I was looking at either buyin a grow box or a small grow tent. However I was up in my attic and have to do some work up there. I did some measuring and am thinking of boxing in a room up there around 50-58" tall, 42" wide, and about 48" long. I have 500.00 I can spend on lighting, ventilation, planting supplies and everything else I will need. Already have some seeds coming that be stored until I am ready. The reason I am putting this out here is because between all the different types of lights, soil or hydro, and a lot of the other things I have no idea which way to go. I have never done this before so am leaning towards soil, but I like the thought of hydro. Any good advise or ideas to help point me in the right direction. Thanks
Well, lighting alone is going to cost about 250$ on the low end if you are wanting to use HPS, and MH settings, and the ventilation can cost you the other half, easily. Ill post my suggestions below.
Lighting Systems here are pretty affordable in comparison to a lot of places i have seen. Ventilation Kit: This is a 4" vent kit for smaller grows. Again this is the cheapest ive seen. Soil, Im not one to recommend going cheap in the soil, or nutrient aspect of a grow. However, this soil is good and usually 15$ but 9$ on this website. That's all the major stuff, If you have questions on other aspects youll need for the grow just ask, ill be more than happy to help.
with a quick search (i'm sure you might save a few bucks by actually searching) Amazon.com: 600w Digital Super HPS Grow Light System with Air Cooled Tube. Best 600 watt hydroponic grow light set. 600w Dimmable Ballast, Super High Pressure Sodium, 6" Air Cooled Tube, yoyo and Timer kit.: Patio, Lawn & Garden VenTech Hydroponic 6'' Inline Fan and Carbon Air Filter 6'' Duct Flange Combo Set for Odor Control: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific then pop down to the organics Subforum and read http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/1116550-easy-organic-soil-mix-beginners.html I built enough soil for about 6-8 5 gallon pots for around $60. Even if you can find something like Happy frog for cheaper, the actual organic route is re-usable and only gets better with time. There will be a few other items you'll need, like oscillating fans, but this is just a "Rough Draft" quick list basically, and includes Light and fan/filter for less then $250 each. Yes this hobby is expensive, but it's not crazy expensive. People over estimate the cost too often. Could even start the seedlings under some CFLs while you save a some more money Edit: that 400watt light and 4" fan would probably be adequate. More is better but not always mandatory
Thanks guys I just found out a store opened fairly close to me and he has some sunblaze 46 and 48's I am thinking of getting one of those. I also asked about the 3000k red bulbs he is getting some of those in soon. Here in the next few weeks I am going to head over there and pick those up. He has a cheap hydro system which am going to try that and dirt, just both on a smaller scale. The fans I will start looking for, this room might be a tad cool in the winter and kind of warm in the summer, so I know that it needs to be vented. I picked up all the 2x4's today and am going to get it framed, wired and isulated soon. I plan on putting the exhaust vented flanges right in to the walls. I was worried about using T5's but everything I have read so far they seem like a good idea. If I have to spend a bit more than 500 I can, but want to be fairly close, as I already have the materials to build the room. Just have to get lighting, ventilation, and the stuff to grow with.
I also did some more measurements and believe I can extend the length of the room to 50-60 inches leaving me enough room to run a T5 Sunblaze 48.
Attic grows are notoriously difficult because of extreme ambient temps. Even on a mild sunny day an attic can get hot, and in the summer it can be 10-20F or more above the outside temp (and then in your grow space even hotter). In the winter you have the cold to deal with. It can be done, but depending where you live you probably will need air conditioning or heat, most likely both for a year-round op.
^^^*^^ this. And if you live in a region that gets snow in the winter, attic grows can be a security risk.......when your house is the only one on the block with no snow on the roof, people will have a good clue as to why.
I keep seeing this being called a risk, but mist places I've lived in use ceiling heat instead of baseboard heaters. Ceiling heat causes the same lack of snow on the roof over top of the warmest rooms, seems like an easily explained "risk". Just another way of looking at it
What is ceiling heat? Whatever it is, ceiling heat doesn't pump heat directly into the attic (or it shouldn't) and a properly insulated attic should be much cooler than the house below it.....grows generate a lot of heat, especially if using HID lighting....mine brings the ambient temp in my basement from 60-63 to low 70s. This will be accentuated in an attic which is a smaller space (and heat rises)........just something to think about.
Ceiling heat is heaters that are in the ceiling instead of baseboards or central air vents. Since heat rises that's exactly what it does @ pumps heat directly into the attic. It's not exactly the most efficient way to heat a home but at the very least it offers an alibi as to why part of your roof doesn't have snow on it.
That alibi wouldn't cut it where I live as I've never heard of those things....they don't exist here. Glad they don't, as they seem to make zero sense and are a massive waste!
I live in a cold climate.....we are all forced air furnaces. No electric heat here, no one could afford it. So here, a bare roof in winter would raise some eyebrows.
That's understandable, but it may be a viable excuse for the OP considering where he lives hasn't been stated. I'm not preaching the benefits of the heating style, just giving options to the guy seeking advice. /shrug
Well have thought of that, I am insulating a portion in the atic that will allow airflow around that portion so it will be the same as the rest of the house. It will be hotter in the summer though, but it doesn't get too warm up here.
That way I will have a small insulated area, it will melt some snow, however this house is very old and has issues already with heat escaping through the roof.
I also saw some insulate duct work that I could vent the filtered heated air to one of the cold rooms below. I am still researching if I should go with HPS or CFL. If I do go with CFL it is not any cheaper to get a good one, however would save me from heat issues.
I have my room almost together. 42"x50"x50" with ventilation from another room in and I vented the room out down by the dryer vent. Have ordered the intake/out take fans, sunblaze T48, mylar to wrap the inside of the room, a small oil heater, fans, humidifier, and bought a huge tray to place the pots in. Tomorrow hope to buy pots, soil, nutrients, ph meter, and hope to not miss anything else I will need. If my seeds don't get here once everything is together my brother inlaw has some bag seeds I can start with. I am excited but even though I have spents many many hours reading about all of this still think I might kill them.
I have faith in ya. But yeah, you might, I know I sure as hell ruined my first attempt. Was the weed that the bag seed came out of any good? It wouldn't be a terrible idea to use them on your first grow really. This organic hoopla seems to be proving foolproof for me. Pop down into Organics while reading one of these days. And of course, get some pics up