to get a "perennial situation" going, whereby as I am drying/curing some, other plants/clones will be beginning. My main basement area that I'll be growing in is 16X26 - I plan to use that for the Veg Area. Then, there is an adjacent 12X12 Area I plan to seal off for the Flowering Area. I plan to start soon, and am attempting to get going for a small investment (Just had this brand new home built on our farm this Summer - need to pay for it!). I'll be starting some plants with a basic T-5 set up from the local grow shop (friends of mine - I give then fresh goat milk & grass fed beef). But......there is a different Store closing nearby, with everything marked way down, and I stopped by this afternoon, and picked up 12 48" T-8 bulbs for $24. I know they aren't super dooper, and T-5 is better, but I figure at 1/10th the price, I can use them for something - maybe starting the seedlings/clones, and potentially placing them around the sides. I found what I think is a good deal on White Widow seeds (Fem.) and will most likely try those. If you guys know of a good place to get high quality seeds in the U.S., let me know. Besides my friends at the grow shop, I have a pal from Maine that's been doing this for 30 years. I'm looking forward to learning a lot from you pros on this site, as well. I'm Bob, and I'm a Cannabis Farmer!
If you have a lot of crop growing experience, then you'll do fine with this crop. Cannabis is pretty much like any other plant, and regular gardening techniques work best. You will encounter a lot of erroneous "stoner science" that should be ignored. If farmers don't do a procedure that is recommended to you, then don't do it with cannabis either. Those comments will likely provoke disagreement. The main difference is that with the seeds you have (but not with autoflowers that I grow), and what you're used to growing is that flowering must be triggered with 12-12 lights. The florescent lights you are considering are almost certainly inadequate. With a space that big good lights will cost a lot. Today's best LEDs can be gotten for around $1 per watt, and about 28 watts per sq ft is needed, but 25 would suffice. For a 12 x 12 ft area that is 80% used, you'd need at least (0.8)*144 sq ft)*($1/sq ft)*(25 watts/sq ft) = $2880 Without enough light your crop will suffer.
Thanks for the input. The area I'm using is actually going to (eventually) be a Family Room - with Full Size Pool Table, Wet Bar, and Big Screen TV. When I make the $ to convert it, I plan to have the grow operation move outside to Shipping Containers (we have acreage - don't live in the city). So......What % size should the Flower Room be in relation to the Veg Room? Great point to bring up....Thanks!
Thanks very much. One of the main reasons I'm doing this is due to my love of soil, growing, etc. And, to provide a much needed crop, and to make a profit. I plan to add lights (Top Quality LED) as I move along - just trying to get a starting point. I have folks locally that sell the Top Quality Lights, and I WILL obtain them very soon. May I axe - Is White Widow a good place to start? Looking for a quality strain that is a good producer. Thanks, Friends! Bob
You sound like you have a plan and are trying to execute it. Props to you my friend and I hope you flourish in this journey of course. general rule of thumb most follow is flower room should be double your veg room. So 5x5 for veg. 10x10 for flower. Sound like you want to run a perpetual grow situation. It’s not hard, just takes a bit of time. From time clones take to root. To what you want veg wise. And how long it takes your flowering room to finish up. Once you figure all that out and get the separate areas for it. It’ll be a well oiled machine. Good luck man.