New Guy, want to start growing Questions

[reefkeeper]

Whats the minimum height needed for growing white widow? I have what i think is a perfect place to put grow box, but not sure if its tall enough. It would be 43" from the floor to the bottom of the Metal Halide light I am going to use.

 

[Alistair]

Genetics will help determine how tall your plants will get, but how long you veg them, and whether you crop them or not, will also determine how tall they get.

Keep in mind that you might have to keep the metal halide up to 18" (400 watt lamp) away from the tops of your plants, so you should consider that when determining how tall you want your plants to be. It seems to me that with the only 43" from the floor to the light your plants will have to be short. If you subtract 18" (the distance of the light from the top of the plants) from 43", and then subtract about another 10" for the height of the pot that you're using, you have about 15". Yeah, your plants must be kept short. I don't know about White Widow, but I wouldn't let those veg for long. Wait, and someone else will join in and help out.

 

[reefkeeper]

everyone is always talking about using 400 watt bulbs, I am an avid saltwater coral reefer, and I have a 150w HQI fixture that I would like to use, its color temparature is 20K and should grow plants very well. so that using a 150 will make that distance less?? ie between the plant and light. also the light has a glass lens on it.

 

[Alistair]

Yes, I imagine that you could put the 150 watt light closer to the tops of the plants. However, that light might not put out light in the correct spectrum of color. Try to get a light that is rated at 6500 K.

Ok, I'm sorry, it isn't necessary to use a 400 watt lamp. You could also put in a 150 metal halide for vegging, and an 150 watt HPS for flowering. There are cheap HID's (MH and HPS) at Lowe's, and also I believe, at The Home Depot. Be sure to get enough lumens per square foot. Try to get between 3000-5000 lumens per square foot.

 

[smokingjoe]

reefkeeper, i think you might like to try researching the SCROG (Screen of Green) Method. Sounds like the ticket for you.

I'd ditch the aquarium fixture and go for a 400w plus grow.

Is there anyway you can get a lowbay into the roof of the closet?

Do you own the house?

 

[reefkeeper]

whats a lowbay?
and yes I own a house

 

[cadlakmike1]

You might also want to read the threads on LST in addition to SCROG. That might work really well for you. the LST method allows you to have a fairly large plant in a relatively small place.

http://www.marijuanapassion.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30420&highlight=SCROG <---SCROG

http://www.marijuanapassion.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1519 <---LST