South Up

hey everyone, i just registered but i have been reading these forums and other growing guide sites for a long time. i just started growing my first plant last week. my setup is a single plant in a small closet, using a single cool white compact fluorescent bulb on a 24/7 schedule. on the box it says the light output is 1471 lumens and it uses 25 watts. reading guides i have seen that these numbers are not the best, however i am very low on cash and i cannot currently afford an HPS light (believe me, the thought of going to lowe's and stealing one has crossed my mind multiple times in the past week alone ).

because the space i am growing the plant in is so small, i have it so the light sits around 2 to 3 inches above the plant horizontally. when im not caring for it, i put a thick blanket over the area (elevated over the light to avoid hazards of course) to insulate the closet and keep it from being seen if someone was to walk in there. i know my conditions are not the best, but keeping on this regimen can i grow a healthy plant? i am not looking for multiple plants as of yet, i just wanted to grow this plant as something to do through the winter months, until i can go outdoors and plant there.

i have read the topics about watts and lumens per square foot, and since i have built a sort of barricade around my plant with different objects (for the purpose of keeping light in the plant's area and to keep it from being seen) the width of the area the light is reaching is less than 2 feet across and less than a foot high. is 1471 lumens/25 watts adequate for this situation?

also, i would like to know the cheapest prices available for a HPS or MH light in a store such as lowe's or home depot (i dont really wanna steal one so im hoping it isnt too much).

please help a beginning grower out, i dont want this plant to be huge even though a lot of buds would be nice, i just want something to last until spring comes.

thanks in advance.

P.S. i know this is a long post but since it is my first time being here, i wanted to be clear and concise as possible with my problem.

grass_hopper

Stealing lights is a we don't do that kind of stuff around here

Who would possibly walk in and discover your closet?

__________________
"Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk in front of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone."


Ancient History:
Blueberry/Mazar (started in hydro, moved outdoors)...Skunk#1/Blueberry in Soil
Botanicare 42 Site Cloner - a Review...Grass_Hopper's Butane Honey Oil (BHO) Thread

Website goodies:
Grow Guide...Cecil_B's CO2 Enrichment Guide...Grower's Dictionary...Getting Females From Standard Seeds

South Up

my girlfriend, she doesnt like me smoking and i dubiously do it behind her back if she found out i was growing a plant in our house she would probably freak out...

i was mostly joking about stealing lights, i dont need to get caught and then have them come to my house and make me explain WHY i would steal them.

anyway, do you have any suggestions for my setup? i know it is an amateur operation but being a young guy with a girlfriend in a house, im not exactly spending all my time counting money.

Igrow2

ok, let me see if I have this straight. You are trying to grow a plant with a 25 watt flor. bulb under a blanket in the corner of your closet while keeping it hidden from your girlfriend who does not approve of you smoking.

The first question that comes to mind is are you sure you have thought this though?

__________________
-!g2


Grow Guide -questions answered here

The Not Just Another Bud Shot Photo Thread

My Art Photo Album

My 1st Grow White Widow, BigBud, BubbleGum

Shaned

Could you possibly buy a small cab to put in there. Thatd be good cuz you could seal off light leaks and wont have to worry about her asking "whats that smell" when it stinks. might want a few more lumens if possible. Check out my GJ im only using 55 watts as of now.

Good luck

__________________
Micro-gro like you've never seen it before...Finished

South Up

its the best i can do for now, when i tell most people about the blanket covering the setup part they usually say "are you trying to set your house on fire?" but it's safe, i make sure to keep it a good distance away from the plant or the bulb while keeping the light focused solely on the plant's area.

could you explain cabs more to me? i've seen the word used around here a couple of times but i have never heard of what one is.
i was also thinking of getting another light, probably a 30 watt so it would come out to 55. your journal is very inspirational.

Shaned

Cab is just short for cabinet. It can basically be anything from a gutted dresser to a storage cabinet. Keep in mind with a cab the smaller the area the less light you need. But dont be mistaken with that idea b ecause if you go too small itll be tough to grow in sorta like my little cab.

__________________
Micro-gro like you've never seen it before...Finished

penguin

If you live with your girlfriend, there is no way you are ever going to get away with a grow. Regardless of whether you attempt to conceal it in a cab or a closet, she is going to find it. It is also unethical to grow in a house with other people who don't know and approve. You are subjecting her to a risk of arrest and incarceration without her knowledge or consent.

Concealing lamps under a blanket is a fire hazard, and does not allow sufficent air exchange to keep the plant(s) supplied with enough CO2 to support growth. In order to have a successful grow you need to provide at least the basics of a proper environment. So not only is this endeavor irresponsible, it's also rather pointless.


penguin

__________________

Nismoskyline

Penguin brings up a very valid point here. If you are going to grow you should tell your girlfriend first. If she says no then dont grow inside. Maybe wait until summer and grow outside off of your property. However if she does agree to you growing inside and you want a basic newb setup with minimal requirements check out my Grow Journal (link in signature)

From the sound of it you have the exact same "cool white" CFL that I do. "Lights of America-Sunlight Bulb" rated at 6500k color spectrum. 1471 lumens is no where near even minimal lighting. You are going to need more light for sure even if it is just one plant.

Seriously though take penguin's advice. Not only are you putting your girlfriend at risk. You are also putting your relationship at risk for one little MJ plant.

__________________

South Up

thanks nismo and penguin for your input. my girlfriend doesnt exactly hate marijuana or anything just that her friend was a grower with a little bit more expertise than yours truly, and her family got busted because a friend of hers tipped them off out of jealousy. i can see the risks i'm taking relationship wise and i think i am going to tell her about it, i just don't know the right way to go about it. i think if i tell her straight up, about it being a small plant and not being very costly she wont be upset. (our financial problems should be more important than a little MJ plant )

and the blanket has been an ongoing issue for me regarding the grow, simply because in the first few days it grew on a pretty steady course, and for the past couple of days now the growth heightwise has been almost stagnant. i was guessing that the blanket might be the source of the problem, so what i plan on doing is hanging it up vertically, or when i tell my g/f about it, remove it altogether.

reading shaned's GJ this realization hit me the hardest, seeing as how his little plant is in similar conditions and within about the same period of time i have been growing this one, he has a lot of undergrowth and leaves. after a week, the second set of serrated leaves are still growing in. i believe i am going to abandon the blanket and tell my girlfriend when she gets home from work. if she agrees, more better, if she doesnt..it will be a long winter.

nismo, i was pretty sure it would come down to that, so how many more lights would you figure i'd need? i was contemplating getting a second light of the same type, but i still don't think it would be enough??

once again thanks for all the input, you guys have reassured a lot of things in my mind concerning this project.