My First Stealth - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

BCbuddist · #1 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 07:34 PM

Well 3 of 6 bagseeds seem to have popped ok.

I've put them (and the non-poppers) in some soil in a makeshift seedling pot i made out of a slurpee cup after 36 hours of germination in some wet paper towel inside a baggie in my underwear drawer.

I've just put it by the window for now so it can get a little light while i figure out a stealthy way to put 24hrs of CFL light on it.

Before I sign off for awhile here, I'm going to state that this grow needs to be hidden from my (non live in) girlfriend at least until she accepts my medicinal habit. Any ideas for a stealthy closet exterior? I'm looking into slamming my plants with higher quality (HID) lighting when they're ready to flower, but i have a very short area (3 feet tall) to grow in, unless i can come up with a good way to hide it in a taller area. I have closets that are off limits to her, but they do not have regular doors, they have those stupid folding slidy doors. So any ideas for a good exterior for my stealth grow, I'd be stoked!

sabasi · #2 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 07:40 PM

Hi and Welcome to GP! I am in a similar situation and have found MANY resources here for keeping things stealthy and healthy! My setup is in my sig and I just finished a new dresser cab. You have a lot of reading to do! I did the same thing you did and before I knew it, I was scrambling around trying to figure out what to do with my "experiment" Good luck!

I8ntLucky_UR · #3 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 08:25 PM

BC check out some of the other closet and cabinet growers we have on here for ideas. There are many examples to choose from and you will find one that will suit your specific needs. Good luck and post some pics of the little ones when they pop.

Deb-HAS-grn · #4 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 08:34 PM

Yes you will find a lot of different ways to do your grow here,,, sorry you have to hide it, Can't imagine doing that,, Wish you luck and will be looking forward to your updates

BCbuddist · #5 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 10:55 PM

UPDATE:

I measured my intended spot when I got home from work, 36"x36"x37", with maybe 6 more inches if I wanted to work around a 2x6 in the ceiling(which I don't because I'm renting and don't want to risk damaging my landlord's place.

The baby's are just sitting by the window right now, and I've been backing them away from the glass to keep them warm as it cools down outside. They don't have anywhere to go right now, and my CFL bulb is in my area which is almost prepped for my box's construction.

*****

So here's the plan in my head so far (I'm baked right now, so it may change):

6 35 watt soft white CFLs horizontally exposed to the plants on either side.
the box can be made of wood and or thick cardboard with white spraypaint on the side stapled to 2 a wooden frame i made with 1x4's. I'm currently trying to work out how much velcro I need to eliminate light leaks and give me access to the box from 2 sides.

Vegging will likely be done with a horizontal trellis method to allow for an HID light in the limited space and to get the 'spread out' effect that scrogging aims for to induce max production from the one or two that might make it. Not sure here!!! This is just an idea I got from reading about scrogging and raising yeild with CFLs. Anyone here ever lucky enough to do a computer case grow?

When it comes time to 12/12 to start the flowering stage, (assuming my babies survive my noobness) I plan to simply add a low end 400 or 250W HPS or MH at the top in the middle of my space, and continue exposure with all 7 lights through budding.

As far as smell and venting goes, I haven't found a great guide to building a unit yet, but since this has to be done on a really tight budget, I was thinking about doing my very best red green impression and try to build something with a couple computer fans (80mm) and route the exhaust through kitty litter (the crystaline scentless variety) before routing the air back into our unit's heating ducts. I've been toying with the idea of also incorporating an HVAC filter into this for the outer shell of the refillable part that would be full of the kitty litter. How long does the scent reduction properties of kitty litter and the filters last separately?

I know some people who have grown in the past and still toke, just not well enough to let them in on my little secret nursery yet. I'm not trying to be a know it all, but I studied this for a couple months, and I'm not sure of everything that I think I understand about growing plants (of any variety) at this point. If you have advice for me, I'd love to hear it.
If I'm doing something horribly wrong, then by all means please let me know.

BCbuddist · #6 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 03:01 PM

Going to assemble the frame for the box today. When I left for work today, the seedling still hadn't surfaced.

BCbuddist · #7 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 09:40 PM

ugh. need a nap. I'll do the frame later.

BCbuddist · #8 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 12:30 PM

I put the seed pot into a temporary use cardboard sprouting box that I made with a single 23w CFL before bed last night to give the baby girls a chance to at a longer direct light phase than they would have gotten from sitting by the window all day. As soon as I got up this morning I checked the pot for signs of sprouts and BAM i saw one starting to rise from the dirt! I'm super stoked, it's like that sprout somehow makes it real. Today after work, I'm going to have to find somewhere sneaky to hide the sprouting box, which shouldn't be too hard since it's just a cardboard box with a lighbulb.

Anyway, more updates to come later.

Deb-HAS-grn · #9 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 05:11 PM

Good going BC,, glad some are sprouting for you,, Have you started your grow box yet,, yes keep us posted

BCbuddist · #10 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 08:05 PM

I've built the frame for the box, but I'm having second thoughts about the location. It requires me to turn a plug-in 2 way and to have it audible from outside my room. I'm rethinking my original strategy, I think I'd prefer to keep the thing in my room for stealth's sake, but it's gotta be super stealth to hide it from my super conservative and brainwashed girlfriend.

Deb-HAS-grn · #11 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 09:57 PM

I am suppose to start my cab this weekend,, I'm going to be sharing my bedroom with them,, I can't imagine any better room mate lol Good luck to you

BCbuddist · #12 (**permalink**) 10-02-2009, 01:59 PM

I think I saw a second and third sprout today! YAY!!! also, my gf didn't notice the cardboard box despite the small light leak :D haha sweet!

I8ntLucky_UR · #13 (**permalink**) 10-02-2009, 10:08 PM

Congrats BC nice to hear. Hopefully light leaks aside the GF will remain in the dark. If not....Buy jewelry.money.gif

BCbuddist · #14 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 03:14 AM

Sorry in advance for the scatterbrainedness, I'm really ripped right now as this new kush that I just smoked is the bomb!

Well, by the time i got home on Friday, there were 6 sprouts up!!! I've transplanted the now 3 or 4 cm tall sprouts into individual cups and named them Alice, Brittney, Chastidy, Desire, Erica and Faye. The alphabetic sequence was no accident ;) I will be using these names to describe them from here on in.

I've also moved them so that the tops of the grow box two are within 1 inch of the 23W bulb. my thermometer sensor is resting closer to the bulb than the plants by about a cm and reads between 27 and 30 degrees, so i could probably almost have the babies touching the bulb without an issue.

My source for the flowering bulb fell through, so these babies may have to be budded with some self ballasted "growing" cfl bulbs i spotted at superstore. I also spotted the 150W replacements, but I'm not sure of the spectrum warmth on them at this point though, so I'm not buying them until i get a chance to look up the model numbers.

As far as how the girls took transplanting into individual cups, Brittney and Chastidy are both standing up straight, while most of the other girls are leaning on the sides of their cups. they re my best bet from a couple strong mums at this point. All 6 of the girls are showing 4 leaf points now too, so I think they're doing ok.

I'm gonna smoke my last bubblehash and kush joint now and watch some smallville while I open the windows let some nice fresh air circulate around the girls. does anyone have a good reason for 18/6 over 24/0 other than power consumption costs?

I8ntLucky_UR · #15 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 02:51 PM

Sounds good I like the names very catchy. As far as 18/6 or 24/0 there are many individuals that will go either way. I only veg under floro's so I have them 24/0 since I started growing and they are happy and healthy. If they were under HID's in veg that might make a bit of a difference in cost to me so that might be a consideration.

On the other side many growers believe plants need a rest from light and it inhibits better root growth and there is a savings from electricity as a bonus.

BCbuddist · #16 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 08:07 PM

OK, so here's what's going on in the cab right now. I've got 6 seedlings under one 23w CFL. They are all stretching a litle though, so I'm going to be adding several move bulbs to the equation later this week.

Chastidy is in the lead for the race to be a mother, she's got a short, solid and (the only) vertical stem and the little round leaves are starting to yellow as another set of pointy leaves grows in. Her stalk is starting to discolor a little with what seems like a purple tinge. (is that normal?)

Alice and Faye are looking like they want to teach a yoga class as they've both stretched WAY over to the rim of Chastidy's cup.I think that if they keep growing in this stretchy manner, I may be killing them soon, as I'm only really going to have room to flower 3 at a time.

I8ntLucky_UR · #17 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 08:17 PM

Sounds good how about some pics? We want pics.

BCbuddist · #18 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 11:25 AM

Sorry guys but due to my cover your ass policy, I'm going to have to say it's over. I've been at home sick with a nasty flu for several days, i missed work Monday and Tuesday. my boss logged onto my computer to print off last week's time sheet and I was logged into greenpassion and likely had the grower's bible up on pdf... So long story short, my uptight boss is sending me home for the rest of the week, and I'm very likely fired. I'm scared silly that he might narc on me, so as soon as my roomie leaves for work today, I'm walking the box out to the dumpster.

PFC Stone · #19 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 11:36 AM

I am sorry to hear the news!

I wish u well in all your endeavors! Stay safe!

Aquarius26 · #20 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:49 PM

ahh! that's rough man.

never ever at work!! shame!!

okay, now that I got the lecture out of the way, give it a little time, and try again! maybe you have a buddy that can take the babies instead of tossing them ? seems a shame to off them when you put so much effort into giving them life