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We made a new 400 W setup in a new closet because the old Grow Box had to be removed. We still use the same concept, but I updated it with some modern pictures.
Any comments on possible future improvements are welcome! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our Green Closet
Specifications Medium: single container, permanent peat soil (Plagron Light Mix), 40 cm high Light: 1x 400W HPS Area: 0.8 m^2 (8.6 ft^2) Dimensions: 100cm x 80cm x 250cm (LxWxH) Plants: 5-20 Inlet fan: 175m^3/h Outlet fan: 400m^3/h Smell combat: large carbon filter Watering: by hand via drainage tubes Nutrition: Biogreen organic nutrition line
Lightning A normal 400W HPS is placed in the middle of the box. The HPS is, as always, connected to a 400W HPS transformer (ballast). Transformer is connected to a simple timer to create day and night. Reflective foil covers the walls to reflect light. It is important to attach the plastic properly to make sure it doesn't touch the hot lamp. The lamp and reflector are attached to the ceiling via easy-rollers.
Temperature and Airflow Air enters the closet at the bottom of the door and is led around the top of the soil, releasing air under the leaves. This air is then heated by the light and rises to the larger fan, connected to a carbon filter, leading to the outside via the top of the door. It is not very silent what comes from the in and outlet. The closet is located in a place and climate where heating and humidity control is not necessary.
Soil Our peat soil is permanent, we only remove and refill the top 1/8 layer after every grow. We also add worms and mycorrhiza (symbiosis between fungus and roots of the plants) fungus. We use Plagron light mix: "This potting soil is composed of a sophisticated combination of peat types: different types of white peat, chunks of white peat, black peat and Sphagnum in worm castings."
Watering Watering is, on average, done once every 3-4 days, when we give 10liters (2.5gallon) water that is fed with Biogreen nutrients. Watering is made easy by pouring the water from a can into drainage tubes that run into the soil, on the bottom of the box, where the water is evenly distributed over all soil. Moment of watering is decided by our tensiometer, an accurate soil moisture sensor. It is important that the soil doesn’t dry out too much because it then loses the “power” to absorb the water from the bottom of the box. *last pic is not mine, it shows the drainage tubes watering system concept.
Nutrients We use a concentrated organic nutrition line called Biogreen. A syringe is used to add the concentrated liquid nutrients to the water. No nutrients are added in the last week of the grow to make sure no nutrients build up in the soil.
Fire Safety Nothing should be able to touch the hot HPS, transformer/ballast and electric heater. We have a large fire extinguisher and smoke detector.
We had some powdery mildew on the leaves, as you can spot on the previous pictures. Sprayed and cleaned the leaves with milk. Should not be a serious problem, only 1-2 weeks left.
Quote: Annom said: Fire Safety Nothing should be able to touch the hot HPS, transformer/ballast and electric heater. We have a large fire extinguisher and smoke detector.