4x3 foot grow room start question

[tecnikal]

I have a 4x3 foot closet with a height of 6.5 feet. I am just starting out and was wondering what a good plant number and lighting configuration would be good for this setup. I do not want to over complicate things

thanks in advance

[whatchamacallit]

A 600 Watt HID light would effectively cover the area, although a 1000W would give more yield. One could fit 8-20 plants, depending on growing style, and if using the SCROG method, it might allow even fewer plant numbers, but can increase the time needed in vegetative growth. If getting an HID light, an exhaust fan will be a must (for adequate airflow and to keep the temperature in the right range), as well as an oscillating fan, to move the air around.

50W per square foot is a good amount of light, and SWIM would suggest using at least 50, but one can increase yield by using more light. Maybe take a look at the various growing methods (SOG, SCROG, Supercropping, FIM, etc), and techniques, to find what interests you. If you have any more specific questions, or decide on a method you'd like to use, feel free to give the details, and SWIM will try and help devise a plan, and add any tips he can to help you be successful on this venture.

[Jaspmf]

Honestly I'd recommend a 400 watt HPS.

600-1000 would be way cool, but if you're just chillin in a closet ventilation will become a real problem w/ that kinda wattage.

A 400 watter can cover that kind of space just fine. Once you go towards the higher wattages it'll really complicate things if you don't have ventilation sorted out WELL.

Watchamacallit is correct in saying 50w psf +
Also the exhaust/intake fan is a MUST.
Plants gotta breathe

Growstyle + plant number is kinda up to you.

SCROG's are big yielders and very popular these days..
they require a fair amount of training and whatnot, but they'll out-yield any other growstyle by far IME.

Here's a real nice writeup on how-to scrog:

http://www.gardenscure.com/420/scrog...t-guide-i.html


If you were to go the scrog route you could do w/ 4 or so plants in that space.

It's always a good idea to keep the plant number down too just incase you somehow get busted.

[tecnikal]

wow thanks for the replies guys. Is a HPS light enough for all stages of growth? How close does the HPS need to be from the plants?

[E.novo]

first of all i think u should educate your self a lil more befor you waist your money and produce little or nothing. i pulled about 15 OZ off one plant with a 400 HPS for the flower stage. but i also use a photo-tron. there sweet as all hell. you can just search " build a grow room " or other weed growing phrases on you tube and there will be alot of videos to watch. they will awnser all your questions in detail. but it is my understanding and experience that you should have your light about 18 inches from your budding flower. this is all just factors though it realy depends on what it all looks like if they burn the move the thing up . and if your using dirt you better cook it first.

[ou3308]

Originally Posted by tecnikal

wow thanks for the replies guys. Is a HPS light enough for all stages of growth? How close does the HPS need to be from the plants?

With a 400hps I have had the light as close as 6" from the bottom of the reflector. As close as possible without burning them is a good way to go. With 1000hps I have had plants as close as 12" without burning. Starting the babies under the same wattage of light they will be grown under works well. Less chance of burning later. And the less plants the better if you get busted. You could do 3 nice plants in that space and come out with a good harvest under a 400 hps. Good luck!

[Jaspmf]

Originally Posted by ou3308

With a 400hps I have had the light as close as 6" from the bottom of the reflector. As close as possible without burning them is a good way to go. With 1000hps I have had plants as close as 12" without burning. Starting the babies under the same wattage of light they will be grown under works well. Less chance of burning later. And the less plants the better if you get busted. You could do 3 nice plants in that space and come out with a good harvest under a 400 hps. Good luck!

That's a complete waste of electricity..there's little to no point in starting them under such high wattage.
Your best bet is to get a few CFL's from a local store. You want the 5600k or the 6500k. Let em grow under there for @ least a few weeks.

If you started em off under a 400 watter you'd have to have it like 2 feet away from em.

The ultimate is to just set up a small box for starting em, which will be your "mother room" after you get the grow up and going. You take a clone of the best plant(s) and keep em in that room. That now becomes your mother plant(s). Then for every subsequent crop you can start em off before you're done flowering in the other room...shaves off at least a few weeks of every grow cycle and allows you to save your fav genetics.

I'd also recommend watching some youtube videos, doing as much random reading as you can. Knowledge is power. Try and find some growdiarys and whatnot so you can see some of the common noobish errors we all make.

[Jaspmf]

Originally Posted by tecnikal

wow thanks for the replies guys. Is a HPS light enough for all stages of growth? How close does the HPS need to be from the plants?

HPS is great throughout the lifecycle of the plant. Aside from really early on when it's just a waste of time and electricity.

HPS outyields florescent for all intensive purposes. Some growers like different ratios of HPS to MH, but most people are very successful with just HPS lights.


You can tell how far away your plants should be from the light by putting your hand under the light. If it's too hot for your hand, then it's too hot for your plants. You'll wanna err slightly on the not hot side

You also don't want em too far away cuz..

Originally Posted by wikepedia

According to the inverse square law, the intensity of light radiating from a point source (in this case a bulb) is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. So if an object is twice as far away, it receives only 1/4 the light.

This is the reason SCROGs are so popular, keeps the canopy all at essentially the same level, allowing the light to be as close to as much of the plant as possible...which keeps the efficiency very high.


Best of luck on your endeavor

[tecnikal]

thanks for the awesome replies everyone. I have been doing lots of reading/watching. Would manual ventilation (opening the closet door multiple times per day) be enough? I dont know where I could vent to with the location of this closet.

[ShroomGuerilla]

If you have the proper ventaliation
i would suggest putting a 1000w in there.
Get that room-a-pumpin.

[masterplain88]

i use to do indoor grows in the past and got good result useing 35-45 watts per square foot. i also run a fan on them 24/7 make the plant nice vigerous. i switched to outdoor like it a lil better cheaper too.
masterplain88

[Jaspmf]

Originally Posted by tecnikal

thanks for the awesome replies everyone. I have been doing lots of reading/watching. Would manual ventilation (opening the closet door multiple times per day) be enough? I dont know where I could vent to with the location of this closet.

Manual venting definitely will not work. Especially w/ a high wattage light. The plants need co2 to breath, and the temps would spike far too high.

Ventilation is a common thing to overlook, but don't do it.

Is it possible to make a 4"-6" circle cut in the ceiling of the closet and vent into the attic?

You'll have to come up w/ something. You could put a door or some wood or poly sheeting over the doorway and vent out the top of the sheeting. Dunno about your stealth situation.

[tecnikal]

theres a utility room next door to this closet that I could definitely make a hole in the wall and lead it into there. Now that I think about it, that seems like a good way to vent

[Jaspmf]

Yeah, that'd be the way to go. You'll possibly wanna get either an inline fan or a squirrel cage blower.. size depends on your lighting.

Rule of thumb is you want enough extraction to fully exchange the air in the room every 3-5 minutes. It may take more w/ a higher wattage light (more heat to get rid of)
So take all that into account when you're planning your build.

Build it right and you'll save yourself alot of headaches

Once you have your exhaust/intake setup and a light, you're good to grow.
Those are really the main things, that and soil

P.S a 600 watter would be 50w per sqft..which is the baseline that you'll wanna go at. So a 600 might be the ideal candidate for you

[tecnikal]

very excited.

this is 600w HPS kit is available at a local store:

Daystar Reflector DAUN
Bulb 600w HPS->MH Sunmaster LM600WU25CDX
Lens GRRFLENSYS
larger image Lumatek 600W 120V HPS LK6120
All System Cord Set - w/15' Cord CS53500

• Model: SK600

If the price is decent, should I grab this? something i am keeping in mind is what i'll be able to go and physically purchase instead of ordering off the internet

[Jaspmf]

Yeah give it a shot if it's priced descently.

I have a similar ballast (only 250 watt tho) Very nice.

Dunno what that bulb is, nor do I know about the reflector. The ballast is good though!

[AmBe]

lumatek makes a good ballast
the bulb they are showing is a MH not a HPS
could benefit from a better hood
in a small closet with a 600 I would get an air-cooled hood to keep the heat down

[Jaspmf]

/agree

Couldn't be happier w/ my sunmaster.

[ou3308]

Originally Posted by tecnikal

very excited.

this is 600w HPS kit is available at a local store:

Daystar Reflector DAUN
Bulb 600w HPS->MH Sunmaster LM600WU25CDX
Lens GRRFLENSYS
larger image Lumatek 600W 120V HPS LK6120
All System Cord Set - w/15' Cord CS53500

• Model: SK600

If the price is decent, should I grab this? something i am keeping in mind is what i'll be able to go and physically purchase instead of ordering off the internet

Check out the 600 HPS conversion kit at texas hydroponics.com. Without bulbs it is $280.