Hi everyone, I'm just getting started and I need some advice on the best setup for the amount of space I have. I have grown outdoors and have had success, but have no experience at all with indoor growing. The area is 2'W X 3'L X 6'H totally enclosed. Ventilation is not an issue, I have air movement covered. Nor is light exposure. Due to financial reasons I need to go as cheap as possible. Would I be better off painting the inside surface flat white or should I go with mylar, I can get it for free. How many plants could fit in this space in say a Rubbermaid Tote, it fits almost perfect. Also I will be using cfls, any advice on how many would be required, and how to best position them would be great.

Hi Mojo,, in the Gardens Forum there is a lot about inside growing, all you would need to know. I to am doing my first grow inside after years of out side growing,,, I will be painting the inside cab flat white. But yes go to the Gardens Forum and see what you need and if not let us know. There is one section there, Growing on the cheap,,

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I've researched so much I feel overwhelmed with info. I want to keep this simple but with all the options its hard to make choices. Lighting requirements seem to be the biggest issue for me. How many lumens do I need for the surface area I have, also how many plants should I try to fit inside. Thanks.

I understand being over whelmed, I think most of us are at first... I wouldn't feel comfortable giving you answers that I have been trying to research myself these past few days,, I would hate to steer you in the wrong way..Be patient and I know someone will be along to help with a few things....Peace

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Since the mylar is free I would go with that. It's 98% reflective compared to flat white which I have read is 85%-90% reflective. What kind of lights are you going to use? Floros or HID? I think a 400 would work well if you have good ventilation. I'm only going by what I have read or been told by experienced growers. I have no direct experience when it comes to the 400 MH/HPS lights.

I painted my grow area flat white and it works very well.

-the Corsican.

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My grow journal: http://www.greenpassion.org/f24/cors...st-grow-15533/

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke.

"If at first you don't succeed, it wont hurt to smoke a little weed!"

Hi mojo. With the 6 sq. ft. you've got of floor space I'd recommend going with florescent tubes. Being on a budget , you can use the same fixtures for vegging anf flowering and all you have to do is switch out a couple bubs to a cooler range. Probably 2 -24" T5's twins will work nicly.

I just made a new cab for my CFL micro grow and used flat white paint so we will see. I'm on a budget here too unfortunatly but it is still possible to grow lol Lots of DIY info here too! Good Luck!!

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Our first grow
http://www.greenpassion.org/f22/lesb...-closet-13859/

Right on.

Flat white paint makes the lights shine like the sun. At least that's been my experience. I'm surprised mylar is supposed to do a better job. From the pictures I've seen the mylar doesn't look as bright or as efficient to me but I've never seen it up close and personal in a grow before.

-the Corsican.

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My grow journal: http://www.greenpassion.org/f24/cors...st-grow-15533/

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke.

"If at first you don't succeed, it wont hurt to smoke a little weed!"

Hmm come to think of it, last night with the new cab and lights on I was Blinded! I just thought it was a bigger space like an optical illusion or something but I think I'm gonna be happy with the white paint

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Our first grow
http://www.greenpassion.org/f22/lesb...-closet-13859/

That's how I felt after my space was painted with flat white. I'm by no means downing mylar and it may in fact be better just like the experts say . I'm only saying that it doesn't look as effective from pictures I've seen compared to flat white paint. Looks are deceiving though and maybe the mylar reacts to light differently. Maybe our flat white looks more intense but somehow lacks some properties that mylar possesses.

-the Corsican.

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My grow journal: http://www.greenpassion.org/f24/cors...st-grow-15533/

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke.

"If at first you don't succeed, it wont hurt to smoke a little weed!"

hey there. glad to see we got another garden starting :-).

for the walls: if you are going on a budget, typically I would tell you to go with flat white paint. but since you can get the mylar for free, i would suggest that. the trick about mylar is that yes, it is very reflective.....but it can also make hot spots that are really bad. mylar has to be kept FLAT on the wall. no loose pinning up with thumbtacks (thats what i did...), because those creases and bends in the mylar make hot spots. however you put it up (tacks/glue/caulk/whatever), just make sure it is flat on the wall.

for that space, assuming you can adequately ventilate, you can get t5 multi-bulb systems (High Tech Garden Supply), or HighPressureSodium/Metal Halide system (s): (High Tech Garden Supply). those are some of the cheaper HPS/MH systems, personally i would choose a 400w for your system. you could probably pull off a 600w if you hadthe right cooling (like a CoolTube that exhausts to the outside). I gave links to HTG Supply because I personally like them, but I've also used HidHut and they are just as good.

myself i have grown in a similar space as yours (mine was 2.5'Wx4Lx5.5H), and i used a 250w MH/HPS with a CoolTube and had great success. kinda wished i had the 400w though since it has much better light penetration and yield output.

good luck hope this helps

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Thanks to everyone for all the advice so far. Just got my walls put up tonight, hope to finish interior after work. Since you all are so helpful, I'll try to press my luck and get some more help. If my cipherin is correct, I have 39 cu ft of space. After I built the starter area I have approx 33 cu ft left. The rubbermaid dwc system is what I'd like to use but I'm not sure how many plants would be comfy in here. Any help with this issue would be greatly appreciated.