Grow Advice

[MLDGrower]

Hello Everyone,

First time grower here. I have put a considerable amount of time into researching what I need for my DIY grow room and how to grow and harvest my plants. Please take a look at my plan below:

Grow Room: DIY 4x4 in a small bathroom with a high celing
The room has white tiled walls, which I intend to use for 2 sides of the grow area. I have Mylar to cover one side where there is a window, and to use as a removable front cover. I will use 4 x small USB fans for airflow. The bathroom has a window that I can leave open as long as I don't have guests over, and I have blackout curtains to use when necessary. There are 3 small ventilation holes near the ceiling.

Lighting: Bestva DC Series 1500w LED
Strain: Pinneaple Express Auto Flower (I will LST)
Climate: Tropical near sea level
Temperature: Usually 80 to 90 F with humidity 80% to 90% outside (indoor temp and humidity to be tested after light arrives)
Medium: Cocopeat with 20% Perlite in 5 gallon smart pots

Quetions:

1. I have ordered 10 seeds. Considering my might and 4x4 grow area, should I grow 5 plants at a time or go with all 10? What is optimal for max yield?
2. Should I add more Perlite or Vermiculite to the medium? If so, which one and how much?
3. I plan to order Growth Technology Grow and Bloom A + B as that is what is available in my region. Do I need to add Cal Mag or any other nutrient?
4. As I will be open to keep the window open and will have 4 small fans inside, do I need a ventilation system to pump air in or out?
5. Im thinking high humidity may be a problem but am waiting to setup everything to test if the light brings it down a bit. Thoughts?

Any other thoughts or advice is greatly appreciates

[Gluteous]

I can't comment on all the equip or your medium as I'm a HPS and soil guy. Some thoughts though. My advice is to start small and expand as you get your environment dialed in and learn what works in your space. 4x4 is not very big so I'd be looking at doing 4 plants max initially. You've got vertical space but if you veg very long your 4x4 will fill up pretty fast.

Your temps seem like they'll be ok as your lights shouldn't heat up the room too much. Humidity is going to be a problem and you're likely looking at a dehumidifier. Worth every penny. Lights on will drop humidity some, but lights off humidity will shoot up.

You make no mention of a charcoal filter. That's a problem unless you're out in the boonies by yourself. You mention guests so, you NEED a filter. You need an exhaust fan pulling your warm air out through a filter and that also draws fresh air in from your intake which cannot be your open window. That's not going to work very well. Typically your intake holes are near the bottom of your space and your exhaust is up top. That creates negative pressure and does really well pulling fresh air into your space. You may need a fan pushing air in as well as pulling exhaust out. Exhaust out the window if the noise won't be a problem, or vent into an attic space or down into a crawl space.

Best of luck to you!

[MLDGrower]

Thanks for the insight. Much appreciated.

I will look into the airflow and filter plus the dehumidifier.

My plants are autoflower and I understand that I won't have much control over the length of the vegetative vs. Flowering stage. Is this correct? My understanding is that I can leave the lights on... Say 18 to 22 hours per day through the entire process.

I have read from many websites thst I can expect 400gm to 600gm per square meter, and I do believe thst my light will be sufficient for this. No site tells me how many plants I need to achieve these numbers though. I do understand that I may get a much lower yield due to my lack of experience. Is it possible to achieve this yield with 4 plants though?

[Tersky]

Dont expect 400g. Those numbers are based on perfect conditions, commercial equipment and master level growers. I think i would be lucky to get half of that.

[MLDGrower]

If I am able to install an exhaust fan in the ceiling, going into the attic, which is covered by a tile roof (not air tight), is the smell going to be an issue?
I have no neighbors within 80 yards. The road often has people walking by on the opposite end of the house roughly 30 yards away. It is usually breezy here.
I'm wondering if I can get away with a good input and output ventilation system that does not have a filter.

[oldjarhead100]

Farmall AZ2000 what is this please I searched amazon it didn't come up

[oldjarhead100]

Farmall AZ2000 what is this please I searched amazon it didn't come up

[az2000]

For examples, see Amazon ASIN # B003YM2EDC for the linen gel. And, # B004WY9V14 for the liquid to replenish the gel as it dries out. They sell a fan-top to emit the product. But, it's not needed. You can just remove the lid, turn it upside down, and adjust how much of the jar's mouth is exposed for the strength you want. (You can also dilute the concentrate with distilled water. That will reduce the intensity of the scent if you want it to be more uncovered, but not too strong.).

You should put the gel at the end of the exhaust duct (assuming it exits outside the room). Or, in another room. Plants will absorb the scent if you keep it too close. Often, people think "I'll put it at the source of the odor," and put it inside the tent. It shouldn't even be near the tent.

I don't use it too much. I'll uncap it when I open the tent to to tend to the plants. Or, if I have a visitor I'll walk around the house with it, and leave it in another room with the gel half exposed.

As I understand it, it's not just masking the odor (like incense or old-school air freshener). It binds to odors.Instead of two odors (the one you want to hide, and the artificial scent), it turns the odor into something else. It's like camouflage for the nose. But, because of that, it has the potential to enter the plant. (Ona-Gel should never be mentioned without that warning. I should have mentioned it in my first post.).

[Farmall]

The carbon filter is reasonably priced given your list of equipment and goes a long way in reducing odors. They can be very strong. My outdoor friend had smells so powerful that I could detect it within 100’ of her house. Of course to me, it was incredibly obvious smell. It wreaked of skunk

4” or 6” may fit your plan with some flexible tubing makes it easy : but I am guessing you realize the bathroom is “out of service’ until harvest? If you have tubes and cords hanging around, it won’t present a problem. Keeping it stealthy...you want to consider that smell

[MLDGrower]

Appreciate the advice everyone.

I have decided to change my setup a bit:
- I am ordering a Marshydro 4x4 tent
-Ordered a dehumidifier
- I need to order an appropriate exhaust system with a charcoal filter

This tent has an 8inch duct on the top that I plan to use with a carbon filter exhaust system. I will run this straight up through the roof into a non-air tight attic. I will cut an appropriate size hole in the ceiling panel for the ducting.

Any suggestions for an appropriate carbon filter exhaust system? I will be researching this today... Bit any suggestions to point me in the right direction would be great. A good reliable company that manufacturers in China is preferable as I'm finding that ordering direct is cheapest and avoids high shipping costs

[oldjarhead100]

a 4x4 tent will grow 4 or 5 plants it will be extremly tight ,when I first started I purchased an argomax 4x8 tent and split it into 2 rooms I did this because the 4x4 tent was $209 and the 4x8 was 259 ,I purchased from HTGsupply.com, I just found the plants grow better with enough space

[Mr.furley]

Mix your coco at 60% to 40% perlite.

[MLDGrower]

Yah I've already determined that I need to increase the perlite ratio.

Please see plan below:
4x4 tent
Bestva 1500w dc led light
5 auto plants in 5 gallon fabric pots (4 gallons of medium per pot)

My medium is currently 2 x 70 liter cocopeat perlite 80/20 ratio.
20% perlite is 14 liters per 70 liter bag. I will buy and add 14 more liters perlite. This will give me 84 liters or 22.2 gallons medium 60/40 ratio. My math correct? This should be just about perfect for my 5 plants.

I will save the 2nd 70 liter bag for the future.

My medium is sourced locally and not from a reputable brand. I'm thinking I should wash it before buffering it. Thoughts?

In the future I will definitely be making my own mix from scratch. I could have saved some money! Kinda jumped the gun on this one.

[MLDGrower]

Seems i have run into a problem:

I have looked at just about every recommended brand for the carbon filter exhaust system. I am looking for a 4 inch 150 to 200cfm combo. The shipping cost is as much or more than the actual product. I checked several sites.

Bestva and Marshydro both manufacture in China, and provide free shipping to my country in SEA. That is one of the main reasons I went with them for the light and tent.

Anyone have a recommendation for a Chinese company?

[oldjarhead100]

amazon no shipping costs at all

[MLDGrower]

I think I have identified a suitable ventilation system:
4 inch by 12 inch carbon filter
Ducting less than 5 feet
Light is 1500w led

I need advice for the fan. My calculations are as follows:
4x4x6.6 grow room = 110 cubic feet
Add 20% for the fan = 130 cubic feet
Add 10% for light =140 cubic feet

The seller is recommending a 350cfm fan. He also has a 195cfm fan which will save me 40usd. Am I OK with the smaller fan? It seems to me that the 350 will be overkill. Anything I'm missing?

I am ordering a speed controller

[Farmall]

Check out the CloudLine t-6. It’s a bit more money but the fan s very quiet, has a controller built in and is more flexible to add another blower unit to the controller should you require it. Has several run modes to use auto parameters to run essentially hands free...

[MLDGrower]

Unfortunately all of the known brands come from retailers that have shipping costs equal to or more than the actual product. I've looked everywhere. I found a supplier on AliExpress that has a very high rating and excellent reviews. The guy specialises in bud products from China and is extremely helpful and responsive. I'm getting a full setup including a net and a couple freebies for 170usd including shipping. Anything from Amazon or other retailers is going to cost me well over 300usd with shipping. I'm definitely over budget on this product, but I believe I have a very good setup for growing. The only item I will want to upgrade is the light.... Maybe in 6 months or more

Marshydro 4x4
350cfm 4x12 carbon filter full combo with thermometer
Bestva 1500w dc series
Coco perlite 60/40
Grow technology nutrients (auzy brand)
5 gallon smart pots
Pinneaple express seeds (will try 5 plants)
Dehumidifier

I plan to germinate in rockwool. Can I plant directly into the coco?
Will rubber coated copper wire work for LST? - used for bonzai training

[oldjarhead100]

when you hang you fan use a flat rubber rope/bungee cord,to hang it with ,this makes a quite fan absolutely quite no vibration sound at all

[Gluteous]

A 350cfm fan is plenty for your 4x4x6 tent. Fan should be able to exchange the air in your space about every 3 minutes. The exhaust port will need to fit your fan or you'll need some reducers to go from 4" or 6" to 8". Can't advise on fan/charcoal source in China. Free shipping is pretty easy to find here. 5 plants in that tent is gonna be wicked tight and they're going to end up shading each other especially if you're gonna LST. Do what oldjarhead100 advices and use rubber bungee to eliminate the noise and vibration. Works like a charm.