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Beginner Cali wants to grow!

Abear007

New member
Def not a beginner to cannabis..just now wanting to grow. It's legal to have six plants per patient here. I am a patient. So I want six plants for personal use. Small apt in san Francisco. What's the best bang for my buck? Turn key grow box? Grow tent and all the rest?

I have a closet big enough for 4x4 by 5 or six feet.
 

jayjayfrank

Member
Veteran
i recommend a small 3x3 with a 400w or 600w convertible ballast(or bulbs). start from seed(get a mix like ACE or Mr Nice), short veg, flip to flower, coco run to waste.
 

DTFuqua

Member
either dirt or DWC for beginners. Go for the DWC and forget about recirculating and you will have better results before too long if you learn and pay attention to your plants. Good hydro growth and simple ti put together and most forgiving of all hydro style grows.
 

yortbogey

To Have More ... Desire Less
Veteran
before U spend....$$$$$$.... just stop, and read.....learn from those before U....
save your self sum heartache.....
 

Abear007

New member
before U spend....$$$$$$.... just stop, and read.....learn from those before U....
save your self sum heartache.....

Ya man this is what I'm doin. I want some input from those who have done it before.

So 4x4 tent sounds right. How tall?

400-600w adjustable ballast?

And dirt or dwc. What are the pros and cons of each in terms of mess, hassle, cost etc.?

I don't need to yield way too much. Obv quality is more important that quantity. As it should be.

What are those turnkey systems goin for? The boxes? From Canada I think. Just curious as that would be one stop shop. Gentleman? Scholars?
 

Abear007

New member
i recommend a small 3x3 with a 400w or 600w convertible ballast(or bulbs). start from seed(get a mix like ACE or Mr Nice), short veg, flip to flower, coco run to waste.

What is the benefit of starting from seed? Seems like more work and not much of a cost saver. Why not use clones? $6 or $7 each fr decent strains.
 

Tyga

Active member
Veteran
What is the benefit of starting from seed? Seems like more work and not much of a cost saver. Why not use clones? $6 or $7 each fr decent strains.

Ya I would go for clones if you have access to them. Check Htgsupply.com for a 4x4 tent, decent price, decent quality. There about 6 feet tall or so.
For a light I would go for a 1000W dimmable, because every grower ends up upping there set-up eventually so this way you will have a solid light. I've made the mistake of starting with a 400W light, then upgrading to a 600W, and now I'm using a couple 1K's and the 400W and 600W is just collecting dust.
 

WelderDan

Well-known member
Veteran
before U spend....$$$$$$.... just stop, and read.....learn from those before U....
save your self sum heartache.....

What he said. Do your homework first. Read, read and read some more. Learn about lighting, ventilation, nutrients and various mediums and methods. Decide on a budget. If you have DIY skills, you'll save $$$. You will make mistakes, so start out with bagseed or inexpensive genetics until you get some experience.

It's a weed, it ain't hard to grow, but there is a learning curve. You'll save yourself a lot of anguish and have a better first crop if you spend some time educating yourself first.
 

Mia

Active member
If you're in a closet, you don't need a tent which is nice...
For the size of it 1000 watts is perfect.
For $1000, I would buy a solis tek ballast(you can go 4,6,1000,etc on it) for 2 and some change
i use air cooled hoods, some don't, I would get a magxxxl8=200
6" max fan approx. $160
carbon filter-another couple hun
good bulb(ushio, hortilux, etc.)60-80
Think that's around 1000. You'll need ducting, timer, etc.

Basically prep for a 1000 watt set up for that closet, but you can go 600 as well....
That way it's about as good as it gets and a year from now you're not spending more money upgrading everything.
Disclaimer: I don't have cheap taste....my way is NOT the cheapest...

9 plants per 4x4 2 gallon smart pots in coco with decent nutes.
done deal.
 

Abear007

New member
I am in a closet. But if I want to minimize smell a tent is called for correct? It's a smaller apartment in the city. And we have a cat. Soo.
 

jayjayfrank

Member
Veteran
ok so your new, and you only got 1000 bucks and you don't know that much about growing weed... go easy on yourself.

1. if your going dwc you'll need a ph and ppm meter. so just go coco, coco is where its at.

2. its a closet, in an apartment and you dont want a lot of smell, and tents plus light already run into your $1000 dollar budget.

3. without proper venting you might run into heat problems(it is cali). 1000w might be pushing it.

4. clones have bugs. you will get bugs if you dont take precautions. seeds can be just as potent. i know a lot of people here have really good connections to get whatever they want but if you do not - a couple mix pack of seeds are a really good option.
 

jayjayfrank

Member
Veteran
4x4 + 600w is what i would get. the list is pretty complete you'll still need ppm and ph pen, containers, dirt(?) and nutrients. also of course genetics too. good luck

i would stay away from the 2x4 or 250w/400w, small, perfect for clones, if you had mothers.
 
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