Newbie looking for tips

[Hank0341]

Hey all, I'm new to trying to grow and want to get acquainted with what I need before I even attempt. I'm looking at a 3x3x8 tent with a 4" exhaust with carbon filter. I'm not sure on light yet and then I am wondering what I should do in this situation. I live in the southeast US where it can get very hot and very humid in the summers. I want to use my attic above my garage to grow but am worried about heat and humidity. Is there a way to get around the heat or should I just wait until around September to ensure I won't have a hard time keeping my plant climate controlled. I am planning on only growing one at a time.

Thanks

[Chefbjy]

Run lights at night would help with heat issues...there's stuff you can duo about heat.

https://www.growweedeasy.com/5-secrets-cannabis-heat-control

[BillBates]

Portable air cond/dehumidifier.

[Hank0341]

Thanks for the tip. I'm actually looking at doing an auto flower first, northern lights or blue mystic preferably. So should I run an 18/6 schedule and have the 6 hours off during the hottest part of the day? Also, will having a 6" exhaust instead of 4" help with cooling?

Another question, with heat being a worry of mine, what type and how many lights would you recommend for my tent size?

[Hank0341]

Portable air cond/dehumidifier.

Ive looked into this, but it looks like the only air conditioner that would fit in the space would be a swamp cooler and I don't want to introduce more water and increase humidity. Do you know of a very small portable ac unit?

[Redwasp]

My attic hits 120 plus degrees. Not sure how you will make that work if yours is similar. What are the temps in the attic at its hottest? With just an exaust fan your tent will be a bit hotter than your attic regardless of the type of light.

For a winter grow in a cold area I would use an hps/mh light. You can get a variable speed exaust fan and use the light and exaust speed to keep temps up. You will just need to grow an auto and leave the light on 24 hours a day. But that does work really well.

[Hank0341]

My attic hits 120 plus degrees. Not sure how you will make that work if yours is similar. What are the temps in the attic at its hottest? With just an exaust fan your tent will be a bit hotter than your attic regardless of the type of light.

For a winter grow in a cold area I would use an hps/mh light. You can get a variable speed exaust fan and use the light and exaust speed to keep temps up. You will just need to grow an auto and leave the light on 24 hours a day. But that does work really well.

That's why I'm wondering if I should just wait to start until like September. The main reason I want to start is my wife and I are new here and can't find a reliable source. We don't go through a lot in a short amount of time, so I'm thinking when one auto is done, I can harvest, dry, and cure and have enough to last until I grow another. I'm not looking to grow a ton, just enough for the two of us.

[D.A.A.S.69]

Hank0341, I live in Mississippi and there is no way I could grow in the attic ,where I live, probably not even in the winter.
Is there anyway you could grow in a closet in your house , Northern Lights autos don't even have any smell, except the last 2-3weeks, plus you could get an Led, something like a Vipar450, or whatever you chose. And no one would even know anything.
In a couple of months ,you could be smoking, the good stuff,
I know I couldn't do what your planning on doing, where I live, it's already over 90degrees every day. Even in the winter when I go to the attic. It's hot as hell.
One autoflower want take up that much room.

[Hank0341]

That's what I was wondering. I have a small alcove in my garage that I think could work as well, but I think I'd want to frame it off and add a lockable door. In that case I could vent to the attic and intake from near the garage floor where it will be a lot cooler.

[Hank0341]

The key for me is to keep it as discreet as possible obviously and I really don't want it inside the house but if I have to I will

[D.A.A.S.69]

Hey Hank0341, it really doesn't take up much room at all, I've grown BlueMystic before too, it's about like the NLights, very little smell, unless you hurt-wound them, then both of them smells pretty strong.
Nebula has got a tutorial or two about stealth growing, you should check out .
I'm sure you will figure something out, and if you need any help, there is plenty of people on GWE, that will be glad to help you.
And welcome to GWE.

[BillBates]

Agree with DAAS... The hounds of hell couldn't live in my attic & I'm in Virginia. There is one guy in this forum (can't remember his handle) who started a grow in his crawlspace which, while cooler, would still be monstrously humid.

[PuravidaC]

Well howdy neighbor, I live in Virginia too!

[Hank0341]

Thanks for the tips. I'm thinking garage it is for me then. I was thinking a 2x2 tent but after researching I think 3x3 will be better. Of the two lights below, which do you think would be better, especially with my heat concerns? I already own the lithonia LED. I'm going to run a 4" in line with variable speed and a phresh filter. Thanks for the help!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N45HUOJ?th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Lithonia-Lighting-IBG-24L-MVOLT/dp/B01N4O66B9/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528071411&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=lithonia+ibg+24&dpPl=1&dpID=31AQbi-hmbL&ref=plSrch

[PuravidaC]

I would not go smaller than a 3x3 space. I only grow one or two plants at a time and you can fill up that space quickly with plants and equipment. My carbon filter is outside my grow space, not enough room inside. I would also recommend a 6" exhaust fan with speed control. They can be a little loud unless you go with a Vortex fan. I went through four fans before finding what worked best for me. Could have saved a lot of cash if I just bought a larger fan from the start! Good luck!

[Hank0341]

Thanks for the tip. I was going to go with an ax infinity t4 that has a controller. I'll up it to the t6. Anyone have recommendations for which of the two lights I posted above?

[Redwasp]

I am not familiar with either light. For inexpensive led's i know viperspectrum brand works very well. Can get a 450 watt one with veg and flower switches for about $129. You would be better off with a 450 led in a 3x3 than a 300 watt one.