Super stealth grow indoor, daily log & pics ! ! !

Second attempt at growing. First attempt was in a server tower case with a flourescent bulb 18" long. Didn't know the plant had to be close to light, so major stretching plus several other growth stunts due to stupidity and impatience. This time I'm growing in an old amp box which is 18",18",10" (H,W,D) Put tin foil (reflective side to cardboard) all over inside. Two CFLs, 26W each, 1600 lumens each, 6500K each. Also another weird CFL that is supposed to neutralize odors and make them smell like rain . . . . . . planted seed in a plastic cup with miracle grow and holes in bottom with plastic baggie rubber banded to top. Already have a bigger pot that I made to move it into once it reaches the top of its humidity dome. Going to install 4 CPU fans (2 in 2 vents) for air circulation and maybe a 5th inside somewhere to circulate air better. Heres some pics.

Grow box closed.


Grow box view in from top half open.


Grow box view in from top open fully, humidity dome in center of box.


Lighting fixture with 2 CFLs (note this arent the CFLs described above)

 

Good luck.

 

i was thinking about doing the same thing with a cardboard box, i will be interested to see how it goes

 

Well, only ONE problem . . . put plant in soil 2 nights ago, this is 3rd day, has not sprouted, not suprised, just upset =P It allready went through PLENTY of drama . . . we put the two 26W CFLs in last night and turned it all on (no vent or intake for air yet) went back several hours later, and it was 116 degrees =O Took the humidity dome out and put it under sink in bathroom about 65 ish degrees. Hopefully that didn't kill it or stunt it. If it hasn't sprouted by 6 p.m. I'm just going to let it go, and try to germinate a seed with the paper towl method, if both end up growing, awsome, I've got the room anyway =) Lets just hope this one sprouts soon though, I don't want to have to wait another 3 days, I really want it to sprout before I go back to school =\ I'm gonna post some pics of the vent and intake fans and such below.

 

Ok so here are the pics I said about above, I have installed two fans (one intake for cold air and one vent for hot air). Plant still hasn't sprouted, getting annoyed really, gonna put another seed in some wet paper towels in a plastic baggie in a few minutes. Here are the pics:

Exhaust and cold air intake fans (blue upper right is exhaust and black lower left is cold intake)


Humidity dome up close.


This is how the lighting fixture is now attached after duct tape started melting . . .


tied rubber bands to each other on top.


Lets hope it sprouts soon! Also going to go put seed in wet paper towels. Happy growing!

 

Are you growing lowryders?

 

No, we are going to do lst and when we can make sure they stay alive and get the hang of it, we are going to order some lowryders.

 

i just say good luck because, that "Box" is going to get way too hott! I know your adding fans but that is going to be too hot. I may be proven wrong, but that is like hardcore micro growing.......even if it works, you may harvest an 1/8-1/4 oz. when you get everything figured out its not worth it. Wayyyyy too much work for an 1/8-1/4oz. of smoke. The whole idea of being an indoor grower is being able to supply yourself at all times. if there is a hiccup in your growing pattern and you aren't harvesting.....something is wrong with your cycle. Figure it out and work with it. this is a weed afteralll and can be grown easy, with just a bare minimum of techniques.

 

Hey bro, ya we had that spike of 116 degrees once, then added the fans and it dropped to 80 degrees, added the second light bulb, and it went up to 84 degrees. This is reasonable growing temperature, yes? I hope it is . . . and ya we were talking to a fellower grower and he said we should start budding (12/12) at like 3 inchs . . . leaves no time for LST right? Or can you do it while budding is occuring? Well, who knows, maybe this little fucker will never sprout >.< Happy growing!

 

Well middle of day 4 and sadly, absolutely no life above the soil, no clue whats goin on down below, gonna go put another seed between damp papertowels in plastic baggie ontop of grow box (3 layers of cardboard between baggie and 2 CFLs, so should be warm enough, while not too too hot). Hopefully it germinates, and if the other does too, kewl, I'll grow two plants =P Check back for more updates tomorrow!

 

Well, I just finally got sick of the seed in the humidity dome, I started slowly digging where the seed should be. I knew not to just dump out the soil and look for it (prior experience =P) and alas found the seed. Pulled it out with tweazers and there was a tap root about 1/18 of an inch long . . . . it was snapped at the tip and I'm assuming there is no hope for this seed. I think I fryed it when the box hit around 116 that one day . . . . Well hopefully the other seed germinates in the paper towels, I did put the dug up seed back with tap root pointed down, but I'm 99.9% sure that it will never live, it should have sprouted by now . . . . . well Happy growing!

 

Oh ya forgot to mention a nice add-on stealth-wise. I hooked up the extension cord to the outlet in my room that is wired to the third wall switch (upside down outlet usually) So that way if for any reason while I'm in my room a person who does not need to know about the grow starts to go into my room I can casually get up and act like im turning the fan off or on and at same time hit the off switch for the grow box, turns off everything, fans, lights, everything. Majorly helpful, havent had to use it yet, but one never knows =)

 

Ok no tap root on the paper toweled seed that I can feel (im not taking it out from between the paper towels, spraying water in there all over and looking at it over a light to look for a tap root. Only second night so not worried. Also put a new seed in humidity dome (new soil too) cleaned it all out and everything and put a new seed in, mostly to see the difference in growth between a seed that was germinated in paper towels and one that was just planted =) Stay with me to see the difference your selves will be uploading a pic of the grow box with both seeds hopefully germinating either tonight or tomorrow after skewl. Happy growing!

 

Hey bud sounds like your getting everything alittle better fine-tuned. Just got a couple quick pointers for ya. First off, i know stealth is your number one concern, but you really should try not to mess with the light cycle. Right now its not as big a deal, but when they get into the vegetative stage and further along, the light cycle is crucial. Too many interruptions (i.e. turning light off during light ON hours or vice-versa) can cause abnormal growth patterns, it can stunt the plant, and worst of all.....it can determine heavily on the sex of the plant, light cycle interruptions usually cause males and hermies. That being said, i know you want to be stealth, but interruptions in the light cycle can lose you your crop.

Next thing, when spraying your paper towels that the seeds are germinating in, dont over do it. Just so the paper towel is evenly moist. Not dripping wet, but not dry either.......kind of a happy medium. With the one in the humidity dome, make sure the let the little seed get some fresh air once or twice daily. The 3 key factors for seeds germinating are water, soil temperature, and air. If you leave the dome on the soil, there is no oxygen getting to the seed, well very little anyway. So, lifting the lid off for like 5min 1-2 times daily, should really really help the little seedling get a healthy start.

Anyway, keep us posted.

- 42o -

 

Hey Maniac, thanks for replying (was starting to talk to myself here =P) Now when your talking about light interruptions does this mean opening the box during light on/off or like hitting the switch on the wall turning lights on to lights off and vice versa? Thanks for the help and interest man! Happy growing!

 

I was typing up this long informative post to your question, and realized it doesn't need to be that complicated. Pretty much stick to your light cycles and don't interrupt them. Say your in the vegatative stage and your doing an 18/6 light cycle. During the 18hrs of light, don't let the lights turn off. During the 6 hours of darkness, don't let any light into the box. Same goes for flowering on a 12/12 light cycle. Don't let the 12 hours of light be interrupted by darkness. Don't let the 12 hours of darkness be interrupted by light. This still sounds more complicated than it really is, but im horrible about explaining simple things simply! To sum it up, when the light is on.....don't let it go off. If the light is off.......don't let the light come on, or introduce any light by opening the box. When the plant is in its dark cycle of the day, leave it alone. Don't open, don't peek, don't even nudge it! The night cycle is very crucial. If you have to tend to your plants, try to do it when the lights are on. If you can't get around this, you can get green colored bulbs in the gardening section at pretty much any hardware store, or store with a gardening section for that matter. Green light is the only light that plants don't respond to during their "night cycle"

Wow, way longer than it needed to be haha. Oh well, you should be able to understand what im saying.

- 42o -

 

Ya bro I definetelly understand, basically, if it set and used to a certain light cycle (unless switching from vegitative to budding/flowering) leave it to exactly what it's used to and dont let it change much at all if possible. Happy growing! Thanks for the help and interest!

 

^Exactly

 

Tap root on the seed in the paper towels is now about 1/2 inch long, plant it or wait?

 

Plant it