Hey guys

[headrush951]

This is my first time posting on this forum, and it seems pretty legit...

I guess I will get right to the questions:

I am looking at a 400W MH/HPS balast lighting system with 4-way refelector. Realistically, how many plants can I expect to successfully grow with this setup?

I know it depends on a bunch of factors. I do have an entire room to work with, but I kinda wanted to keep my 1st time growing experience on the simple side of things.

With all of that in mind, is 400W enough??? If not, what do I need to step it up to in order to cultivate about five mature plants?

Sorry for the simple nature of my posting. I'm a fast learner though and look forward to contributing to this forum a lot.

--M

 

[stone hands]

well first off let me say welcome. figure on needing 5000 or so lumens per sqft. make your grow area as big as you can with that in mind. also decide how big you wanna let your babies grow.

 

[headrush951]

Thanks for your insight regarding lumens per sq. footage. This being my first time growing, I want to keep the plants on the small side--till I get used to the whole process.

Have you ever heard of LowRyder2? It seems to be right up my alley in that it stays small and is pretty easy to grow. The seeds are a little on the expensive side, but I figure 10-seeds at $60 isn't so bad, as long as I end up with a few good females in the end.

 

[Newbud]

I'd go for a 600 seen as there usually not much difference in price and lots of people who buy 400's end up upgrading to a 600.
Your plants will love you for it and they easier to control heat wise than a 1000 although they all easily managed with the correct cooling.
Depending on the size of the room there no way a 400 would cover it all, my canopy is around 4ftx4.5ft using 2 600's and i want more.
Remember more light = more yeild.
How big is the grow area to be? and when you say keeping plants on small side what kind of height would you like to end up with cos when you switch lights they really set off, although granted some plants do stay shorter than others.
The height of your plants will also effect what light or lights to use as the taller they get the more powerfull you would need the light in order to penetrate the plant cannopy and stimulate the lower parts of your plants.
If you really want to keep them nice and short might i suggest looking into LST or pinching or topping your plants.

Anyhow welcome to the site, check the resources section and the rules and any questions just ask theres plenty of people here that will help.

How you planning on growing by the way, hydro, soil?

 

[Newbud]

Suppose if you only end up with 4 or 5 females you'll get away with one 600 with the lowriders as from what i read they stay pretty short but thats me guessing cos not had any experience with em myself.
Plenty on here have though and i'm sure someone will be along to help.

 

[headrush951]

Thanks for your rapid reply.

I think I will indeed go with a 600W, as you're right, the price difference is pretty close.

I am going to use soil as my medium; perhaps I will go hydro in the future, after I become more familair with the whole growing process.

And as far as what kind of size I have to work with, I am using a 120 sq. ft. room. I don't want to use the entire space, as some of it is dedicated to my workshop, but I definitely don't have to cramp it all in a closet or anything. It also has two A/C ducts, and I have very few security concerns, as I am the landlord

I figured that hey, why not have a little experiment of my own? The only thing that sucks is that i'll have to wait 4-6 weeks for the seeds to arrive in the mail. (I live in te U.S. and it looks like the only places I can purchase seeds from are in Europe).

--M

 

[Newbud]

Carnt give you any advice on seeds i'm a cloner and from uk anyway.
As for room, fill the whole thing man think of the green lol, only joking,,,,
yeah as said above really you wannabout 5000L persqft so although you say you dont have to cramp it ideally it wants to be as small as your grow or measurements will allow.
To put it basically if your walls are quite tight to your grow and covered in reflective sheeting you will be using the available light more effectively.
In my mind i figure 1 600 should do 4 smaller plants as long as the room there in not too big, but once they get to decent size a 600 would do 2.
Thats just my thoughts cos to be honest i dont use the calculations of lumens persqft just guess as above.
Put it this way i got 2 600's over 6 4ft plants and i feel i need another.
Should be 7 plants in room but carn't fit other in no more.


To sum up briefly there no point havin a 600 in too larger room cos you waste light rather than it being bounced back at your plants

Oh yeah and as for doin soil cos easier than hydro i never done soil but hydros easy, whatever you start with becomes easy to ya, i no clue on soil i'd be lost lol.
When what i got in coco grown i switchin to DWC ( deep water culture ).
Look it up and think about it.
I started one i just threw together not really knowing what i was doin, only did it for laugh really and its beating my others hands down, its the future seriously, easy as hell to use and maintain and results look impressive so far

From what i just worked out if you had a 2ftx2ft and 4.5 ft height to the bulb that would need 90000 lumens which is about a 600w hps (95000).
Thats factoring in a 2ft plant a safe distance from the bulb and the depth of the pot.
The room could be bit larger though if suplimented by side lighting from say tube lights

 

[headrush951]

Sorry, I aven't has an opportunity to sign on in the past couple days. I really appreciate your input!

I am planning out a section of the room that I will dedicate to growing space, and I am starting to plan how I wil construct the growing area--with the Mylar reflective material and all.

I plan on starting in about 6-weeks. I just know i'll become totally obsessed with them!!!

 

[Newbud]

I've just got couple of uprights from floor to ceiling for something to atatch mylar to then my mylar is my walls, no fancy wood box or nothin, you dont need to go too far with it unless your making it stealthy.
Just make sure its 100% light proof cos once your plants on flower cycle (12/12) any light source in the dark period can make them hermi (turn to hermaphrodites).
All the best