How big is the risk?

[SmokinMom]

So I am trying to get it all together for my 1st ever attempt at growing.

But in the back of my mind I hear a voice saying, "What the heck are you doing? You have a family to protect!!!".

Now I know if I don't tell a soul then I should be okay, right?

Can 3 plants in the attic make much of a smell to give me away???

If I get caught I could lose my husband, my kids, my house and car....everything!

Am I being overly paranoid or just cautious?

Edited to add:
I don't live in a very friendly MJ state. But would the authorities really crack down on someone growing just a plant or two for personal use? It's not like I am a dealer or something....

 

[pussum]

Well there is always a risk involved in anything you do. Especially this. Is the likely hood that you will be caught high? No, but it is still present.

The plants will start to smell, but it is in your attic which is way above ground level. Unless the wind blows vertically I don't think anyone will smell it outside the house. Inside you maybe be able to as the house is all vented into one venting system, but again it may just go up and away.

So long as you keep it to yourself you should be ok. Also be weary of your electricity bill when it comes in. If there is a huge spike I would suggest that you practice some sort of energy conservation in the house to adjust for the lights being on all the time. A lot of people get busted because the electric companies inform the police of large spikes in usage suddenly.

 

[SmokinMom]

I am using those lights that are supposedly 'energy-saving". Will that help?

 

[Runbyhemp]

A lot of people get busted because the electric companies inform the police of large spikes in usage suddenly.

Don't freak the poor girl out pussum. Don't worry about the electricity SmokinMom. They only check it out if there is a massive increase IMHO.

I'm sure some of the more experienced growers, who consume a lot more power than us will agree.

As long as you keep it to yourself, providing you get the go ahead from hubby, you'll be fine. IMHO there's no way of keeping it hidden from him.

Attic sounds like a great idea. That way, you won't have anyone accidently stumbling across it. Peace

 

[SmokinMom]

As long as you keep it to yourself, providing you get the go ahead from hubby, you'll be fine. IMHO there's no way of keeping it hidden from him.

Yes, that's the biggest in my opinion. I am going to try and talk to him about it tonight. And if he says no way Jose, the I will respectly scrap the whole thing. After all, he does live here too. And I am the only smoker at this house and I am outnumbered 4 to 1.

I may be able to convince him that I just want to try my luck at growing....botany in a sense. And growing my own would not be profitting to the dealers and drug cartells. Plus if you grow your own, you know there's no junk in it....

I am going to try!!!

In a perfect scenerio, he'll offer to help me up in the attic to make sure it's all safe. But I won't hold my breath.

 

[pussum]

I am actually on my way home for lunch right now to see how much my bill has increased. I got the equations from my power company website.

My last bill was just under 100$ at 9cents a killowatt hour. So I will see how much it jumps and let you know what you will be looking at. Of course, I am running 12 bulbs, not just 3 so there will be a bit of a difference between how much yours jumps and how much mine is going to jump. Really, you should be fine. I wouldn't worry about it. I am not trying to scare you, I am just trying to not disillusion you behind a veil of false safety.

 

[55DAYZNCOUNTIN]

I run 1400 watts and its nothing! So don't think twice about a cfl grow your fine! I might explain to the hubby the medicinal qualities of cannabis and the saftey provided by not purchasing but growing! Are you gonna be able to control temps. in your attic?
Be safe and let your hubby know first if he says no, well at least ya told him :aok: and grow on! 55

 

[SmokinMom]

pussum- I appreciate everyone's input here. I have to be completely realistic and consider everything. I'll be interested on hearing your elec. bill.

No, can't control the temp up there. But I can put a box fan up there I guess.

 

[pussum]

I guess I would be running about 324 watts. 27 watts x 12 bulbs. I am not worried in the least. I am just stingy with my money is all.

If you have three 27 watt bulbs smoking you are looking at about 81 watts total @ 18 hours a day.

It takes 1000 watts to make a kilowatt hour (I think)

 

[Viracocha711]

I guess I would be running about 324 watts. 27 watts x 12 bulbs. I am not worried in the least. I am just stingy with my money is all.

If you have three 27 watt bulbs smoking you are looking at about 81 watts total @ 18 hours a day.

It takes 1000 watts to make a kilowatt hour (I think)

kilo-1000

 

[pussum]

I just went home and checked my meter. Given the information I on my last bill in relation to what my meter was at compared to what my meter is at now my bill, if I were to be read today would be somewhere around 85 dollars. Given that my meter isn't read until around the fifth of each month I have about another 5-7 days before it is read again. I estimate that my bill will go up to somewhere around 110 - 115 dollars compared to the 95 from before I started my operation so my summation is, that you should have nothing to worry about from the electric company smokinmom.

I know this really wasn't a thread about the electric company finding you or rating you out, but since we sparked the conversation about it I got stuck on trying to figure out how much it was going to cost you. I came up with about a dollar and some change per killowatt hour. A killowat hour is, like I said, how long it takes for something to consume 1000 watts so for each one of your bulbs to consume a killowatt hour it would take over thirty hours of non-stop use age.

So if my math was correct, it would cost you an additional $3.93 per month to run your three bulbs at 18 hours a day for thirty days. I figure this info might help your husband say yes as the cost of running the extra bulbs is almost negligible per month. Tack on the cost of running your fan constantly and at most it is gonna run you maybe $5 a month for EVERYTHING.

Here is how I figured everything out

http://www.marijuanapassion.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11237

My head almost exploded with all the math build up.

Hope this helps and I hope your husband lets you do your thing because there is pretty much no way you can get busted unless you tell someone or the smell gets so bad the whole neighborhood can smell it, but that isn't going to happen with only 3 plants.

Good LUCK!

 

[Mr.Wakenbake]

look it's a risk... just remember loose lips sink ships.


There is no reason to tell anyone you grow .
I would suggest taking up gardening other things too to redirect attention away from your true hobby.

I have a family too .. alot of us do. Loose lips sink ships.....

Smell can sink ships, and light leaks can to. I suggest building a small grow area that is under padlock and key. Don't grow more than 5 plants, and use a 250 HPS.. I run a 250HPS and it doesn't cost dookey to run.

you can get a nice yeild with a 250 , minimal temp probs if any at all, and easy to cool. I would suggest NOT growing in the attic, unless it's a/c'd and heated too.. Otherwise, put a lock on a closet somewhere or build a box in your room. There are a plethora of options .

You can yeild 4-8 ounces of bud on average dependant on training methods with a 250.I love mine and it cost me a whoppin 80 $ . I bought a kit and put it together myself.

just MO

 

[Rehab is for Quitters]

From one smokin mom to another, all I can say is that I am sure you can convince your husband IF you apply yourself . But imo you will need his okay to move forward. I was able to convince my hubby that growing for personal consumption is a safer route than buying (he smokes too btw). Just tell him the truth that it makes you a better mom. I know that when I'm good and high the kids are so much fun...no stress at all, plus their toys are fascinating. My husband and I BOTH agree on this!

Anyway, regarding the smell....I am growing mine in a walk in closet and without much ventillation. What I use to control the smell is Bounce (you know the dryer sheets). I put one inside my fan and then toss them all over the closet and it smells April fresh in there...not at all like weed.

Regarding the electric bill, mine has not changed noticably. When we installed a hottub or when we run the AC the electric bill goes thru the roof, but my 4 4ft fluros don't seem to make a dent.

Besides, what cop would think a soccer mom with kids and a dog is growing dope in her attic? Its a great cover.

If you keep everything under wraps, you will be fine. Now quit being paranoid and go germinate those seeds...:farm:

 

[SmokinMom]

Thanks everyone.

Hubby and I had the talk tonight. At 1st he was pretty upset. But he eventually came around and said I could persue a grow of only 1 plant, and if it ended up not being female, well tough tiddly winks. I worked him a little more and explained about the 2 strains. Now he says I can grow one of each. This is definately progress! Oh, and I promised nookie atleast every other day.

So I cleaned out under my bathroom sink and hung the lights, and picked my 2 best looking seedlings and placed them in there. Looks pretty risky. Maybe I should paint the extension cord black to match the cords of my blow dryer and curling iron. Some light also escapes thru the cracks. Hmmm. I think this is just temporary. Looks like something out of the Poltergiest movie.

My dh agrees about the attic. But now I wonder if perhaps I could just use the garage. It's full of junk and pretty cluttered and I don't think the kids or anyone else would notice. Can you grow weed in a big rubbermaid container???

So that's about it. Still undecided on location. My worry about the attic would be insects and possibility of a fire. After all, I did the wiring myself.

And I think once these are old enough I will move them outside, but then maybe not. Also, I may fail and never even get that far.

Wish me luck. And if you have any tips, send them my way.

 

[Hick]

Oh, and I promised nookie atleast every other day.

...now that is out'n out distortion. No other way to look at it Mom...
"GOOD" on you...

 

[Rehab is for Quitters]

Thanks everyone.

Now he says I can grow one of each.

Congrats

This is definately progress! Oh, and I promised nookie atleast every other day.

You gotta do what you gotta do...

Good luck

 

[Rehab is for Quitters]

...now that is out'n out distortion. No other way to look at it Mom...
"GOOD" on you...

Hick,

It's called 'making him an offer he can't refuse' . A true win/win. It's one of the major bonuses of being female. You guys are so easy to talk into anything as long as we provide the 'right' incentive .

Nice work, Smokin Mom