45" Ceilings. Idea room size for 5 plants 400w?

[clp]

I've decided to take the plunge into vert. My situation limits me to 5 plants so I want to maximize these as 5 girls as much as possible. I figured vert would be the solution. I'm also working with a crawl space type area under stairs. It only has a 42" ceiling so the height of the plants is an issue. That's the other main reason I decided to go vert.

Attached you can see the space that I have.
How many square inches/feet is ideal for 5 plants with a 400w bulb? I think building a mini cab out of plywood inside of this space would work best. Any other recommendations?

I have nice fans and will have a good ventilation system going on so heat shouldn't be too big of a deal.

I also want to use plastic netting stapled on the sides of the cab. This way I can maximize the space and spread the plants low.

Any recommendations on a soil/soiless mix? Also what size pots for a plant that wil need to be kept under 42". In the past I used soil (FFOF) and liquid nuits. Any other recommendations? Promix? Coir?

Thanks for all the help. This should be a really fun grow.

 

[Stonetech]

Hey man I saw this post and just had to respond, I too am growing under the stairs in my basement. I split mine into a 3 x 3 flowering cab, 3 x 5 veg area, and the rest as a lung storage room.

I've got a Max Can Fan (3?? cfm) on the middle setting hooked up to a 400 cfm air filter mounted outside of the cab, and it keeps it cool even in the summer. And thats even with my veg cab (175w mh) venting into it.

I've got reflectix + plastic netting stapled to the walls like you said but if I had your space I would do like Marlo and frame the walls with wood and then staple it to that, this gives you an inch or so of space in between the net and the walls and makes it alot easier to tie them.

My veg side is under the lowest section of stairs, 3'6" tapering off into nothing, its about 5' long but still only 3' deep. This has a passive exhaust/intake only, venting into the flower cab. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone really tho, its really a PITA especially if you already have a sore back/neck/knees from work like me.

The rest of the space under the stairs I framed off and hung a door so it just looks like a storage room, it gives me some place to store my nutes and other supplies and I can use it as a lung room.

Here's some pics to explain better...



I can post some pics of the inside of the cabs too if you want.

G'luck with your build.

 

[clp]

Thanks for the help!
I'd love to see some of the pics inside the cab?

What is the ideal size cab or that many plants and a 400W is my most imortant question currently? Also if I don't do plywood walls on the cab and instead use reflectix how do I attach the plastic netting to the walls?

THank!!!

 

[Stonetech]

IME a 3x3 is best for a 400w, that puts you pretty close to 50w/sq ft. If you are able to widen it to 3.5x3.5 you would need a 600 for sure.

I used drywall for my walls but I like the idea of using plywood better, easier to hang your equipment. Drywall is a bit easier to cut tho, especially the holes for your ventilation, the reflectix/netting will staple onto either.

Here's my latest run, got about 10 oz...

 

[clp]

Stonetech, your cab looks awesome!! I'm wondering how you enter the cab though. Aren't plants LST'd to all walls? How are you making the door work if it's only 3X3?

 

[Stonetech]

The door is about 2/3 of one of the walls, I train the plants around it so I can still get in there. This definitely must be hurting my yield cause I don't have 360* filled.

Another way would be to not tie the one by the door to the screen and just use lst. Then you could remove it when you need access.

 

[clp]

Good point. One other thing we were thinking was to make the plant next to the door sit on a piece of wood that is attached to the door. That way when the door is opened the plant comes out with the door and there is more space inside the cab.

 

[Greenheart]

Since you asked for suggestions: Moonshine Mix and 1 gallon pots.

Check Walmart under the party section they have the "crazy hat" item number 41874 by Horizon Group USA, Inc. for $1 each these make great poor mans air pots.

 

[clp]

Since you asked for suggestions: Moonshine Mix and 1 gallon pots.

Check Walmart under the party section they have the "crazy hat" item number 41874 by Horizon Group USA, Inc. for $1 each these make great poor mans air pots.

Hey Greenheart. Thanks for the suggestion! Why did you select those specific ones?

To everyone else:
Any recommendations on a soil/soiless mix? Also what size pots for a plant that wil need to be kept under 42". In the past I used soil (FFOF) and liquid nuits. Any other recommendations? Promix? Coir?

 

[Greenheart]

Hey Greenheart. Thanks for the suggestion! Why did you select those specific ones?

I have been on the MM mix for a couple years now and am satisfied with the results. With a longer blooming strain (90+ days) you may want to plan a mid bloom transplant or food supplementation as they start to fade after 70 days.

On the hats it was a lucky find. I couldn't find the clothespin bags and saw the hats on the end of an isle. They look about 1 gallon in size and are flat on the bottom so they sit well. Only caution I would give is not to hold them by the brim when loaded up it can tear away easy. Halfway thru a cycle with them atm and they are doing well. They will probably last a couple more rounds easy.