# Beginner on a budget **URL:** \ **Category:** Grow Cycle\ **Tags:** indoor-grow\ **Created:** [May 3, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/beginner-on-a-budget/30707 "2019-05-03T01:30:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lisa215](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lisa215](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Lisa215)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/beginner-on-a-budget/30707/1 "2019-05-03T01:30:41Z")
Hi all I’m so excited to be here and this being my first post…I’m an absolute beginner at all of this and think I have overloaded my brain with information 🤯🤯 lol. All I need is some solid advice from people’ who know. I have a 120_69_150cm tent . My budget is tight. I’m a single working mum but don’t want to hurt my grow by being to cheap. I want to grow 3 white widow auto. What watt light do I use, using his dual with reflector and what light schedule should I use. I’m using a really good soil do I need to add bites?. Really would help me out if I could get some answers. ---
**Author:** ![Bubblehead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bubblehead/32/264361_2.png) [@Bubblehead](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bubblehead)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/beginner-on-a-budget/30707/2 "2019-05-03T01:49:18Z")
Welcome @Lisa215. You’ve come to the correct place. I’m from the states and seal with the metric system on a daily basis but your tent measurements have me a bit confused. What size tent do you have? It looks like you’re missing a number somewhere. My recommendation is spend your money on a good light. There are lots of little things that can pick away at your budget so be careful. @Amjk is from the UK and she may be able to help with sourcing items for your grow. Fill out this support ticket and it will help us help you. We al, want you to succeed. Answer these simple questions the best you can. If you do not know, or do not use something; Just say so; Or post NA (non applicable) - What strain, Seed bank, or bag seed - Method: Soil w/salt, Organic soil, Hydroponics, Aquaponics, KNF - Vessels: Pots, Grow beds, Buckets, Troths - PH of Water, Solution, runoff (if Applicable) - PPM/TDS or EC of nutrient solution if applicable - Indoor or Outdoor - Light system - Temps; Day, Night - Humidity; Day, Night - Ventilation system; Yes, No, Size - AC, Humidifier, De-humidifier, - Co2; Yes, No Always try to upload a clear picture of any issues you may have to allow the community to assist you. Add anything else you feel would help us give you a most informed answer should be included. Feel free to elaborate, but short and to the point questions and facts will help us help you in a more efficient manner. ---
**Author:** ![Unkindtay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/unkindtay/32/189960_2.png) [@Unkindtay](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Unkindtay)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/beginner-on-a-budget/30707/3 "2019-05-03T02:08:48Z")
Welcome! Best place to start is read the Bible! [![](https://www.affiliatly.com/affiliate_files/banners/21567/Vertical%20rectangle%20Grow%20Bible%202%20240x400.jpg)](https://growbible.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com/the-marijuana-grow-bible-free-original/?aff=3940) ---
**Author:** ![WickedAle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/wickedale/32/137618_2.png) [@WickedAle](https://ilgmforum.com/u/WickedAle)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 7:25am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/beginner-on-a-budget/30707/4 "2019-05-03T07:25:11Z")
Don’t go to cheap with the lighting. It is the most important investment! Growing is ALL about the light.what kind of space are you looking to grow in? And how much do you want to spend on lighting? Have you given any thoughts to heat management? LED may seem like a more expensive choice, but overall the cost is much lower. ---
**Author:** ![WickedAle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/wickedale/32/137618_2.png) [@WickedAle](https://ilgmforum.com/u/WickedAle)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 7:32am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/beginner-on-a-budget/30707/5 "2019-05-03T07:32:01Z")
Many here can help with selections for EFFICIENT and cost effective lighting . Many LED’s sold on amazon/eBay are garbage so be careful. ---
**Author:** ![Amjk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/amjk/32/199942_2.png) [@Amjk](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Amjk)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 11:10am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/beginner-on-a-budget/30707/6 "2019-05-03T11:10:42Z")
Hey @Lisa215! Uk grower here too! Just jarred up my first bounty and 2nd lot of plants are begging nicely. Some like to start seedlings off under 24 hours of light. For veg you want either 18/6 20/04 of 24 hrs. I’m upgrading to a quantum board LED light but I did my first grow using a 400w MH for veg and 400w HPS for flower. My tent is a 1.2, 1.2, 2m tent I grew 4 plants. Hard to tell what nutes if any to add without knowing what soil your growing in. I recommend you invest in a PH meter and PPM meter. If you go the HPS/MH root please get one with a cooled reflector hood as I didn’t and struggled with high temps. You need fans to move air around and by flower you’ll prob need a fan/carbon filter combo as the smell is much stronger than you think it will be. If I can help I will, welcome to the forum. Good luck and happy growing ✌🏻🍀 ---
**Author:** ![Drinkslinger](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/drinkslinger/32/96644_2.png) [@Drinkslinger](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Drinkslinger)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 3:04am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/beginner-on-a-budget/30707/7 "2019-05-04T03:04:04Z")
Welcome to the community. Sorry for the translation; she’s in a 2’x4’x5’ tent. I have a couple of those. They’re a great size to start out in. You should be great for 3 autos. If you have really good soil you might make it from start to finish without much issue. Tell us about your water source. Well, municiple, filtered or reverse osmosis…? Lighting is really important. You’ve got 8sq ft. If you buy a Chinese blurple panel from amazon, (I don’t recommend), you’ll need 400watts actual draw, not their listed power. If you go to horticulture lighting group dot com, you can find some great lights. They cost more, but they’re so much more efficient. With their lights you could get away with just 250ish watts. @dbrn32 is our lighting guru. Be sure to budget some money for a proper pH meter, and if you have extra, a tds/ppm meter. ---
**Author:** ![dbrn32](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/dbrn32/32/533801_2.png) [@dbrn32](https://ilgmforum.com/u/dbrn32)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 3:11am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/beginner-on-a-budget/30707/8 "2019-05-04T03:11:36Z")
I’m not sure if ordering from here makes the most sense. @Amjk where do you plan on grabbing your qb’s? ---
**Author:** ![Amjk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/amjk/32/199942_2.png) [@Amjk](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Amjk)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 3:39am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/beginner-on-a-budget/30707/9 "2019-05-04T03:39:17Z")
Either DIYLEDUK or invisiblesunLEDUK ✌🏻 ---
**Author:** ![Amazon66](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/amazon66/32/789816_2.png) [@Amazon66](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Amazon66)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 11:08am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/beginner-on-a-budget/30707/10 "2019-05-04T11:08:24Z")
Growing any strain is easy if you read Bergmans downloads and ask these growers questions