PC Grow With Autoflowers

[Smokahontas]

I have decided that i want to try a PC Mini Stealth Grow. I want to try Lowryder #2s for my second time (I am in the middle of my first attempt growing 4 females in a room setup. I am a terrible handyman so i will buy a complete setup. I am in the middle of deciding between this one http://www.homegrown-hydroponics.com/pcgr3plsthyg.html and this one http://cgi.ebay.com/Hydroponic-PC-G...trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:1205|293:1|294:50 . One is much cheaper than the other but clearly comes with less. Which will be better for an LR#2?

 

[manwithaplan777]

Personally, I have thought this would be a great small setup for good hobby. I have been fascinated by these micros. Myself I have found these cases the best setup for price.

 

[Smokahontas]

If i am doing all autoflowers will the veg box be sufficient enough for full flowering?? Also would it be a better idea to go hydro?

 

[Kuroth]

I have decided that i want to try a PC Mini Stealth Grow. I want to try Lowryder #2s for my second time (I am in the middle of my first attempt growing 4 females in a room setup. I am a terrible handyman so i will buy a complete setup. I am in the middle of deciding between this one http://www.homegrown-hydroponics.com/pcgr3plsthyg.html and this one http://cgi.ebay.com/Hydroponic-PC-Grow-Case-Secret-Herb-Plant-Hydro-Box_W0QQitemZ330344809220QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4cea15c304&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 . One is much cheaper than the other but clearly comes with less. Which will be better for an LR#2?

I was looking at all the ones you guys listed.. I ended up going with the one on Ebay.. The guy is very nice and fast to reply to all your questions... There are some light leaks but I am doing Autos so this is no big deal for me.. Actually I would think just about any PC grow box will have some light leaks... Anyway I am on day 18 of 2 female LowRyder#2's.. They seem to be doing good but this is the first ever grow I have ever done so I dont know exactly what is good.. But they are healthy looking and seem to be enjoying their home... Look for my post under Micro for Pics and I plan to put some updated Pics around day 25..

A couple of things I did with my case..

1. I live in a Very hot area.. Right now 100+ during the day and does not get below 80 at night much.. My AC in my house is running all the time but still between 78 and 82 during the day in my house.. When I first setup this case my case Temps were 90 to 92 with lights on... I then switched my Lights on at night instead of the day... 6 pm to 10 am... I also got some of these little hand held battery fans from Wal-Mart. I put one of these up by the lights blowing right on the lights and towards the exhaust fans.. Now my Temps, with lights, on Avg 81 to 85... I use the rechargeable batteries.. This is a pain in the ass but I hope to only have to do this during the hot summer time..(Right now)

2. I keep the plants about 2 inches from the bulbs.. I have heard this is the key to getting good results using CFL's

3. I used 2 2700 bulbs and 2 of the 6500 bulbs from day one.. ( I read on here where someone recommend doing this with CFL.. mixing them)

4. I got the Hydro but decided to do soil since this is my first time...

 

[Smokahontas]

i think i am going to go with the box from ebay too. It looks like it has what i need for half as much. My only problem is that i would really like to get more than two plants out of this thing and the hydro only comes with two netpots in the system I would prefer three. Could this system fit 3 or so autoflowers? I was also contemplating LST. I am new to it. First off with the stealth grow would it only be feasible to LST indicas since they grow smaller and would i have to be careful with which strain i chose? Will i get better yields than an auto? Will the time it takes to harvest be alot greater than an autoflower? Because a two month time frame from seed to harvest with the auto is a plus and would probably be one of the most imporant factors in my decision.

 

[Kuroth]

i think i am going to go with the box from ebay too. It looks like it has what i need for half as much. My only problem is that i would really like to get more than two plants out of this thing and the hydro only comes with two netpots in the system I would prefer three. Could this system fit 3 or so autoflowers? I was also contemplating LST. I am new to it. First off with the stealth grow would it only be feasible to LST indicas since they grow smaller and would i have to be careful with which strain i chose? Will i get better yields than an auto? Will the time it takes to harvest be alot greater than an autoflower? Because a two month time frame from seed to harvest with the auto is a plus and would probably be one of the most imporant factors in my decision.

All good questions and ones I have had myself.. I would think you could do 3 in the Hydro setup.. Ask the seller before you buy if he could give you a 3 Hydro setup instead of 2... Another thing I am thinking about trying sometime is I saw a post on here where a guy was doing a SOG in a small setup.. He had his plants in half gallaon plastic milk cartons that were cut in half.. In my PC, I think I could get between 4 to 6 plants if I did this.. This is soil of course... I have the same question too about LST.. I was thinking about LST'ing but not yet sure if the Lowryder#2 is good to LST.. I was reading somewhere where Lowryder will grow between 12 and 18 inches tall and produce one big bug about 6 inches.. If I could get a 6 inch bug out of each of my plants, I would be stoked.. So not sure what LR#2 would do if I LST.. And not sure if I have the time to LST since this is a auto.. Time is my main question on LST'ing...

 

[Smokahontas]

I think i will just go with some kind of lowryder auto cross. Maybe an AK47 or DJ short blueberry. A 2-3 month period from seed to harvest is important and will keep me from doing LST on an indica. I will probably just do like 3 autos in a hydro setup. Does that seller offer the hydro setup with for 3 plants?

 

[Smokahontas]

Would it be a better idea to go hydro or just scrap the stuff that comes with the PC box and go with 3 plastic pots with trays. The dimension of the case from ebay are 8.1"W x 20.6"H x 18.6"D (205mm W x 522mm H x 473mm D). Could I fit three six inch plastic pots with trays in there? Or could i fgo with three 5" diameter pots and would a 5" diameter pot be sufficient for an auto or auto cross most likely a lowryder? Hydro seems confusing to me and even though it seems like I will get a bigger yield it seems impractical to keep lifting off the top to test water and replace and all that shit. I am a newb and i am at day 15 of my first grow ever which has so far resulted in four good looking lowryder #2 that are supposedly femmed. What should I do with the PC case?? If I could fit three 5" or 6" diameter pots in there and just use some Fox farm ocean forest and perlite it would be alot easier for me. Would that be a better option?

 

[Kuroth]

I think i will just go with some kind of lowryder auto cross. Maybe an AK47 or DJ short blueberry. A 2-3 month period from seed to harvest is important and will keep me from doing LST on an indica. I will probably just do like 3 autos in a hydro setup. Does that seller offer the hydro setup with for 3 plants?

Not sure.. You will need to ask him...

 

[Kuroth]

Would it be a better idea to go hydro or just scrap the stuff that comes with the PC box and go with 3 plastic pots with trays. The dimension of the case from ebay are 8.1"W x 20.6"H x 18.6"D (205mm W x 522mm H x 473mm D). Could I fit three six inch plastic pots with trays in there? Or could i fgo with three 5" diameter pots and would a 5" diameter pot be sufficient for an auto or auto cross most likely a lowryder? Hydro seems confusing to me and even though it seems like I will get a bigger yield it seems impractical to keep lifting off the top to test water and replace and all that shit. I am a newb and i am at day 15 of my first grow ever which has so far resulted in four good looking lowryder #2 that are supposedly femmed. What should I do with the PC case?? If I could fit three 5" or 6" diameter pots in there and just use some Fox farm ocean forest and perlite it would be alot easier for me. Would that be a better option?

I agree.. Hydro kind of scared me off so I went with soil to start with.. The way I figured it, autos finish in 2 to 3 months and one of the benefits of hydro is to speed up the grow time... BUT I do still want to try Hydro in my setup someday...

I could only get 2 6 inch pots in mine(with the trays on) But part of that is beacus I have them up on that screen to get them close to the light and the fans stick out a little on both sides..(Note If you use the screen to get the plants closer to the lights, you have to put something under it to support 2 heavy pots) If you were to put the pots on the very bottom of the case, you might could get 3...

As stated in my other post, you might look into the SOG and getting like 4 or 5 of the half gallaon milk plastic pots in there... And I hear LR#2 is good for SOG...

 

[Smokahontas]

I am going to put in an order probably from attitude since that is the bank I got from last time and I am thinking about getting 2-3 lowryder x ak47 femmed and 2-3 of some kind of an indica that i can LST. Are there any recommendations? I have been going through attitude and looking for indicas that have a shortish flowering time and stay small so that they can fit in the case.

 

[Smokahontas]

I also have been thinking that hydro will be a better idea if i just get a better understanding of it. The tub that comes with this case is 1 gallon and has 2-3 netpots for a plant in each. I was under the impression that hydro was best for clones. It is okay to put a seedling of an auto or indica into the hydro setup? Am i just supposed to take the seedling and plant it in the rockwool starter and then put the rockwool into the brown ball medium in the netpot and then put it into gallon tub with the water level just high enough so that when the pump makes bubbles they pop and touch the brown balls or the rockwool? After the seedling has roots that reach the bottom is the water even supposed to touch the netpot or just roots? Also to test water will the only things I will need be a freshwater PH test kit like for an aquarium and a TDS meter for nutrients?? That was a lot of questions! Feel free to answer with a simple number for each question and then an answer.

 

[Kuroth]

I also have been thinking that hydro will be a better idea if i just get a better understanding of it. The tub that comes with this case is 1 gallon and has 2-3 netpots for a plant in each. I was under the impression that hydro was best for clones. It is okay to put a seedling of an auto or indica into the hydro setup? Am i just supposed to take the seedling and plant it in the rockwool starter and then put the rockwool into the brown ball medium in the netpot and then put it into gallon tub with the water level just high enough so that when the pump makes bubbles they pop and touch the brown balls or the rockwool? After the seedling has roots that reach the bottom is the water even supposed to touch the netpot or just roots? Also to test water will the only things I will need be a freshwater PH test kit like for an aquarium and a TDS meter for nutrients?? That was a lot of questions! Feel free to answer with a simple number for each question and then an answer.

Yes I wonder about all this to and hope someone will answer.. I think there is a Hydro section.. You might want to post these questions there..

Good luck and post some Pics and updates when you get going..

 

[Kuroth]

I am going to put in an order probably from attitude since that is the bank I got from last time and I am thinking about getting 2-3 lowryder x ak47 femmed and 2-3 of some kind of an indica that i can LST. Are there any recommendations? I have been going through attitude and looking for indicas that have a shortish flowering time and stay small so that they can fit in the case.

Right now I am just staying with the Autos that say they stay small(Dwarfs).. You might check out Lowlife autos and White Dwarf autos too.. Just try and find as much Info on the seeds you are interested in and read as much as you can find on them..

Have fun...

 

[Melkor420]

You might want to consider DWC (deep water culture). I know a lot of people are scared of Hydro methods because of the checking of the ph and things. I would like to say that I used to grow in dirt, and the DWC thing is working it really well. I see at least 2 times the growth rate as i did in soil and reap more weight in nuggets as well. The ph test kits are simple and very easy to use, and if you screw it up, you can always make another batch of water before your plants die. I know it sounds dramatic, but were you scared the first time you rode a bike... sure, but most of you did it anyway, and learned how to become good at it with ease. My plants are doing very well in a very small space. Just make sure you have enough watts of light and enough ventilation, and I think you will do just fine. A sump bigger than 2 gallons is a good idea though since the root matter from just one plant is probably enough to fill up the bottom of a one gallon system. I have a 3 gallon sump and 48 watts of pl-l lighting right now but going to 164watts soon. If you check out my grow at the bottom it might give you some cool ideas!

 

[Smokahontas]

I was thinking about getting a few short indicas and doing a SCROG grow. The pc comes with a top screen too. Is it possible for me to fit 2 or so indicas in this PC as a SCROG or LST grow?

 

[geekusa]

I was thinking about getting a few short indicas and doing a SCROG grow. The pc comes with a top screen too. Is it possible for me to fit 2 or so indicas in this PC as a SCROG or LST grow?

I've got the same case, I was thinking about starting off with 4 since we are starting with seeds. If all 4 are females, then yeah, but if you get one male you can make a few seeds.

How did you get the heat under control? I was thinking about just measuring out the top, and putting a piece of plexi glass at the top, and venting it out with a fan if it gets to wild.

I opted out of the hydro setup, and am going to try coco. But I would love to see someone try an autoflower, hydro in the case.

All the best,

 

[Smokahontas]

i have been changing my mind a bunch of times but i am 90% certain I am just going to go with 3 autos such as the AK47 x lowryder 2 or another cross on dopeseeds i really like theyre selection i might go with them they have good crosses. Will the PC case that i am getting fit 3 autos such as Aks? or should i just go 2? How big would the container need to be if it were 2 and how big for 3 if 3 would fit. gracias

 

[Smokahontas]

Also smell is going to be a big issue with the pc grow. I am going to be living in an apartment with one other person very shortly. The apartment is going to be my own room, a kitchen, a bathroom, a small entry and this guys room. I am going to try to keep him from knowing . The pc case comes with ona gel. Is there anyway i can hook up a carbon scrubber to the exhaust fan on the pc? could i use ona gel and a carbon air purifier such as this http://www.rapidofficesupply.com/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=HLSHAP412NU ? I also could put a plant that would flower and let off a smell on a mini desk pot with a light to mask odor... any suggestions

 

[Aerohead]

Also smell is going to be a big issue with the pc grow. I am going to be living in an apartment with one other person very shortly. The apartment is going to be my own room, a kitchen, a bathroom, a small entry and this guys room. I am going to try to keep him from knowing . The pc case comes with ona gel. Is there anyway i can hook up a carbon scrubber to the exhaust fan on the pc? could i use ona gel and a carbon air purifier such as this http://www.rapidofficesupply.com/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=HLSHAP412NU ? I also could put a plant that would flower and let off a smell on a mini desk pot with a light to mask odor... any suggestions

I believe this is where these pre-built cases are lacking, they don't come with a scrubber and they seem to run a bit hot already. If you want to add a scrubber, you are going to have to completely change out the fans in that case.
My odor control method was to scrub the room the PC case was in, keep the door closed, and don't allow access to anyone. This worked pretty well until the last couple weeks of flower where it over powered the room but didn't get out to the rest of the house.