How to Garden By The Moon

[hippie_lettuce]

lol a pot and a POT store...hahahah, cracked myself up with that one!

please keep me informed about the SSH. Are you partial to Greenhouse? I know there's a lot of people here with conflicting reviews, so just wanted to find someone who wasn't on either side (yet)!

 

[LolaGal]

I'm not partial to anything at this time! Canna Clause was good to me this year and gave me some seeds from Greenhouse this year. I looked under my pot plant and there they were on Christmas morning! He even brought me the light I asked for this year!

Not everybody believes in Canna Clause, but he comes from Jamaica every Christmas eve for all good girls and boys!

I'll be glad to let you know how the SSH runs, I hear it's a little hard to clone. I am the only one here at ICMag that never has smoked any of these cool strains. I guess I am a good genetics virgin...

Hoping to lose my virginity in April or May at the latest...I can't wait..lol.

 

[LolaGal]

Hi Ya'll!

Can't believe ya'll let that last post go untouched. heehee.

Just got through potting up the next 2 White Rhino gals to get big enough roots on their clones. I have noticed the clones closer to the light are popping roots the fastest. This is the opposite of all I have read about roots! What do ya'll think?

No wilting of any clones yet, so that is making me happy!

All the little seedlings are looking happy as well! They like soakin up the rays of the big 400!

I am currently running 2 400 watters. They are nice because they have switchable ballasts. I am running one on HPS and one on MH. I always get a HPS bulb included with light kits I get. Once I bought a whole case of MH bulbs on sale, so now I have a lifetime supply. LOL. Now if only I could find a bunch of 400 watt light kits on sale cheap. Don't think I want to go DIY on them though!

The big Moms seem to like having both spectrums on at the same time. I will switch both to HPS at flower of course. I raised em on 2 MHs, and switched to one of each about Jan 17th.

I notice a lot of side growth where the lights overlap! Those bottom limbs are stretching out there. Hoping for big fat buds when I bloom.

Haven't given them many ferts at all yet. They usually get CalMag Plus nearly every watering. Sometimes I give em a little Shultz's Liquid 10-15-10. I have been using the Sugar Daddy nearly every water as well. Every now and then lately instead of Shultz, I give em a little Fat Flower. I will be using the Fat Flower more when blooming.

Anybody else try the Northern Lights Fat Flower? This is a freebie, so I'm gonna try it.

Thanks for dropping by the Moon Garden!

Moon in Aries, Fire Sign, Barren, 1st Quarter today!

 

[LolaGal]

Moon Garden Lighting Question

Moon Garden Lighting Question

I need to separate the bloom/veg area. This means buying another light.

Do ya'll think I would be better off with 1 1000 Watt light? Would it handle either veg or bloom area by itself? Of course will have to air cool it...

It's not much higher to buy a 1K light than another 400, of which I already have 2. Downside is buying light bulbs for 1 K, of which I have none!

Would it be better with 1 K light in veg or bloom?


Thanks Ya'll, I appreciate any responses!

 

[hippie_lettuce]

a good genetics virgin! well, don't let ANY ol' good genetics deflower you, Lola..hahah!

Whenever I hear 1K, I always get excited, thinking it's always better than 400w. But of course, the 400w thread proves me wrong. I say get another 400w, so that way you don't have to buy any more bulbs.

 

[LolaGal]

Thanks Hippie! I can't decide....flip, flop...

Maybe medication will make it better...I guess I could call my hydro guy that sells it..wonder what he'll say..LOL..(50 bucks he sez 1K)

 

[Che]

Its hard to say, I personally use 400W MH for veg, and a 400WMH & a 940WHPS Hortilux in my flower area. I don't know if the 1K is "better" but it covers a larger area for sure. However some people have fantastic results using only 400's, provided that you space them efficiently.

If it was me, I would probably get a 400W HPS ballast, and a Phillips 400W CMH Bulb. Throw this in your flower area beside another 400W MH. That way you're improving the spectrum as well as adding light.. and it will be cheaper than the 1K.
You could also throw a couple warm white CFL's in there if you want some red/orange/yellow in the spectrum, but it's not very useful to the plants.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

I also suggest trying the 400wCMH. It is unlike any other light I have ever seen.

If you do want to go for the 1000, bulbs are not that high.
http://www.e-conolight.com/Product/EProductDetail.asp?ProductFamilyID=22&FGNumber=~HP999

The 400CMH is gonna run about $70 with ship.

 

[LolaGal]

Thanks Che!

It's only $60 more to get a 1 K light as opposed to another 400.

I was thinking to good to resist...drool drool.

 

[LolaGal]

Thanks HoosierDaddy!

I keep buying lights one at a time...I'm hooked!

I need to split up a bloom room. I think I'll leave each area at 10 ft x 15 ft., since that involves building only 1 wall.

Will a 1 K and a 400 be best used for blooming and leave the veg area with 1 400 watter? I don't expect these lights to cover that big of an area. I only will have a couple mothers and a few clones hanging out in veg. I'm not like a commercial grower or anything, just private reserve to keep me smiling!

Thanks Ya'll, Keep the suggestions coming! I appreciate it!

 

[Pirate]

EDIT ::You posted at the same time as me so you answered at least one question already..........DAMN GIRL...........Thats a mighty big flower room. (Pirate is drooling with ideas !!)

I need to separate the bloom/veg area. This means buying another light.

Do ya'll think I would be better off with 1 1000 Watt light? Would it handle either veg or bloom area by itself? Of course will have to air cool it...

It's not much higher to buy a 1K light than another 400, of which I already have 2. Downside is buying light bulbs for 1 K, of which I have none!

Would it be better with 1 K light in veg or bloom?


Thanks Ya'll, I appreciate any responses!

Just Pirates opinion here:
If ya gotta buy another light and you have the head space for a 1000 then go that route. You get FAR better bud from a 1000. But you can also get decent bud from a 400 if your plants are not to big. You gonna need about 18 inches minimum between a 1000 watt light and plant tops if it is air cooled. If you have a fairly large room then you can get away with hanging it free air (no hood) and let the plants live along side it. You can do this is if money is tight and ya just wanna get started without the hood, ducting, fans, etc to cool it.

There really are a lot of factors to consider and things you need to ask yourself when making your decision: (answer them here too)

1. How big is the flower room?
2. How high is the ceiling?
3. How big will the plants be?
4. How many plants?
5. Will you grow Bushes, SOG or SCROG?
6. Do you have an AC unit for the flower room?
7. Can you vent the flower room to an attic,adjacent room or outdoors?
8. Will venting outdoors create a security risk?
9. Can you swing 5 or 600 dollars to do it right? (if not........you can use the 400s and you be getting some cash in a little over 2 months. :smile:
10. Is there a separate electrical circuit you can use other than the one that shares the 400 watters?

400 watts will run at 3 amps each and the 1000 watter will run at 8.5 amps. Add fans, Ventalation, AC?, and misc mumbo jumbo and you'll be looking at 2 circuits to keep it safe.

Hope that helps get ya pointed in the right direction.

Holla if ya want more info. I'll check back in on ya later.

Here is my mothers with a 1000 watt light......No hood. Free air.......But it gets hot in there (80 to 85*) and I need to blow fans as well as pull air in and out of the room. (its just temporary.......I'm getting a hood for it later) But this will give you an idea of what I'm talking about when I say "FREE AIR"

 

[DownSouthSage]

I would definately get the 1000 if having a choice.I have a 400 and a 1000 and the 1000 makes the 400 look like a night light.I wish i had 2 1000's now.As far as the heat thing goes,i dont have an air cooled hood on my 1000 but i did throw a small window unit in that i run about 3 hours out of my 12 on cycle.

 

[LolaGal]

Thanks Pirate, Glad you posted! I have to go bac k and re-read it. Lots of good ideas.

Grow space vented, 10x30 foot area. One wall across the middle seems to be the easiest way to divide the space to light proof it. I know a couple of 400 watters won't cover all that area of 10x15, but not too important right now!


Sage! Thanks for the input. I'm glad to see ya!


Here's what happened! I got a good feeling to call my hydro guy up right before closing Friday nite. He was in a good mood! So I'm asking him what kinda deals has he got!

Long story short! He offered me a switchable ballast HPS/MH 400 watts for $50!!!!! Brand new!

Then he offers me a great deal on a non-vented reflector to go with it for $20!!!!!!!


So I say, "What a great deal! I'll take 2 of those deals!"



So I'm getting 2-400 watt HPS/MH ballasts with cords, brand new...mystery brand, didn't ask too many questions. $50 each.

Also 2 reflectors, metal box style, mystery brands for $20 each with light cords and sockets. $20 each. Hydro guy said one reflector was for a non vented 1 K bulb, but it will work for now at $20!

WooHoo! Last time this dude sent me a Sun Systems. Got my fingers crossed to see what I get! I love bargains!


Ain't that a good deal?

 

[LolaGal]

Planning on Separate Veg & Bloom areas

Planning on Separate Veg & Bloom areas

Size of room: 10 feet wide, 30 feet long, 8 feet ceilings.
Vent: Can vent easily out window or through walls. No problems there.
Circuits: 4 15 amp breakers available in room.
Style of grow: Ghetto style, just a few bushy style plants. Just for private use.
Cooling: Window unit AC available.


I hope to divide in half with one wall, hopefully easiest to build, leaving me with 2 10 x 15 foot areas. This will allow light proofing.


Since I'm on a 0 budget, I have to get things slowly, one at a time. Next on my list are inline fans and air cooled reflectors. Maybe next summer if I'm real lucky.

Right now just want to keep the clones apart from their Moms and BLOOM!
Gotta get ready for my new lights a comin'.


Thanks for dropping by to visit Ya'll!

 

[Pirate]

That's a fantastic deal. I'd go with it too. At the very least you can use the 400s later in veg when ya EXPAND !!

Don't go building your wall yet. STOP and think first.

What is your ultimate goal? If ya want to do anything like I am.......you will want a bigger bloom room then veg. Unless you'll do something temporary like Panda film or Hard Foam Insulation walls for now.

Just saying that I hate to see ya build a wall and then have to move it later. Do it once. If it was mine.........I would do a 10 x 10 veg (plenty of space for mothers) and a 10 x 20 bloom. May not like ya want it now but that would give ya 2 - 4 x 8 trays along each long wall with a 2 foot walk way and 4 feet at each end for misc stuff. PERFECT !! You did mention ya wanted to do hydro later. Plan for it now.......Just in case you do.

When you do build the wall..........Make sure you build the Veg room on the part where you enter the whole space otherwise you will not be able to enter the mother room for 12 hours each day. (I.E. Enter the mother room & the you can enter the bloom room from there. Not the other way around.

That is a serious space to work with.

Sorry........I'm talking to much.

 

[LolaGal]

Good thinking Pirate! Keep em coming, I LOVE your ideas. Always better to measure twice and cut once!

Stairs bust right thru the middle of this 10 x 30 space!!! More ideas...more ideas!! I hadn't thought about the good hydro set up of the future. Makes vast sense. You are so organized, you have good ideas!

Thanks again, gonna go re read them all once more!

 

[Pirate]

OK......Tell me about the stairs. Is this space a basement and the stairs come down from the main house? Can you walk under the stairs or are they enclosed underneath?

You know what you need to do? Get yourself some graph paper with 1/4 inch sized squares. Measure the room exactly......draw it out on the paper using the 1/4 inch squares to make the plan to scale and then plan what size all your areas will be. Draw the stairs into it plan.

Would you believe I have a full sized set of "TO SCALE" blue prints for my room? I knew exactly how everything was gonna fit months before I actually built it. And guess what? It all fits like a glove with no surprises because the surprises where all worked out on paper first.

I am just an anal ass............I do everything overboard.

 

[Che]

I used google sketch up to knock out a draft.
Nice thing about that is you can share it and people can improve it for you..

 

[Pirate]

You mean like this? A future expansion I have in the works.

 

[LolaGal]

I'm using the second floor and stairs going right up the middle. No railings etc. Just a big hole in the second floor with stairs going down. Just a big room that is oddly shaped. Long and narrow. Right now lots of stored things in there, I gotta move.

I'll check out the google sketch, that would be a good idea, never used it!

I will probably just put up a wall made of some 1x2s and plastic. That will be good enough for now. I have some paneling I could use, but don't want anything too permanent or expensive right now.

Ultimate goal is to build a nice underground, cool spot.

Today's goal is flippin 2 plants and finally getting some bud.

My problem is always buying everything on sale a little bit at a time due to lack of resources. But I am patient and will keep plugging!!!