Got Hydro ?

Start by choose a grow space that will accommodate your ideal indoor garden, Closet, Garage, Attic, Basement Etc. Keeping in mind the dimensions of the grow space will determine the amount of plants and the amount of growth each plant can achieve

Clean the area of dust, bugs and any non-horticultural items, boxes, cloths, kids toys etc. Items like these can cause problems like insects to infiltrate your grow space also mold and germs can also come from just about any unnecessary horticultural items.  Bleach all surfaces if you feel necessary

Once clean its best to line your walls with a reflective or a bright white-based material to help even out light distribution. This helps in avoiding any HOTSPOTS from causing any burning on foliage and also encourages the middle and lower portion of the plant to help aid in a more full development.

Hanging your HID or fluorescent fixtures is easy depending on the surface you are mounting to drywall being the most common surface. Drill your ½ holes centered in the room about 15 to 20 inches apart measure first. Dry wall Toggle Bolts are the ideal way of fastening just about anything onto the ceiling, Fans , Ballast’s And Carbon Filters are also suspended from the top portion/ceiling of your grow space in some cases

Mounting your ballast is next, keep in mind that running all electrical components inside your room higher then waist level can save you the possible risk of fire or electrical shock from water exposure dry foliage exposure clumsiness etc.  Once this is done your can set your 15 amp timer to the preferred grow cycle.

DO NOT USE 12 amp rated timers with HID grow lights DO NOT PLUG INTO WALL OUTLET UNTIL BULB IS WIPED DOWN CLEAN WITH A OIL FREE CLOTH.

Installing Ventilation for air cooling your fixture and carbon scrubbers for odor control/air purification.

Start by finding out where you can bring fresh cool air into the room from Window, adjacent room or Central Air ducting. Modifying your walls to allow air to pass through them isn’t as hard as it sounds, with the right tools and patience u can have fresh air anywhere.

Technique for using a dry wall saw without the mess is what I call the pumpkin top. Just make believe your cutting the top of a pumpkin and u need to keep the stem and top intact so that repair when the time comes is a breeze.

Its best to draw your fresh air from the lower portion of your room and escort your hot/scrubbed air out the top of the room into an attic for instance. Always move the air through your hoods to reduce the heat put off by the bulbs. Distance your lights 18 to 24 inches away from the tops of your plants. Maintain low temps around 65-78 w/ humidity from 50% to 55%

Make sure to seal up any light leaks that could draw animals, insects or nosey neighbors.

Now that your room is completed and fully functional you can begin to grow or now bring in your prize plants to enjoy their New World.

- Hydro Joe

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