Obtaining Items To Grow Hydroponic Marijuana

Introduction Expect to pay about $600.00 to $1500.00 for lighting, hydroponic garden, seeds, grow books, and other mandatory items needed for a basic personal hydroponic marijuana garden.

Once you get things set up you can continue to grow hydroponic marijuana with your set up and only have to spend money on nutrients, bulbs, and other maintenance. A very wise investment of money for any user.

The mandatory items listed are necessary for any grower. As you gain experience, you can get some of the optional items with the money you save by producing your own marijuana instead of buying it.

Floor Covering: The area where the hydroponic system is placed should have some kind of floor covering that will protect it from water and nutrient spills that will happen. A thick drop cloth (the thick plastic sheets painters use to protect items from paint damage) will do a good job.

Get something that is larger than the area of the hydroponic garden. If your garden covers a 4 foot by 4 foot area, an 8 foot by 8 foot (or larger) drop cloth will be good. If it is too big, you can cut it to any size you need. A plastic drop cloth should be 4 mills or thicker but this might not be stated on the package.

You should be able to find a drop cloth in the paint section of a local hardware or department store. Be sure to get something made of thick plastic or another material that will repel water so you can mop it up. Stay away from canvas or anything that will absorb liquids. If you can't find one at a store near your home, you should be able to find something suitable online .

Fluorescent Lighting: If you are using 1 grow area for both the seedling/vegetative and flowering phases, a standard 48 inch fluorescent lighting fixture that holds 2 bulbs (rated at 30-60) watts each will provide enough light for 20+ clones or seedlings to grow for the first two weeks (or longer), after which mh or hps light can be introduced.

If you are using 2 grow areas (one for the seedling/vegetative phase and another strictly for flowering), a standard 48 inch fluorescent lighting fixture that holds 2 bulbs (rated at 30-60) watts each will provide enough light for 6-8 plants in the seedling/vegetative area to grow until they are 8-12 inches tall and ready to be moved to the flowering area.

A standard 48 inch fluorescent lighting fixture that holds 2 bulbs (rated at 30-60 watts each) should be available at a local department or hardware store for under $40. When you purchase the fixture, get cool white bulbs for it.

40 watt cool white fluorescent bulbs are cheaper than most other wattage bulbs. Try to get a fluorescent fixture that can run 40 watt bulbs and you will save money over the long term. Get a basic fixture with no light cover. If you buy one with a light cover, remove it prior to use so no light energy is wasted.

Make sure to get bulbs that will fit the fixture. There are different types of bulbs like T8 and T12 (the T8 type are more efficient). The type of ballast on the fluorescent fixture you get will determine the type of bulb you need. Only put T8 bulbs in a fixture that is designed to work with T8 bulbs. Most fixtures can only run one type, but some can run T8 or T12 bulbs.

Grow Books And Movies: If you haven't purchased any of the materials needed to setup your hydroponic operation, watch a movie or read a book to get a good understanding of everything involved before spending a lot of money.

They will show you how to plan your grow room and the steps involved in growing marijuana. This is a very cheap way to decide if growing marijuana is something you wish to try. If after reading or viewing them you are you sure you want grow, you can invest in the items you will need. A full list of marijuana growing books can be found here but here are a few ideas.

An alternative to books is the ultimate grow dvd. This movie shows step by step instructions covering the basics involved in growing a crop of marijuana indoors, with hydroponics or soil. It won't teach advanced techniques but it will show you how to set up a grow room and raise your first crop. Running time is about 100 minutes.

If you find instructions and books about growing hydroponic marijuana overly technical and hard to follow, grow great marijuana is the easiest to understand. It will explain the steps involved in growing hydroponic marijuana from start to finish (with text and images). Recommended for beginners only.

The book marijuana horticulture is over 500 pages long and has more than 1000 color images. If you were only going to get one book about growing, this book would probably be the best choice. Describes growing marijuana outdoors or indoors (with hydroponics or soil). Also provides information that you can refer back to when things go wrong. Recommended for beginners and more advanced growers.

The cannabis grow bible is also a good book that explains growing marijuana indoors or outdoors. It is not as comprehensive as marijuana horticulture (described above), but it has better information about breeding marijuana. Recommended for intermediate and more advanced growers.

Hydroponic System: A crucial decision when growing hydroponic marijuana is the type of system you decide on. Types of hydroponic systems and recommended user.

The cost of a hydroponic system can be very high. Cheaper models tend to be small while larger models tend to be expensive. Rather than buying a commercial unit, you can build a low budget water culture system yourself. They are not hard to make if you understand how they work.

Almost any building supply store should have the majority of stuff required. It may take a bit of work but by learning how to put a system together yourself but this will allow you to make a custom sized unit that will use all the energy your light source produces, for a reasonable price.

If you would rather buy a hydroponic system, expect to pay $250 or more for a hydroponic system that will accommodate 6 or more plants to maturity. See the hydroponic system part of this grow guide before buying a hydroponic system.

Rather than using a single large unit, you can use 2 separate hydroponic system to cover a certain area. For example, a 400 watt light source will produce enough light to cover a maximum grow area that is 4 feet by 4 feet. Instead of a single 4x4 system, you could use 2 separate 2x4 systems to cover the same area.

The hydroponic system you choose is a matter of personal preference. At the present time I use this type of NFT system. It covers a 4' x 4' area and works well with a single 400 watt light. Harvest size with a mainly indica strain is a minimum of 8-12 ounces every 12-16 weeks.

If you know what you want and all the required items needed to use that particular type of hydroponic garden, you can shop online here and get what you need for a good price. For someone who is not sure what they need, it might be best to find a local hydroponics store.

Lighting: You can use fluorescent light for all stages of growth, except flowering. When it is time to start flowering, you will need a high pressure sodium or metal halide light source.

Expect to pay $200.00 to $500.00 for a single 250, 400, 600, or 1000 watt lighting system designed for growing plants. See the lighting section of this guide before purchasing a lighting system for growing hydroponic marijuana.

It is suggested you consider a 400 watt hps or 400 watt mh light and a hydroponic garden that will cover a 4 foot by 4 foot area and grow 9-12 plants the first time you grow hydroponic marijuana.

When using a 400 watt light supply and a hydroponic garden that will accommodate up to 9-12 plants, each plant yields me about a half ounce (about 14 grams) to an ounce (about 28 grams) of marijuana every 3 to 4 months (if flowering is started when the plants are about 12 inches tall).

The harvested amount depends on the strain being grown. If grown in the same hydroponic system with the same 400 watt light supply, some sativa strains will yield as little as a half ounce per plant while some indica strains yield over an ounce per plant, when grown under the same conditions.

If you wish to produce a lesser amount of marijuana, a 250 watt hps or 250 watt mh grow light can be used to grow a smaller number of shorter plants. The amount you produce per plant won't be as large as it would be when using a 400 watt light supply.

But for many users who consume small amounts of marijuana (under an ounce a month), 250 watts of light and a hydroponic garden with 6 plants is all that is required to produce enough marijuana for their particular needs.

Although you can use metal halide and high pressure sodium lights that were meant to be used as flood lights (or for some other purpose), it is best to get a light designed to be used to grow plants (a grow light).

An alternative to a single large fixture is two smaller fixtures that add up to a wattage similar to the single large fixture. For example, instead of a single 400 watt fixture, use two 250 watt fixtures (one mh fixture - one hps fixture).

Instead of a single 1000 watt fixture, use two 400 watt lighting fixtures (one mh fixture - one hps fixture) and a single 250 watt hps fixture. This will allow you to spread light more evenly over a larger area.

It also enables you to use both metal halide and high pressure sodium light at the same time, and it will reduce the ceiling height needed since a smaller wattage bulb can be placed closer to the plants. The drawback is the higher cost of two or more fixtures compared to only buying one.

Light Hanger: As the plants grow the height of the light must be increased so as not to burn the tops of the plants. You can buy a pre-made light hanger or make one yourself with stuff you find at a hardware store. Pre-made light hangers may also be sold as 'vertical light movers'.

Marijuana Seeds: Getting female clones from a from another grower might be an option for some people but most of us start from seeds. Keeping seeds from marijuana that you smoke is the cheapest source of marijuana seeds but it is better when you know the origin of the seed. At the present time, it is best to order seeds from Canada if possible, especially if you are ordering from the United States or Canada.

Some marijuana strains can produce an ounce (or more) per plant at harvest time, when grown in a hydroponic garden with a 400 watt light source. A mainly indica strain is recommended for the beginner. See this information about marijuana strains if you are unsure of what seed strain is best for your needs.

Media: Most types of hydroponics utilize media for the plant roots to grow in, but some types of systems do not require growing media. Aeroponics, for instance, does not use any media. Roots are suspended in the air and a fine spray of nutrient solution is applied.

Wait until you get a hydroponic system and see what the manufacturer recommends before purchasing media. If you know what to get, you can find rockwool and other types of media online at reasonable prices.

Nutrients: You have to use nutrients designed for hydroponic use. The kind you buy for use in an outdoor garden will not work with a hydroponic garden.

See the page about nutrients and marijuana if you are not sure what to get. Most hydroponic stores have a wide selection of hydroponic nutrients, you can usually find dry and liquid types.

Organic nutrient solutions for hydroponic systems are harder to find. Make sure the organic nutrient solution (or any other nutrients) are made to be used in a hydroponic garden, if that is the intended use.

Oscillating Fan: A good way to circulate air in the grow room is an oscillating fan. The fan or fans should be aimed at the plants so that all the plants show some leaf movement when the fan blows over them. A gentle breeze is better than a strong gust of wind. Depending on the size of your grow room, one or more 12" to 16" units may be used.

Oscillating fans are used during warm weather by most people that don't have air conditioning in their home. In the summer, they can be found easily in almost any local department store. However, they may be hard to find during the winter months.

If you need a fan but can't get one locally, you can find oscillating fans online all year round. For the first time grower, a cheap model ($20-$40) designed for home use is preferred over an expensive heavy duty industrial unit.

pH Related: pH should always be kept between 5.0 and 7.0 when growing hydroponic marijuana. A pH level between 5.5 and 6.8 is better, and in most cases pH in the range of about 5.8 to 6.3 is optimal.

To measure the pH of your hydroponic nutrient solution you will need a pH meter or a pH test kit. To adjust the pH of your hydroponic nutrient solution you will need pH up (increase) and pH down (decrease) solution. See the page about pH and marijuana for more information.

--- pH meters can measure the pH of water, hydroponic nutrient solution, hydroponic media, and soil. They can be found at hydroponic stores and sometimes at fish stores (pH meters are used to measure the pH of freshwater, saltwater, and reef aquariums).

Any pH meter designed to be used to measure the pH of liquids will do a good job, if used for hydroponic purposes. Prices start at about $60 US.

An example of a good budget pH meter for hydroponic use is the Hanna pH Champs. If you are planning on getting a pH meter and an EC meter separately, consider something like the Hanna Gro'Chek.

--- pH pH test kits can be found at hydroponic stores and aquarium supply stores (they are used to measure the pH of freshwater, saltwater, and reef aquariums). Do not try to use a soil test kit to measure the pH or nutrient levels in a hydroponic system.

A pH test kit designed for measuring the pH of liquids can be purchased for $10 US or less. Some pH test kits come with pH-up and pH-down solutions included. Make sure the kit can measure between 4.0 and 8.0 for hydroponic marijuana.

--- pH-up and pH down solutions that are made for hydroponic or fishtank use should be added to the nutrient solution when necessary. Both liquid or dry solutions will work equally well.

When growing marijuana in soil the pH of the soil should be between 6.5 and 7.0. The pH can be measured with a soil test kit or a soil pH meter. A soil test kit measures the pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels of soil while a soil pH meter only measures the pH level of soil.

--- A soil test kit can be purchased for $30 US or less at most gardening stores. Kits at this price will usually allow you to test pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels of soil on 10 occasions before having to purchase another kit. There are also soil pH test kits available that just measure the pH level of soil.

--- A soil pH meter will range in price from about $20-$40 US, they can be used for years (thousands of times) before they break or have to be replaced because of a malfunction. A soil pH meter is recommended over a soil test kit unless you need to measure nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (in addition to pH).

Scissors: A small pair of sharp scissors for cutting off dying leaves and other small jobs will be needed. Also a pruner or some other cutting tool will be needed to cut down plants. In most cases the stems will be 3/4 of an inch or thicker at harvest time.

Only use these cutting tools for working on your marijuana garden and keep them clean. Scissors can be found at any department store. Garden pruners should be available in the garden section of most stores during summer months. They maybe harder to find out of season.

If you aren't sure how thick the stem will be at harvest time, you should wait till your plants are ready to harvest before buying something to cut them down. To be safe and get yourself through all stages in the life cycle, you could get a scissor set that includes shears.

Thermometer: A thermometer will be necessary to monitor temperature. A normal household thermometer that can measure between 50-90 degrees F will work. You can usually find them in the housewares section of a department store. Some hygrometers have built in thermometers so you can measure the temperature and humidity together.

Timers: You will need a timer to turn your light on and off. Some systems require a pump and another timer to circulate the nutrient solution. If you have a lighting systems that is 400 watts or less, get a heavy-duty grounded timer rated at 600 watts or higher and 10-15 amps. You can find these for $30 or less at most hardware stores in the U.S. and Canada.

A 600 watt lighting systems would require a timer rated at 800 watts or more and 12-15 amps. A 1000 watt lighting systems would require a timer rated at 1400 watts or more and 15 amps. You can find these for $50 or less at most hardware stores in the U.S. and Canada.

Outdoor timers are recommended for turning your lighting off and on in a hydroponic environment because they are more rugged (and water resistant) than indoor models. The model shown here is ideal for any light system up to 1000 watts. An indoor timer can be used but if you haven't bought a light timer yet, get an outdoor model.

Timers used strictly to turn on a pump that circulates nutrients will generally only need a light-duty timer because they don't consume much power. Make sure to get a timer rated at least 200 watts higher that the load it will run. All electrical devices sold in North America should have a label that tells the amount of power consumed.

You can use a heavy-duty timer to run a small load, but a timer designed for small loads might be cheaper. You should be able to find a timer intended to be used for small loads (like to turn room lighting on and off or for some other use) at any department store.

If you are using an ebb and flow type of hydroponic garden, you will need a timer that can be set to 15-20 minute increments to run the pump that supplies nutrients. This is because an ebb and flow system requires the roots of the plant to be supplied with nutrients every 15-20 minutes.

At the end of the 15-20 minutes the timer is supplying nutrients, the timer is then set to turn the pump off for 15-20 minutes. After being off for 15-20 minutes, the timer is then set to turn the pump back on for another 15-20 minute nutrient cycle. This cycle of 15-20 minutes on, then 15-20 minutes off, is repeated all day.

Water Containers: Tap water has to be aged for at least 3 days before being used with plants. 3-5 gallon containers do a good job. 5 gallon water bottles are very good and can be found at most supermarkets.

Do not use containers that might have been used to store anything toxic. If the tap water is really bad in your area, you may have to use distilled water or water that has been treated with reverse osmosis.

Optional Items

Air Cooled Lighting: Grow lights can produce a lot of heat. Sometimes this heat raises temperatures above a safe limit for the plants. An air cooled lighting system uses an enclosed light that forces air to provide cooling. You can buy light systems that come with an air cooled enclosure or you can buy an enclosure to put your existing light into.

The unit pictured here is an example of a system that is used to convert a standard grow light to an air cooled system. The enclosed light has an air intake supply and an air exhaust.

When the air exhaust is fed to another room or outside, most of the heat produced by the light is expelled from the grow room. See through plastic or glass is fitted to the bottom of the unit so light can pass through but heat doesn't.

Heat resistant duct (like the stuff used on clothes dryers) is usually attached to the air intake and air exhaust openings. An inline fan is then hooked up to the duct on each end. Heat can be quickly expelled through the air exhaust and replaced with cooler air from the air intake.

Make sure to get a kit to fit your light if you are converting from standard to air cooling. There are some air cooling systems that can only be used with hps bulbs, mh bulbs are wider than hps bulbs and won't fit in.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Can be obtained by buying or leasing cylinders from local welding supply houses. The DEA has asked the supply houses to provide lists of large CO2 users. If you are questioned, say you need the CO2 for a welder you are using. If you find that you are making lots of trips to the same supply house, try alternating the places you buy from.

Cloner (Clone Machine): If you are going to set up 2 grow areas (one for the first stages of growth and another area strictly for flowering), a cloner would be a good idea. A plant cloner is a unit designed to be used during the first stages of growth to start clones or seeds in.

When the plants have grown to a point where they are large enough, they are transplanted from the cloner to the hydroponic garden. After being placed in the hydroponic garden, they are allowed to grow larger (by supplying 18 to 24 hours of mh or hps light per day) or they are forced to flower by cutting the light to 12 hours on and 12 hours off per day.

In general, most plant cloners sold for a reasonable price (under $150) are too small to be used for growing marijuana from seeds or clones up till the time they are about 12 inches to 20 inches tall and ready to flower. By the time the plants grow a few inches, they are so close together that there is no room left to grow. Larger models have more growing room but they are fairly expensive ($250 or more).

Because clones and seeds only need a small amount of light, fluorescent lighting is recommended. Fluorescent lighting fixtures are cheap and can be found at almost any store with a lighting section. The bulbs don't use as much electricity as hps and mh lights so a cloner and its light supply won't cost a lot to run.

If you are going to get a cloner for growing marijuana, get a deep water cloner. Stay away from aeroponic cloners unless you are familiar with the operation of aeroponic systems.

If for any reason the nutrient pump stops working in an aeroponic system, the roots of the plant(s) can dry out in less than an hour. Once the roots of the plant dry out, the plant dies. A deep water cloner supports the roots of the plant directly in the nutrient/water solution.

EC meter: EC and TDS meters measure the amount of dissolved solids in nutrient solution. EC meters are preferred because they are more accurate than TDS meters. See this ec, tds, ppm info before buying a meter for measuring dissolved solids in your nutrient solution.

EC meter and TDS meters can be found at amazon. If you get an EC meter, make sure it can display ranges from 0 mS to 4 mS.

Hygrometer: A hygrometer is used to measure humidity. If you think humidity is a problem and would like to know how humid the grow room is, get a hygrometer. You can usually find them in the housewares section of a department store. Some hygrometers have built in thermometers, you can use them to measure both the temperature and humidity.

Light Mover: A light mover is a tool that keeps a lighting system in constant horizontal motion. This is a very efficient way of using metal halide or high pressure sodium lights.

By moving the lights, a larger area can be covered than would be with a stationary light. This means a light is able to cover more plants in a larger area than a stationary light of the same wattage. With a light mover, you can use a lesser number (or smaller wattage) of lights to cover a garden.

A moving light will also be able to pass closer to a plant without burning it, so plants get stronger light that penetrates more of the lower branches. Plants tend to grow towards light and a moving light provides more even source, plants tend to grow straight up.

There are 2 types of light mover designs. One system works by moving the light on a rail system by means of a motor. The other type rotates the light in a circular motion that is similar to the way a ceiling fan works.

The circular type is recommended for growing areas that are roughly the same dimensions (a square growing area) while the rail type is better suited to long and narrow grow rooms (a rectangular growing area). Rail types can usually be purchased in sections, this allows you to choose a custom length.

For a rail type of light mover get:
3-4 feet of rail for a 250 watt light
6 feet of rail for a 400 watt light
8 feet of rail for a 600 watt light
10-12 feet of rail for a 1000 watt light

Circular light movers can cover a grow area of about 9x9 to 12x12 feet and usually come with arms for 1-3 lights (some allow more lights to be used). Both types of light movers start in price at about $200-$350 and can be found online at here.

Light Reflection: If something that will reflect light back onto plants is needed, there are several options. Painting walls white or covering them with white plastic or aluminum foil will reflect some of the light that would have been wasted back on the plants.

Advanced growers use commercial reflectors like mylar but the first time grower should use a less costly method. A $10 roll of aluminum foil will cover the same area as a $50 roll of mylar. The aluminum foil won't reflect as much light but it does an adequate job. As you gain experience, a commercial reflector is something you might consider.

Most of the items you will need to use to reflect light can be found at a grocery or hardware store. Mylar and other commercial reflectors are harder to find.

Ozone Generator: If the smell of the growing plants is strong you can use ozone to decrease or eliminate it. If you would like to, you can build an ozone generator. If you would rather buy a commercial unit, you can compare prices at ebay and amazon.

Scales: Some people may wish to know the weight of the marijuana they produce. Digital scales are inexpensive, small, and accurate but any scale that is accurate (and can hold the material to be weighed) will work.

Some small scales include a tray that is put on the weighing platform. If you plan on getting a digital scale to measure the weight of dry herbs and plants, look for a model that has a tray (with sides) included.

A scale with a tray like this or this would be a good choice if you plan on using a scale for measuring small amounts of marijuana (or any other herb). A scale like one of these is recommended for weighing a few grams to a few ounces of dry plant material at a time. Expect to pay about $25-$35 US.

If you are using a scale to weigh more than a few ounces of material, a digital fish scale with a capacity of 10-50 pounds is recommended. It can be used for applications where you will be weighing several ounces to several pounds at a time. Expect to pay about $25-$50 US for a good digital fish scale.

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