First Time Grower Tips - Lighting

Hello Fellow Stoners,

Im fairly new to the weed scene, been smoking the fantastic herb for about 8 months now.
So far ive had the time of my life, however the lack of cash to purchase "Mr. Wonderful Weed" has made me resort to growing my own... and personally i cant wait to do it.
However, ive probably spent a good 10 hours straight looking at various different forums, websites and blogs about first time growers and ive hit a snag.
Lighting

So far ive learnt that:
Normal Candescent Lightbulbs (Argon Filled Ones) Are Pretty Crap
Fluorescent & Halogen = Still Not sure Which Is Better
High-Pressure-Sodium (I think thats right) = The Best

However i live in the UK (im still confused to weither this is a UK or US forum) and ive had a look at various fluorescent lightbulbs (Energy Saving Ones i think they are) and its confusing me if they give off the propper light spectrum to the plant.
Ive heard that Blue light is the best light needed to grow potent weed, the question im askin is:

Do Energy Saving Lightbulbs Use The Correct Light Spectrum And Are They Effective At Growing Weed?

Also if so how strong (in watts) do they need to be?
(Its just one plant, in a wardrobe atm)

If theres any lads here (or ladys infact) that grow in the UK what kind of equipment would you reccommend i buy and where from?
I havent started buying stuff yet coz im making my list.. if someone wants to help me with that, that'll be great too.

Thanks very much in advance!
-PsyK
"Pick It, Pack It, Fire It Up.. Come Along and Take A Hit From The Bong" - Cypress Hill - Hit From The Bong

 

Oh and whats on my list so far is:

• Seedling Propergator
• Big Arsed Pot
• Small Fan
• Light (Which One Is TBC, With Your Help I'll Know)
• Extractor Fan Of Some Sort (Need Help On That Too)
• Neutriants (Still Shopping As To Which Is Best)
• Silver Foil Insulator (Not Aluminum Foil, Its Similar To What Medics Wrap Around Cold People.. Im Sure You've Seen It In The Films But I Dont Know Its Name)
• Simple Water Spray Canister

If i need anything else (bear in mind im starting small and as cheaply as possible) please let me know. Any Help Is Much Appriciated!!
Thanx!!

-PsyK
"Puff, Puff, Pass"

 

This forum has people in UK and USA.
I live in the UK I grow in a smallish cupoard and use a 400W HPS light with a growlux bulb. This is the best sort of light ( most powerfull) you can get 600W and 1000W versions but the higher the wattage the more heat is given off which is a big problem in small confined spaces. Check out http://www.theonlineelectricalwholesaler.com
I bought my light from here for £60 . Under the Hydroponic section. Another good sight is http://www.hydroponics-hydroponics.com but the first one is a little cheaper for your lights.
Not sure sure how big your grow space is as to wether you can use a 400W HPS light.
If not look on the first site I mentioned they have other lights all with the required light spectum please let me know size of your grow space

 

Hey!

Thanks for the info!! This website has it all! thanx!
Can i ask whats the best and most cheapest Extractor fan that reduces the smell?
The reason behind the question is i grow it at home and i'd prefer that my mother didnt find a weed plant growing in my wardrobe lol! oh that would take some explaining.

thanx in advance!
-PsyK

 

The downside of using fluorescents is that you nee so many of them, and they're pentrating power is so low the buds on the lower branches will be small and weak.
To determine how much light is needed, use this generally accepted rule of thumb:
6000 (or more) lumens per sq/ft (which I think is about 18,000 lumens per sq/m but I may be wrong).
Lumens is a much better way to determine how much light you need. Wattages are how much power the the light consumes, lumens are what the lights emit.

Ventilation
Marijuana needs lots of fresh air, the more the better.
Marijuana "eats" CO2; when all the CO2 in your grow chamber is exhausted, growth ceases.
You need 3 fans:
an intake (down low where the cool air is), an exhaust (up high, the ceiling is ideal), and an oscillatting fan inside, for stem stregth & air distrubution.
The intake and exhaust fans need to be installed in-wall, which entails cutting holes.
For most home gardens, bathroom exhaust-type fans work great and they're cheap. For added ventilation you can use squirrel-cage fans. For ultimate ventilation, use induction fans.

 

Check out the online electical wholesaler they have 100mm systemair fans for £50. As Heat rises you will need to connect your exhaust fan high up in your room to take out the odour and hot air. You should drill some holes low down in your cupboard/growroom to pull cold air in. As your extractor pulls air hot out it creates a negative pressure in your room so cold air is automatically pulled in. You should only need an exhaust. If your room gets really hot then you can consider an intake fan. If £50 seems expensive you can get cheaper fans such as expelair although these can be a little noisy.You really need exhaust fans to blow extracted air somewhere they wont be smelled i.e outside.
Look at ozone generators ionizers and carbon filters. The first Systemair extractor fan I mentioned can also be fitted with a carbon filter to remove odours.
Trying to hide plant growing from relatives rarely works. Either get your Mom onside or consider growing elsewhere. There are several seed strains that can be grown outdoors even in the UK. Now is the right time of the year as well. Also you dont need the expense of lights.

 

The size of the area you will grow in will be the determining factor for what sized hps you will need.High output horticultural fluoros will suffice for seed starting and early veg up to 3 weeks)but will not make you a happy camper come harvest as yields will be very insignificant if used the duration.Veg requires minimum of 25 watts per foot and flower 50 to allow a plant its potential.Buy centrifigal fans(vortex or elicent) for extraction of heat and odor in conjunction with a air cooled hood and carbon filter and a oscillating fan to keep air moving.

 

i have a room with a bathroom connected to it, can i leave the fan on in the bathroom and connect a hose to it and have it suck air from the lights suspended above my plants to lower the temprature? or do you think the bathroom fan is too puny? Also does adding a carbon filter on the end decrease the amount of air being sucked through?

 

Oh and Buffonman you are awesome dude ! I am loving this website. I think they really do have everything. Great help. great help indeed.

 

Carbon filters can slow air flow .When you but one it will tell you how much air it can remove. Carbon filters match extractor fans. i.e a 125mm fan will connect to a 125mm carbon filter. You can buy kits that include fan ,filter ,and ducting.Ive seen all three for as little as £90.
To work out size of fan you need measure your room i.e L*B*H then multiply this by 20.
For example if your room is 2m*2m*2m this gives you 8 then multiply it by 20 giving you a total of 160, a 100mm fan and filter would cover this. Think the hydoponic webside explains it a lot better than this.
Doubt your bathroom fan would do.
If your growroom connects to your bathroom better to connect a fan and filter made for the job pull filtered air out of your grow room into your bathroom then have your bathroom extractor on to pull rest of the air outside.
Growrooms can get really hot hence you need a got fan made for the job.

 

Keep in mind that most quality carbon filters have recommended cfm requirements as to avoid loss of required air flow.

 

Look here for a good guide to lighting:
http://www.weedfarmer.com/cannabis/lighting_guide.php

PS.
Growing in someone's home without their permission is not cool and it's unlikely that it will remain undetected before it's finished.
Furthermore you put that person at risk of prosecution and even confiscation of property.
It's common practice in British Columbia, Canada to fine the homeowner who is harboring a cultivation operation. The assumption being that it's the homeowners responsibility to know what is going on in their own home, and particularly to combat landlords that look the other way.