New Grower Medicinal Help

[Cutrite]

Hello people. I've been in severe nerve pain for a couple yrs. Currently taking way too many pills that really arent doing the job. I'm wanting to try to grow the best of the medicinal strains out there, as as soon as I try I'm out of my pain clinic. lol Also thinking of starting out with hydroponics. Useing a 2x5x8 closet and the Bubble Boy 4. Funds are very limited and am looking for help on just how much LED lighting is needed to grow the 4. In reality I need quite abit of help. lmbo

 

[Wienerwoods]

I've read somewhere (many places, actually) that 50W is sufficient for sqft, and 125W and up is recommended for one plant.

Maybe a 250W HPS/CFL or better or a 180W actual draw LED? Someone who actually knows this stuff will surely come along soon. Welcome to AFN!

 

[Trapper]

Welcome! I'm sure you will be happy with how cannabis handles your pain.

Just a "snapshot" opinion....

Limited funds and freshman effort don't scream hydro/dwc to me.

Folks have done it and succeeded, certainly not saying that...

But cost effectiveness, and high probability of initial success calls for K.I.S.S. principle to my mind.

There are a lot of things to keep track of if you want to come as close to guaranteeing success as you can
but you can "fake it til you make it" more easily in soil.

in hydro/DWC you HAVE to monitor temps, pH and nutrient levels in the reservoir with instruments and
those instruments cost money. Ideally, you have to do this with soil too, but you aren't going to (generally speaking)
run into rapid swings that you need to stay on top of.

It just seems like it's easier to stay low-budget and simple...and perhaps have more blind luck in a soil grow.

I'm biased, because that's the method I have chosen and some DWC guys may be able to set you up
with the know how to get hydro done on the cheap.

As to light, sounds like with that space (not deep, but wide and tall) you'll need (IMHO) at least two 300W
units (that actually draw around 180W each)

The Bubble Boy 4 does not utilize the foot print of that tent very well and it doesn't give each of the plants
much elbow room.

Just my 2 cents.

And again, Welcome! We'll get you sorted!

 

[pop22]

I've read somewhere (many places, actually) that 50W is sufficient for sqft, and 125W and up is recommended for one plant.

Maybe a 250W HPS/CFL or better or a 180W actual draw LED? Someone who actually knows this stuff will surely come along soon. Welcome to AFN!

a 180 watt UFO style LED grow light is a bargin, more bang for the buck than just about any other light. I got mine for $74 U.S. shipped from an ebay seller. You could get buy with CFLs, but you'll need several say 5-6. They need to be a minimum of a 23 watt ( 100 watt equivalent ) to get decent light from them. When you get done buying bulbs and sockets, you've spent 1/2 or better of the cost of a grow light! Or you could build a grow light, and add to it as money allowed. Here's my DIY light using LED Red/Blue 15 watt spotlights and CFLs:

 

[1guy1plant]

I started my grow with cfls thinking I would go cheap. I ended up spending as much on bulbs, sockets and cords as an led costs. Finally, I got two of the mars-hydro.com 300 watt lights ( 150-180 actual draw) for $100 each. It also ended the tempature probable ms I was having. 8-12 cfls put off a lot of heat.

 

[1guy1plant]

That's a cool dyi light, pops.

 

[Waximus]

Hello, Cutrite Welcome to AFN! I too am a medical grower, one of many here. The previous comments are good info, for sure, and Trapper makes some very useful points. If I may ask, have you been doing research on the various grow methods, and that brought you to your thoughts on hydro? I just think a sense of your comfort level is in order, so we can help "where you're at". Also, do you have a budget in mind for your equipment.seeds? That would help give advise based on your realities, which will make things easier on you.
I did my first couple grows using an ebb&flow system from HTG. And, yes, it requires that you have a pH meter, a ppm/tds meter, and a thermometer for the res. It was a learning curve, but not unmanageable for me- in fact, it was fascinating and fun and an amazing experience! So, if you've got a bit of mad scientist in you, you might find hydro just the ticket. That said, I switched to soil and organics a year or so ago, and find THAT method much simpler and equally rewarding. A lot depends on your comfort level and expectations.
You can pick up two 300w(180-200 real watts) LEDs on eBay for around $200 US.
A good pH meter (soil type or hydro) can be had for around $50-60.
A ppm meter worth its salt (see what I did there? lol) will run $75-100, imo.
I hope that gives some useful input. Don't hesitate to ask, as there are a bunch of good folks here-myself included- who are most willing to get you started, and keep an eye on your grow once you get going
Very best to you, and I hope we can help you find the path that brings you relief from your pain!:Sharing One:

 

[Cutrite]

I thank you all very much. I'm not stuck with the hydro method it just seemed interesting. I'm going to keep reading here and learn some before spending. Really a very nice site to learn. I just need to relax some and learn first.

 

[Waximus]

I thank you all very much. I'm not stuck with the hydro method it just seemed interesting. I'm going to keep reading here and learn some before spending. Really a very nice site to learn. I just need to relax some and learn first.

I can highly recommend Ed Rosenthal's book, Marijuana Growers Handbook for a primer. It covers most things, and all of them expertly.
http://www.amazon.com/Marijuana-Growers-Handbook-Complete-Cultivation/dp/0932551467
Looking forward to hanging/growing with you, Cutrite