Indoor growing for a dummy?

[aussiekraut]

I am a complete knob when it comes to growing. I was born with two brown thumbs (everything I touch dies) but had some unexpected success with some outdoor plants. I really got into it but now, thanks to autumn, my efforts are coming to a grinding halt. What am I going to do for the next 6 months? Keep growing I hope

 

Considering outdoors is a no-no atm, I am considering some indoor activities. But I don't want to spend a fortune on setting up a grow room or buy elaborate lighting setups just to spend the money I save on buying weed on equipment and electricity. I want to keep it as simple as possible, utilise natural light and supplement it with artificial light in the mornings and evenings. I'm not after a huge harvest of killer buds, all I want is to have a plant ready for harvest, whenever I run out of pot.

 

What are my chances to make this work? What light should I use to supplement daylight? Are there any suitable LED based solutions available to keep the electricity cost down (I already pay almost 500 bucks each quarter)? What traps can I fall into?

 

AussieKraut

[WantDaChronic]

$500 a quarter for electricity is a bit rich, my next bill will be about $550 and im running 2x 600w hps and 2x 400w hps not to mention the air conditioner and everything else in the house that requires power... if you havent already done so, change all the lights in your house to compact fluros, only wash clothes in cold water, turn lights off when you walk out of a room, turn the computer off when not in use, etc. and your bill will drop considerably

 

now while i read that you dont want to spend your drug money on setting up a grow room to grow your own drugs, consider these facts:

1) you can set up a decent grow room for around $500

2) that $500 might get you 2 ounces, but spend it on a grow room and you could pull over half a pound of primo buds

3) the $500 you spent on the grow room is a once off investment, after that you only pay for electricity, nutes, etc.

 

now while i cant condone the selling of marijuana, you should be well aware of the drought thats going on nation wide. that means if you are buying the shit you are being ripped off and if you are selling it you're making a killing. i also believe that in times like these the more people selling it the better as it will drive prices down and quality up so its more of a community service than anything but consider that $500 investment for a second. within 3 months you could sell half the crop, double your investment and end up with heaps of top quality buds all for yourself.

 

but hey if you wanna stinge out just get some fluros and put the plants under them of a night until they are big enough for you to flower outdoors. just remember that outdoor crops are always the first to get ripped or even worse having a grower busted.

 

PS: LEDs suck for growing

[aussiekraut]

Thanks for your answer mate.

 

As for my electricity bill, I've already done all of the above. I'm even switching off unused appliances at the power point instead of leaving them on stand by. But a server running 24/7, a 1.1KW pool pump that runs 8 hours/day and ducted air certainly take their toll...

 

The main problem I have with a grow room is space. My study, which would be used is not very big and the only possible place would be the built in wardrobe. If that's suitable, I don't know. Max height I'd get is probably 6ft, depth about 1.5ft and width about 3ft. I wouldn't fit too much in there I guess. Where I don't want too many plants anyway. Just enouh to keep me going

 

I know there's a drought going on. Just last week, I paid $400 for an ounce. Yes it is pretty good shit but still pretty steep, considering not long ago, I paid 270 for something comparable. Luckily my 2nd batch is currently cured, so I have something home grown soon. But as much as I dislike the drought, I don't really want to get into selling stuff. Maybe to a mate but not full scale. Growing is bad enough. I don't need to get done for dealing as well.

 

As for growing outdoors, I have tried a few things like hiding plants between tomatoes and corn. That's a decent cover but the next lot is going into the green house, which is open to the sun but not to nosy neighbours or visitors.

 

But getting back to the wardrobe: I'd need to build a second compartment in there for seedlings and stuff and a main compartment to grow. Make the seedling compartment 1ft wide, then I'd get 3 sqare ft for the grow compartment. What power would a lamp need to have to make it suitable? What about the seedling compartment? I'd also need exhaust and intake fans and a filter. Will it work to grow in soil in there? I don't intend to use a hydro setup. Also, what timing is necessary? Seedlings at 18/6, veg at 20/4 and flower at 12/12? What are the life cycles like for mainly Sativa strands in these conditions? Ok, it depends on when I am going to let them flower but an estimate would be good to get an idea.

 

Yield is kind of secondary. As long as I get enough for my own needs, I am happy. If I should get some extra, I'd certainly take it but why grow more than what I need?

 

The main reason for growing is to be more independent, to save money and to know what I'm actually smoking.

 

Cheers