Hi I am new to growing indoors, led's , and want to get started. I recently purchased Taotronics led covers area 2'x3' and cost me $200. Then I saw the Solar Storm from Ca.Light Works on a youtube video. They have been building led's for 8 years and are BBB and built in US. Clasim to have excellent customer service. I am considering one of their 400W units for $999....yes I am willing to pay this as I want/need to grow my own food. I live in Pacific NW and don't get son from Oct through April. I am desparate.
Any suggestions on getting started. Yesterday I found on a website about creating my own soil by mixing bunch of homegrown things together like: straw, sugar, worm castings, fertile soil, manure water, leaves, rotting wood, etc. That is brewing and it was fun doing. Better than being the stuff. I leave in rural area so can get these things for cheap or free.
Am going to get good organic potting soil to grow starters. Any help greatly appreciated.
New to grow lights and wanting to start
by topherdig » Sat Dec 28, 2013 12:12 pm
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Re: New to grow lights and wanting to start
by SisterMaryElephant » Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:45 pm
Welcome to the forums!
CLW makes excellent products, much better than those cheap chinese knock-off aquarium lights that you're using now. If you sign up for the CLW growers feedback program you can get a big discount on the SS400w or, maybe, a bigger light (ss800w) for about that price.
To be honest, you can probably buy food cheaper than growing it indoors, based on yield, time, electricity, nutrients, etc. If you just WANT to grow your own and you're willing to pay more to do it, that's different.
It'll take a long time to compost all of that into soil. You're probably better off buying bagged soil or digging up soil from outside, sterilizing it, then amending it to suit your needs. Different plants will need a different pH and food requirements, for example.
SME
CLW makes excellent products, much better than those cheap chinese knock-off aquarium lights that you're using now. If you sign up for the CLW growers feedback program you can get a big discount on the SS400w or, maybe, a bigger light (ss800w) for about that price.
To be honest, you can probably buy food cheaper than growing it indoors, based on yield, time, electricity, nutrients, etc. If you just WANT to grow your own and you're willing to pay more to do it, that's different.
It'll take a long time to compost all of that into soil. You're probably better off buying bagged soil or digging up soil from outside, sterilizing it, then amending it to suit your needs. Different plants will need a different pH and food requirements, for example.
SME
Disclaimer:
I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
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Re: New to grow lights and wanting to start
by topherdig » Sat Dec 28, 2013 2:20 pm
SME, thx for your reply. I want/ need to grow my own food and to do it as consciously as possible. Have you heard of biodynamic farming, ala Rudolf Steiner? This is food that has life to it. That is part of the Earth, and to create my own soil is some work but it is really fun to make this myself.There is something so fantastic about growing own food and herbs and not getting them off of a store shelf.
U think you are getting me mixed up with someone else, "CLW makes excellent products, much better than those cheap chinese knock-off aquarium lights that you're using now." I did not say anything about aquarium lights made in China.
I just got home from local nursery and found answers to my questions about starts, starter soil, and temp...good trip to local business.
U think you are getting me mixed up with someone else, "CLW makes excellent products, much better than those cheap chinese knock-off aquarium lights that you're using now." I did not say anything about aquarium lights made in China.
I just got home from local nursery and found answers to my questions about starts, starter soil, and temp...good trip to local business.
- topherdig
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:49 am
Re: New to grow lights and wanting to start
by topherdig » Sat Dec 28, 2013 2:23 pm
SME, oh I see the Taotronics is a Chinese company...my bad, Christopher...maybe I will return them.
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Re: New to grow lights and wanting to start
by SisterMaryElephant » Sat Dec 28, 2013 2:30 pm
I have head of biodynamic farming and there's nothing wrong with growing your own food. I was only commenting on the price/ROI. SOME people "need" to grow their own food due to financial reasons and indoor growing would make their situation worse. If you just WANT to, that's different.
Yeah, I looked them up, they're aquarium lights and made in china by a company that copies theirs from dozens of other chinese lights.
What do you plan on growing? LED grow lights are best suited for short crops like lettuce, etc...
Yeah, I looked them up, they're aquarium lights and made in china by a company that copies theirs from dozens of other chinese lights.
What do you plan on growing? LED grow lights are best suited for short crops like lettuce, etc...
Disclaimer:
I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
- SisterMaryElephant
- Posts: 2633
- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:05 pm
Re: New to grow lights and wanting to start
by topherdig » Sat Dec 28, 2013 4:30 pm
ME when I say I "need to" I mean that I am so compelled to eat the best, nourishing, and potent , whole foods that I can. There is nothing so satisfying as going through the process of planting, growing, and harvesting ones veggies and herbs, And besides it won't be too long when everyone will need a garden to feed themselves and their neighbors. Food will be too expensive to ship across country...not too long mow.
- topherdig
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- Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:49 am
spacing of veggies under led light
by topherdig » Tue Dec 31, 2013 9:37 pm
I am getting ready to transplant my first seedlings under the led light. The seedlings came up in 2 days as I kept temp of soil up to 75F...Does anyone have info on how to space these seedlings? Should I just do same as planting outdoors?
- topherdig
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- Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:49 am
Re: New to grow lights and wanting to start
by SisterMaryElephant » Tue Dec 31, 2013 10:12 pm
Are we supposed to guess what kind? 
I would think that you *MIGHT* be able to increase the density but, if you're unsure, try planting at suggested spacing and see. If the first crop has a lot of unused space, increase the density next time. Remember, those grow lights don't cover a lot of area so density can be important.
I would think that you *MIGHT* be able to increase the density but, if you're unsure, try planting at suggested spacing and see. If the first crop has a lot of unused space, increase the density next time. Remember, those grow lights don't cover a lot of area so density can be important.
Disclaimer:
I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
- SisterMaryElephant
- Posts: 2633
- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:05 pm
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