First Micro Grow Adventure

[devo6786]

So I was given two very tall clones a couple of weeks ago. I threw them out on my balcony, watered them, and forgot about them. One started to get really sick and the other started to flower. What a shit show. Both are healthy now and I believe I got the one that started to flower back in veg. In that time I also got a bag of seedyyyy weed from a dispensary, bummer, but I germinated 6 seeds. All sprouted and are now about 4 days old. Just bagseed, hoping for 1-2 females.

So, I went to Ikea once and Home Depot 20 times to get all of the things I need. I found a 2.75' X 1.75' X 1.75' cabnient and decided to bring the plants inside.

I painted the cab flat white inside, made a top for it, added a lock and hinges. Installed a passive intake in the bottom right side of the cab. Its 8"x4". Installed a 120mm 44CFM case fan opposite of the intake and at the top of the cab. I immediately started with CFLs because they're cheap and easily available. I just set up a cheap-o Viparspectra 300W LED panel today.
I installed some weather proofing. The cab still needs to be caulked and lightproofed 100%. I also haven't nailed on the top yet, waiting until I installed the carbon filter.

Smell isn't an issue yet, but I have a 4"x12" 200 CFM Phresh Carbon filter and a 4" Hurricane Inline and speed controller waiting to be installed. I just haven't decided HOW to set it up yet. How to remain pretty stealth and noise at a low volume. I plan to veg another 4 weeks or so.

Im using FoxFarms Soil and have purchased their nutrients too. I haven't used the nutrients yet, ill be getting a PH tested in the mail tomorrow and deciding then.

Let me know what you think! Any suggestions? Am I on the right track here? Lots of pictures to follow. From newest photos to oldest.

 

[FrenchOG]

That all looks like a lot of fun! I love it!

 

[devo6786]

First time using the nutrients today. We'll see how they do. The PH was a little high, right around 7.4 so I added some PH down and got it right at 6.4. The runoff was right around the same.

 

[devo6786]

So, maybe some advice?

The cabinet is pretty hot. Its hottest is 86F. Im in California and temps have been between 65-75 degrees. The room the cab is in is about 70-75 on average.

My intake is passive, 8"x4"

My outtake is running a 44 120mm case fan until I need to install the carbon filter, which will most likely be right before flowering.

Whats the best way to cool it down? Should I just install the 4" inline fan now and scrap the PC Fan all together?

Do I add another passive intake? Or make it larger?

 

[Madvillian]

Throw in that 4in. Inline, that should help a bit

 

[devo6786]

Photo update

 

[FrenchOG]

What did you do about the high temps? I would run filter and in-line fan now even if smell isn’t bad yet. Exit it out of the cabinet AND out of the grow room if possible

 

[Madvillian]

That’s way too much light for that little spot brotha, your plants are running away from the light rather than growing to it, is there any way to get more height in there and raise that light?

 

[Dan789]

Get a coat hangar, or ceiling wire and fashion some loops for the fixture (routed through the eyelets in the fixture top) that will free you from the long cable hangars and move the fixture up. Agree, you might need to add a few more sections to that plant condo you’ve got going on. Leave the top removable and just go up. A tent would be a better choice in retrospect.

 

[devo6786]

What did you do about the high temps? I would run filter and in-line fan now even if smell isn’t bad yet. Exit it out of the cabinet AND out of the grow room if possible

The temps with the inline inside and running are right around 74-80 now that Ive installed the inline.

The photos show 82 but I had just moved the thermometer back into the box from being in the sun

 

[devo6786]

That’s way too much light for that little spot brotha, your plants are running away from the light rather than growing to it, is there any way to get more height in there and raise that light?

Get a coat hangar, or ceiling wire and fashion some loops for the fixture (routed through the eyelets in the fixture top) that will free you from the long cable hangars and move the fixture up. Agree, you might need to add a few more sections to that plant condo you’ve got going on. Leave the top removable and just go up. A tent would be a better choice in retrospect.

I dont think its too much light, I has just moved things around when I took the photo. The back two plants were definitely going into the light. I cant add more space. Ive got to work with what Ive got. Ill try moving the light up next week with the suggestion above. Thanks :)

 

[devo6786]

Quick update. Got rid of the bigger plants. They weren't at 100% and at this point were just taking up space and taking too much time to nurse back to good health.

I light proofed my box completely.

I hung up my filter. The fan is now outside of the box.

I raised the lighting as far up as it can go.

I made a PVC "thing" for a DYI trellis. still need to install the netting.

 

[FrenchOG]

Quick update. Got rid of the bigger plants. They weren't at 100% and at this point were just taking up space and taking too much time to nurse back to good health.

I light proofed my box completely.

I hung up my filter. The fan is now outside of the box.

I raised the lighting as far up as it can go.

I made a PVC "thing" for a DYI trellis. still need to install the netting.

Looking good now! When are you switching to 12/12?

 

[devo6786]

I’m going to let these guys grow another 3 weeks and then switch them over to 12/12!

Super stoked on this now that it’s all setup properly and working

 

[Toaster79]

Can you raise your light some more?

 

[devo6786]

No.

 

[Toaster79]

You'll have buds touching that light if you veg for another 3 weeks

 

[devo6786]

Then I’ll switch over sooner.

 

[Toaster79]

Cut a hole on top of your cabinet, an inch smaller what the light measures, and place the light on top of the cabinet. Move the filter outside of the box and have the vent pushing through it instead of sucking. This way youll gain overhead and space and you'll get the heat source out of your enclosre. Intakes at the bottom will pick the coldest air in the room and your temp in the cabinet should be really close to that. Put some filters on the intake too, so the dust, sucked from the floor, doesn't get pushed inside of the filter. Also remove the pre-filter on your carbon filter.

 

[kansabis]

And I would add to invest in a quantum board led to gain headspace as well.