The space I am using is under a bed that has been raised about 3.5 feet. So the length and width of the space are that of a twin bed (about 2.5' x 6'). I plan on using two pieces of cardboard (Home Depot) to create an enclosed space (the other sides being two walls, the floor, and the bed above) that is the width of the bed (the smaller dimension), and about 3 feet in the longer dimension. Hope that describes the space clearly. Feel free to ask for any details. Now onto whats inside. I am going to have 4 plants (bagseed), with hopes of a single female (though more would be nice...). I will germinate in 16 oz plastic cups, and then move to pots. First, lights: I will be using CFL for the whole grow. For the seedlings and vegetative stage I will use 6x26 watt daylight CFLs (Walmart), inside of 2 clamp lamps (Home Depot) each fitted with 2 2 socket adapters (Home Depot). For the flowering stage (I only have 16 weeks for the whole grow so this should be about 9 weeks in), I will switch 6 of the daylight CFLs with 26 watt soft whites (Walmart). Pretty soon I will know the sex of the plants, and i will only have 1 or 2 plants left, so I assume this should be enough light. I will use a mylar emergency blanket on the inside of the container, and I already have a basic timer. Soil: I don't know which soil I will be using yet, probably just some miracle gro organic and then adding fertilizer after a month or whatever, but I am trying to keep the plants small since I will only have about 2.5 feet of vertical space for them after accounting for the height of the pots and the lights. I will need to buy PH meters. Ventilation: How much ventilation I will need will be more clear once I actually set everything up. But for now I plan on putting a small fan (Ace Hardware)in the bottom corner of one side of the box (and making some holes in the cardboard so it can draw air in) and angling it at opposite upper corner which will be a wall where there is a window a few feet away. I also have a/c and heat in this room. I will also be using a digital thermometer and hydrometer to monitor the conditions (Lowes) Containers: 16 oz. plastic cups for the seedlings, and then transplant into cheap 2-3 gallon plastic pots. The total cost so far (without pots, soil, ph meters, a fan) is $85, so I am hoping that I will be able to keep the whole thing at about $125 or less... -------------- So what do you think of this plan? Am I being too frugal with the lighting? Right now I am hoping that for 4 plants in the first few weeks of veg 6x26 = 152 watts of CFL will be enough, and then 152 watts of soft white will be enough for flowering. At the beginning this wont be much for 4 plants, but as soon as I only have 1 or 2 females, it should be more than enough from what I gather. I could also supplement the 6 daylight bulbs during vegetative with 2 or 3 (or all 6) of the soft whites that I will already have bought for the flowering stage, and then when I get to vegetation, I can swap them (so that I have 6 soft whites and 2 or 3 (up to 6) day lights. I have one or two spare shitty desk lamps that I could put on the sides of the plants for that purpose. I realize that I wasn't that clear on a couple things, so please ask me to clarify. Thanks for any comments, and I hope that my links will help some other people who were looking for those items (I know that these links would have helped me a week ago)
CFL's get hot at least the ones that I have to supplement my leds have gotten my closet space pretty dang hot . I guess personally I wouldnt like something hot under my bed especially if I am sleeping on it . Plus during veg the lights are on most of the time . How do you plan to make that space cool down enough to be comfortable for you and those sweet plants you are planning to inhale . During the winter time , I guess having a Hot bed would be kinda nice but during other times of the year I dont see that as being too comfortable . I am an american though so maybe I am just soft and also I am not the complete expert I am just throwing my 2 bits in there ... Wont the bed still get hot even if the Fan throws the air out of the space ? I guess I am a bit clueless but good luck on your interesting attempt
Thanks for your input. As far as I know CFL's run relatively cool (compared to incandescents, at least). The one CFL in my house is cool enough to touch for a second, even after being left on for hours... Someone with more experience: what should I expect for the bulbs I linked to? Also, I don't spend much time in the room, just for sleeping, and I plan on having the light schedule relatively close to my sleeping schedule (though obviously they will overlap if I plan on sleeping more than 6 hours for vegetative stage). But I appreciate your concern, and it will probably make me think more seriously about ventilation. Does anyone else have any input?
