farmboy

Im from Alberta Canada. I have a nice size green house with the windows facing south. I want to plant apx. 20 plants. I need suggestions on lighting, watering, soil and any other info? I also need ideas how to get good seeds? Any help is very appreciated

brianithicus

Welcome farmboy

If you read the grow guide you will get tonnes of info. It's a great place to learn how to grow. The address is http://my.marijuana.com/sections.php...ticles&secid=5 If you have any specific questions just ask.

As for your questions,
You would need a 1000 Watt HID if your gonna grow 20 plants. I usually water every couple days when the plant starts to droop just a little. And i hear supersoil is the best soil to get.

Later

farmboy

thanks for the tips, and ill check out that web site.
How much is a 1000 watt HID? and can i get one at most hardware stores? and will one work for 20 plants? Or a few less watt ones spread out?

brianithicus

I'm using a 400 Watt Metal Halide light right now and I have 5 plants. It's good but if I had a 1000 W it would be better. The problem is that the light doesn't reach the lower branches of the plant when the plant gets larger. So if your planning on 20 plants I would really recommend a 1000W. If your only gonna grow your plants to be a couple feet high then you might be able to get away with a 600W.

How big is the greenhouse? How many square feet?
The general concensus it to use 25 Watts per square foot, but the more accurate convention is to get about 3000 lumens per square foot. A 400 W HPS produces about 47,000 lumens and a 1000W HPS produces about 140,000 lumens.

Lights aren't cheap. Mine cost $250 with the bulb, ballast, fixture and reflector. A 1000 W will probrably cost closer to $400 (just guessing), and a HPS will cost even more.

I got mine at a hydroponics store. The kind of lights that are specific for growing you can't really find at a hardware store, they only carry security lights mostly. You will probrably have to go to a greenhouse supplier or a hydroponics store.

Later

bishop

jesus christ how can all you people spend $250 on a damn 400w light at some garden store..go to the damn hardware store and get some hps security lights for like $40 bucks and if you need more watts get more lamps (ballasts are included)

2 x 250w = 500w = $80
compared to:
1 x 400w = 400w = $250

see the price difference you people need to give better advice

and dependeing on your stores you may have to get alot of 70w but i didn't so you might get lucky too

brianithicus

Im talking Canadian dollars here (with tax included). Big difference.

$250 CAD = $165 US

If you look at the exchange rates it's not that big a deal. Besides this includes the ballast, bulb, fixture and a reflector. Without the reflector it's about $200, you could always make your own.

I'm not sure how good those security lights are but the 400W MH works like a dream.

Later

deviant

I would advise against the use of 1000 watt lights as they give out terrific heat.The excessive heat means they must be kept a large distance from the plant tops to prevent stretching and eventual burning.Much better to go with 400 or 600's and get them nice and close to your plants,also much better spread of light.

Rummy13_1

Hello neighbour
everyone i know here in Ca. loves & swears by Sunshine mix #4 agressive grow soil
soon i'll post some pics to prove how happy this soil makes my weeds just a thought

pæce

farmboy

Well thanks guys for the info. so far. I think I will try 400 and 600 watt lights and see which ones work better. When the plant is about a foot tall I'm going to bend the tip over and tie it to the bottom, and try this method on some or maybe all of them.

As for the Sunshine mix #4 aggressive grow soil ill try some of that. Will look froward to your pics

I was thinking about trying some dirt from our manure piles (dirt and cow crap mixture) would you recomend me trying this?

Also I need to find out how to get good seeds? So I don't end up with cheep crappy ones.

Please keep the ideas coming

bishop

cow sh!t's always a good thing for plants

Link: [****************Seeds Direct[/url] - this place has a HUGE list of different strains (i reccomend KC Brain or Nirvana)


***Edited by OzGrowa***
***Please dont post commercial URL's here***
*** A copy of the forum rules is located****
*** at the top of the threads page***