Ok, so I finally saved enough to get my personal grow on the go. I nearly didn't have the cash after my laptop got nicked but decided to hold out for a new macbook. I am wanting to grow 4 plants. My eventual target aim is 300g. This is purely for personal use because I am sick of hunting for dealers and paying over the odds on an oz. I'm very excited. I plan on growing with soil. So, here's my list so far: Update - Added Product List (many thanks to member @Duke nukem') * 120x120x140 Tent * 600w Omega Dimmable Digital Ballast * 600w Omega MH Bulb (veg) * 600w Omega HPS Bulb (flowering) * 6" Inline Fan * 6" Rhino Filter * 10m 6" Ducting * 2x 50L Plant Magic Plus Soil * Plant Magic Old Timer Grow * Plant Magic Old Timer Bloom * 4x 2 Gallon Smart Pots * 4x 5 Gallon Smart Pots * 6" Osc. fan * Ph Tester + Ph up/down (don't need due to use of organic soil and nutes) * Digital Thermometer * 4x Grow Tent Rope * Heavy Duty Wall Timer Total Spend: £430 Seed wise I am looking at Pineapple Express, or White Widow. Both are pretty good at relieving my mental health issues . I will absolutely be avoiding auto flowering seeds. This to me feels more like the start of a great hobby, which is why I wanted to go the natural route with soil. At the same I'm aiming for quality over quantity so I can medicate without putting a strain on my bank balance. (The following was posted before I put my product list together) ... My budget is £450 without seeds. I am going to have to go a bit cheaper on the light I think, and this is the part I'm stuck on. What is a good budget light? Everyone I spoke to who I get my weed off tells me dont bother wasting money on expensive lights for little grows. They say it's not worth it when you're starting out and to instead save up for a good light as you get more experienced. Not sure how true they are, but they all tell me they use standard lights. I do want a good light, but I understand I don't have the cash at the moment to get one. I was looking at something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Omega-Dimmable-Digital-Reflector-Spectrum/dp/B00Q4R1UT8/ref=pd_vtph_86_bs_tr_t_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=QK7MDMFD11WV0V4K0ZQ4 ... I am aware of how crappy these are though for the long term. I was going to go with nutrients but again people tell me not to bother and you can get good grows without them. I've got some research to do on this, but I'm just excited to finally be able to start. So, what do you think of my shopping list is there anything I'm missing? Peace.
I grow with 400's, but 600's are the best bang for the buck, 1000's give great bud, but also increases the heat problem. Regardless, you have to get used to the idea that you only have 36" or so inches that you need to keep the plant height in, or you are shorting yourself. LST, scrog, will help get 100% from which ever size light you go with. I hope this helps
Cheers buddy. I've got most things on amazon ready to go, so once I've finished I will put up a list of products. I wanted foxfarm soil, but at £85 a bag I don't think I'll go with this unless I can find it cheaper elsewhere. Found a good carbon filter with good reviews, but it's on the cheaper end of the scale. Once I've got everything in my basket I should have a bit to play with to get a better filter. So far it's £300 and I think I've got everything except the soil. My tent size is 60x60x140 which I feel might be a bit too small for a 600 watt light. I don't want the tent over heating. Heard some good reviews on Canna Terra and Plant Magic. Canna Terra seems much cheaper than Fox Farm which seems to be impossible to get in the UK for a good price.
I don't use a tent, but heat is always an issue, which is why I went with 400's in the begining. If I had to do it over, I would get the 600's. Smell won't be an issue for awhile, so you can wait to get the carbon filter until flower stage.
For a start you've broken the golden rule of growing "tell no one " so you went asking everyone but your dealers mum about lighting and nutrients , ??? Secondly someone is trying to have you off with ffof @ £85 a bag . Plant magic is best in UK about £15-20 a bag (50l) also use the plant magic old timers nutrients range Both soil and nutrients are organic so the ph tester can stay in the shop.giving extra cash for your light Imo a hid light is exactly the same as any other, the whole digital dimmable is more for heat issues I mean hey look at MY ballast It's old as chuff and does exactly what it's meant to . Make sure you get a high quality fan , a good rvk 6"L1 will cool a 4'x4' tent with 600w hid lighting nicely If life gives you lemons You make lemonade
Thanks for the reply bud, very useful information. In total I asked 3 people who have experience growing and all of them I trust. I was definitely selective on who I asked and I didn't tell them I was growing I was just asking questions. But, I've taken note of what you said Do you have any journals?
No I don't keep a journal pal , I put a few pics on the UK growers unite thread (by auto man ) and my grow thread (by mactheman) although iv not been on go for a while . To find my old pics you'll be best to search for member Duke nukem 420 As it will probably be the best way to find all my old stuff And I here what your saying about telling a select few but just remember you can't trust anyone in this world . If you've got questions that need asking then ask the city , at least you know the millions on this side don't know who you are or where you live. Remember everyone gets peeved at what you have and they don't so security is always #1 . If you need out else fire away buddy I'm all ears If life gives you lemons You make lemonade
I'm going to ask a dumb question, so forgive me Do I need a fan for air intake and a fan + filter for pulling air out?
No if you use a strong enough outtake the negative pressure will draw fresh air in All questions are good questions when your starting out If life gives you lemons You make lemonade
Ah, make sense. I think I'm going to grab that fan, plus a carbon filter because I should have enough left in the budget. You've been a great help thank you. Just want to do this right and get the best start
No problem pal , I'm in the city daily so just give us a shout if you need out else . I'll follow you so you can find me on your profile If life gives you lemons You make lemonade
Just checking your list can you not get a 4'x4' (120x120) tent for around the same price? Or is it more about space ? A 600w lamp will soon heat up a 2'x2' tent. If your sticking with your tent size you may be better with a 400w, Also if you read this before your pm's then organic soil buffers ph by the microorganisms that live within the soil If life gives you lemons You make lemonade
Well now that I've ditched the php up/down and the ph tester then I should be able to get a bigger tent. It would be ideal as I wanted to use 5gl pots and they would be a tight squeeze in the current tent. The overheating issues don't sound good. Oh, I also managed to get a deal on 600W Omega kit with a metal halide and a hps bulb. Mh for growth and HPS for flowering is said to yield positive results from everything I've read so thought may aswell go with it. I've just been reading some articles on how the organisms in organic soil maintain ph levels. Pretty cool stuff. On the hunt for another tent now. Many thanks
Can't go wrong with high intensity discharge lamps , been in use for decades so every company sells pretty much the same bulbs ballasts shades with a different name printed on . Imo a 4'x4' tent with 600w lamp is the best starting point for any grower Yeh soil life is amazing I wanna make some no till soil but just don't have the time needed to properly create it before use :/ If life gives you lemons You make lemonade
I think that's the last place I would try to go cheaper is your light! What is your budget on your light? Your going with HPS. Sounds like a nice set up! But why couldn't you fit 4 5 gallon smart pots in your tent? I'm sure you'll have plenty of room in your grow space. If your starting out with 2 gallon Sp then you could go to 5 gallon!I think you should save another $250-$500 then buy a better light your Omega is a good light how much was just your light? Btw: you said you really won't need a Ph tester or ph up and down? You will need it soon or later! If it's a good tester they can cost a lot of money for a blue lab pen. If you don't have much money left return them to put towards your light. I would save up more for a better light! Just my opinion. Good Luck Sent from my iPad using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Hey bud. The Omega 600W was £89. Lots of good reviews on it so if I can get a good yield on my first grow I'll be happy. I've had to save for a few months to get this cash together and I really didn't want to push it back another couple of months. I have to also buy a new laptop now. Ideally I'd like a nice LED ... but I'll be saving until next year for one of those ha ha. But, I will be saving for a better light in the future. This is my first time so I'm just going to get some practice in and see how it goes. Regarding the 5 gallon pots, the diameter of 1 is 30cm. In a 60cmx60cm space I'm guessing I could get 4 in at a squeeze. My math is awful though so I could be wrong. I've since increased the tent size to 120cmx120cm.
Hey cool looks like you had a plan. You should still need ph up and down (less you use other means to control ph)? Also that other should be fine, long as you can control the temps in the tent. Also why are you getting the 2 gallons? Make sure the room monitor has display for room humidity as well. I have never used that soil before I'm sure lots have advice for the organic.
Hey bud, thanks for the reply. Upon research I've learnt that organic soils have natural organisms that maintain the correct Ph balance. I've done some research about adding Ph up and down to organic soils and it seems to be a big no no as the soil is able to do that automatically. I'm just learning though so I could be wrong and would appreciate any input when I'm incorrect I am going to start seedlings off in plastic party cups then move them over to a 2 gallon pot. From the 2 gallon pot I will transfer them into the 5. I had looked into putting them straight from the party cups into the 5 gallon but with this being my first time I want to avoid over watering. I don't think I have the confidence to grow straight into a 5 gallon. And yeah my thermometer has a humidity display
He does have a very good point. If this isn't all that legal, the best thing you can do is tell every one you quit and want nothing to do with it. Every person you tell increases your chance by 10%. So three people know 30%. Three people can keep a secret when two of them are dead More food for thought.
Yeah man I realise I made a mistake. I do fully trust these people and nobody knows I plan to grow but with me asking them questions they may think I want to. I'll keep my mouth zipped from now on.
