Hello fellow farmers! I am about three weeks into my first grow and I am a complete newbie, starting from scratch. I don't think that I've ever met a plant that I couldn't kill! Up until 3 weeks ago I had never even touched a MJ plant, just the end product after someone else had done all of the work.

I got a wild hair about a month ago and wanted to try to grow a plant. I ended up visiting a local hydroponics shop and got to talking to some folks and I ended up going home with my first plant. It was a clone that was cut on 8/10/24.

I took my new girl home, popped it into a pot that my wife had laying around and put her outside, expecting to just let it grow for the rest of what's left of summer.....but then I started reading online and decided that I was actually going to try to learn and do this right! I wish that I had found this place sooner, but alas.....here I am.

I ended up getting a complete grow tent setup and I have had it going now for almost two weeks. I bought a Mars Hydro 32x32x63" tent with the exhaust fan, clip fan, carbon filter, etc. This kit also came with the Mars TS-1000 150W LED.

As with most of the "hobbies" that I dive into, I went head-first and now I wish that I would have done some more reading as from what I am seeing (here and other sources) that my light won't be enough to give me the results that I am hoping for. I fully expect this first grow to be a bit of a shit-show, but I am having fun so far... (Other than when my wife is making fun of me....but she is getting into the experience as well!)

I currently have her in a 5 gal fabric pot and it is planted in Happy Frog. The strain is "Death Star" and I was told it was a photo period plant. I currently have the light on a 18/6 schedule.

I have already been kicking around the idea of grabbing another tent, they make one that is 39x39x71 and I am thinking that the extra height will be appreciated at some point in my growing journey. Plus, if I get another tent, I can use my existing for seedlings, clones, etc. Is that tent enough to grow into, or should I just go with a 48x48x80? I don't really expect to grow more than two plants at a time, but ya never know. Curious to hear your thoughts on that.

My primary question is about my lighting situation... I was thinking about grabbing one of the Mars 300W EVO lights, but from my reading - some folks are saying that it still wouldn't be enough to produce great buds? I also think that going to a 4x4 tent would just require an even bigger light that would probably be overkill if I am just doing a plant or two?

Let's say that I get the slightly bigger but TALLER 39x39x71 tent - what light would you all recommend? (I am trying to stay somewhat budget friendly, as I don't want to test the wife's patience!)

As noted, my wife is getting a kick out of this whole thing and just thinks that I am crazy....but she is supportive and I have the space for a bigger tent (than the 39x39x71), I just don't really know if bigger is better when talking about tent sizes, especially if I am not going to be filling it with plants?

Anyway, here are some pics of my journey so far....

Pic #1 = After her first week home and outside and enjoying the sunshine. (It was hot as hell and in the 90's so I am surprised that didn't kill it!)




Pic #2 = This was on 8/28 after transplanting to the 5 gal pot and in her shiny new tent!




Pic #3 = taken about 5 minutes ago. I think she is acting happy?





Pic #4 = Taken 5 minutes ago - side view