So I ended up getting a single Par38 bulb - https://amzn.eu/d/6cNoc83

Seems good, very bright. It will be in a 5ish gal setup. I’ve got a couple of fans, one of which had a broken blade so Amazon have refunded for that. It still works, just a bit off balance so I will run with those for now unless you guys think that’s a bad idea?

Anyway I digress. Is that light any good? I was thinking of getting a second with the credit from Amazon and also I’ve got a strip of led lights to use with it too, just waiting for white paint to come to paint the inside of the bucket for reflection.

Bucket gardeners of the world! Welcome to the weekly sticky discussion thread. You can use it for general questions, and also for some casual bucket conversation.

Hey folks!

Need some advice here. After completing my Spacebin, ive started growing my own Kratky Cannabis plant! My CBD cannabis plant is thriving in its kratyky container, just 7 days from seed to sprout, but I've noticed some yellow spots on one of the lower leaves. Any ideas what might be causing this and how I can fix it?

• Temperature: 18-26 degrees Celsius day and night
• Humidity: 50-70%
• Lights: 100 Watt running for 16 hours, starting at 1 PM, and I've recently added a fan for some airflow.
• Ph 6.3

Any fellow growers dealt with this before? Appreciate any insights to keep my green buddy in top shape. Thanks!

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https://preview.redd.it/z5z1g2ctchuc1.jpg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=78c13db27690eda7ef8e81b6c139f69f711954d6

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Since there have been a lot of Germans posting here since legalization, it's important to know what light not to get. There have been people here very recently buying lights that are going to work very poorly particularly in the larger brute buckets. If you have questions or want to know about certain lights, post the link here so we can have an open discussion.

It's my understanding that Germans are now allowed to have three plants at home. When one is limited by plant count like this it is generally best to grow large plants. I've seen +7 oz plants indoors but one isn't doing that in any sort of space bucket.

For a larger brute bucket you want 100-150 true watts. For every square foot you want at least 50 watts if using junky, generic grow lights and at least 30 watts per square foot if using a good light with the Samsung LM301 LEDs. That should be a minimum for robust flowering. If you are in a tight space then you should be growing at a higher wattage per square foot.

"150w", "600w" etc is a deception. This is not the wattage of the light nor is it watts equivalent to anything. It's part of the scam where LED grow light makers would try to convince people that blurple lights were 5-10 times better than white lights in the early 2010's and it has stuck around. You'd have people trying to sell 50 true watt lights as equivalent to 600 HPS and that's where the "600w" originated from. Top end grow light makers do not pull this BS.

You see this light in the below link? It straight up says that it's a 1000 watt light although it's closer to 40 true watts. That's bullshit. In fact it's such bullshit that it also claims to be a metal halide light in the product information. This is also why to take Amazon reviews with a pound of salt:

• https://www.amazon.com/Js2U-ZW-Upgraded-Seedlings-Vegetable/dp/B0CR2YHYXH/

Also, never buy a "quantum board" unless it has an external LED driver. Lights like the Mars Hydro TS600 are absolutely lethal by having rectified line voltage in a board that is not grounded, not isolated from ground, and uses an in appropriate conformal coating as an insulator that is easy to scratch off. I test lights to UL 1598 standards and here's an article on these dangerous types of lights:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/HandsOnComplexity/comments/oxji6e/testing_the_most_dangerous_light_bloom_plus_grow/

Link to that light in the article. Notice the black chips on the board which are the constant current LED drivers rather than a safe external LED driver. This is such a dangerous light:

• https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Spectrum-Waterproof-Vegetables-Gardening-Bonsais/dp/B0CJXTSMKG/

Some cheap grow light makers are notorious for overstating their true wattage even if they are listed on Amazon.

A lot of people are using the supplemental 12 volt LED strips improperly. You want to get them down below where the light from the main light fixture does not reach. It's pointless to have strips above the plant. I've never used strips beyond testing because there are better options for the DIY person.

Although I'm giving Amazon links, I stopped doing business with Amazon a year ago due to poor service and all the scams on their website. With eBay I can give direct feedback about a scam seller which Amazon does not allow (on Amazon you can criticize the scam product but not the scam seller).

Examples of lights not to buy

Always notice the form factor because most of these are generic lights with a label slapped on.

Any sort of blurple panel light this is not going to do well. Those are really bad LEDs and they are not going to flower you plant out well.

• https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Roleadro-45W-Plant-Grow-Lamp/dp/B01HO2OIHW/

Same with a light like this. Pretty much any light that advertises "225 LEDs" is going to be using very weak LEDs that will give subpar performance:

• https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Randaco-Plant-Spectrum-Vegetables-Flowers/dp/B09SZ5H4W2/

Any light like this is pointless. If the light has this form factor then move on even for most house plants:

• https://www.amazon.de/-/en/YIKEDAN-Spectrum-Indoor-Plants-Gooseneck/dp/B0C36VNKZX/

When you hear about "UFO" lights, this is the wrong type of UFO light to buy. These are meant more as shop lights that have a 6000-6500K color temperature. I don't recommend that high of a color temperature even for veging. Like most other cheap lights, there is exaggeration on the true wattage and lights like this do not come with a plug so it is meant to be hard wired:

• https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Warehouse-Waterproof-Lighting-Commercial-Workshop/dp/B09C57PYNM/

This is another type of UFO grow light that you do not want to get. They use line voltage COBs which are absolute junk and the ones I tested were not actually grounded. Lights like this have a high failure rate and also exaggerate about their true wattage:

• https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B0CPPXBXMC/

Any grow bulb like this is using cheap and inefficient LEDs. It's also using a dangerous design that has exposed line voltage:

• https://www.amazon.de/-/en/QIANYAN-Fruiting-Spectrum-Enhancement-LED/dp/B0CM59XCK3/

I wouldn't buy this light even as a supplemental side light. It simply does not have enough LEDs:

• https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Spectrum-Waterproof-Vegetables-Gardening-Bonsais/dp/B0CJXTSMKG/

A light that looks like this is also going to perform poorly for what you want to do. Any light with this ir a similiar form factor is a no go:

• https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Spectrum-Indoor-Plants-Height-Adjustable-Brightness/dp/B0CD7RYPS2/

I've never tested this type of light and would not use them as a main light. It would be interesting to test them as side lights if they have low voltage power supplies:

• https://www.amazon.de/-/en/LED-Spectrum-Indoor-Plants-Brightness/dp/B0CQ7FRXFR/

On the US Amazon site, this light and any that looks like it is going to suck:

• https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Spectrum-Hydroponics-Greenhouse-Seedling/dp/B0744HB6BT/

Although this light may do well for a brute bucket, its claim of 2.8 uMol/joule is going to be bullshit (and it's efficacy, not efficiency for uMol/joule):

• https://www.amazon.com/LUYIMIN-Grow-Light-Greenhouse-Hydroponic/dp/B0BVYQLM8J/

Five gallon buckets

With five gallon buckets, a light that is 50 true watts will give very good performance (the inside of a five gallon bucket is about 1/2 a square foot). A couple of PAR38 that are about 15 watts each will also perform well with the focused lights. Follow this template to make a cheap, easy and safe give gallon grow bucket using PAR38's. Because PAR38 is a flood light that is focused, you need to use a bucket extender or two to get the lights further away from the plants:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceBuckets/comments/gn4iut/a_low_cost_no_hassle_lighting_setup_for_a_five/

Never use normal LED light bulbs with the cover removed. What you are doing is exposing about 320 volts (line voltage of about 230 volts AC that is multiplied by 1.4 to get rectified DC) that is not isolated from ground so you will definitely have a lethal shock hazard. I rant about this here:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/HandsOnComplexity/comments/fasuw9/a_strong_warning_about_removing_the_domes_from/

This light is going to work very well. I'm not currently seeing it on the German Amazon website:

• https://www.amazon.com/FECiDA-Dimmable-Premium-Spectrum-Succulents/dp/B09C5S8ZWP

Although this is a blurple light, this UFO has a solid history of getting good yields:

• https://www.amazon.com/Growstar-Spectrum-Greenhouse-Gardening-Flowering/dp/B07315FTRS/

Brute bucket and totes

Although I'm a space bucket fan, I've never grown in brutes or totes. If I'm going to grow that large then I'm using a small tent. However, many people don't have access to a tent or want to go more DIY. Although I'm not seeing it on the German Amazon site, a larger UFO like this should perform adequately in a brute bucket. A brute is about 2.5 square feet so this light is slightly low:

• https://www.amazon.com/FECiDA-Dimmable-Stunning-Spectrum-Succulents/dp/B09C5MB6GB/?th=1

I recommend a good quantum board for a brute or tote grow. Have the light outside the container so you're not dumping extra heat into your grow chamber. I don't care what brand you buy as long as it uses a safe external LED driver.

If you want the best results, don't buy a quantum board that uses the less efficient Samsung LM281 LEDs, only the Samsung LM301 LEDs. It doesn't really matter that much if you buy the LM301B or LM301H LEDs for space buckets. The difference is that the H has an anti-sulfurization coating for some better corrosion resistance which can be important around hydro fertilizers, and the chromaticity binning is a little different which is irrelevant for what we do.

Hello All,

Brief history:

Before getting a better light this grew tall and I replanted the long delicate stem deep in the soil. I would say it is about 3-4 weeks since replanting. Before today it was within a few inches of the light at 50%. Now I have added the 3rd container so 16 inches from light.

From the pic the top leaves are looking a little droopy and there is yellowing on the bottom leaves. Looking for some advice to make the best of this?

• 2 container HDX, now 3 container high
• VIPARSPECTRA 2024 P1000, have not been above 50%
• Vigoro veg soil, topped w/ orchid mix
• Nutes, none
• Water, RO
• 120V muffin fan w/ exhaust
• Temp, 77F, 60% humidity
• Training, none

https://preview.redd.it/jhr0lsrvcduc1.jpg?width=2604&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa76a0e00d6e6d2a93f2d2980cdaf06f205916c7

I'm quite new to the bucket community so here's the setup that I've ordered. I've ordered some carbon filters suitable for the extractor fans in the kitchen to see whether it would get rid of the smell (I've read some articles regarding this and it worked for some so I decided to try it myself). Originaly I'm planning to stack one on top of each other so there would be more surface area to get rid of the smell. If you have any experience regarding this feel free to comment.

Overall the bucket design should have a wick system for hydrating the plants and have reflective tape inside to evenly and more efficiently distribute the light.

There's a problem in means of how many plants should I stick into the bucket. Because I have germinated a few seeds and I can't really tell right now what's their gender and also the seeds are not feminized. I'm planning to stick in 3 plants into the bucket and if there are any males i could chop them down and if not i could keep the 3.

Please let me know if I select the right materials and the right plan to execute the growth. Many thanks in advance.

Hey I’m a new grower and Need few tips on space buckets and do I need a humidifier?

I just wrote an in-depth article breaking down the science behind dialed-in watering practices. But so that you don’t have to read the whole article, here are the key points:

• Quality Over Quantity: Maintain the right volumetric water content (VWC) levels to ensure cannabis plants receive adequate hydration without drowning or experiencing water stress. The optimal VWC varies based on growth stage, environmental conditions, and strain.
• Back it With Science: Monitor VWC and water to dryback percentages based on scientific principles like allowing the growing medium to partially dry out between waterings to encourage root exploration and prevent issues like root rot.
• Unique Plant Insights: Follow watering practices tailored to each cannabis growth stage - seedling (gentle misting/bottom watering), vegetative (increased water for rapid growth), and flowering (careful monitoring to prevent mold/bud rot).

The full article covers critical topics like optimizing volumetric water content, benefits of watering to dryback percentages, and much more.

Thanks for reading!

Bucket gardeners of the world! Welcome to the weekly sticky discussion thread. You can use it for general questions, and also for some casual bucket conversation.

Hey I am starting my journey on growing and I want to build a space bucket that's compact because I live in an RV and I run on solar so I am wondering if I would be able to build one that won't take that much energy I am comfortable around 10-40w usage per hour. What would be the supplies I would need to get started?

What’s up everyone! Today April 8th ,the day of the eclipse, marks the first day of my grow! I Decided to be old fashioned since these are photoperiod plants with great genetics from Exoticgenetix and go straight seed to soil with it. I planted these seeds in fox farms happy frog soil and later will be transplanting into the ocean forest. Cant wait to get these things going! I will keep you guys updated when they pop out of the soil!!

I will have 11 Liter plant pots. So if i install it lower the air will just hit the pot. But I saw quite often that people want some airstream to hit the plant directly. How high would you install the ventilation? Does it even matter?

I just wrote an in-depth blog discussing basic in crop steering principles. But so that you don’t have to read the whole blog (which you can find here) here are the key points:

• Light Spectrum and Photoperiod: Light is one of the most critical environmental factors influencing plant growth. By controlling light spectrum and photoperiod, cultivators can manipulate plant development to suit their cultivation goals.
• Temperature and Humidity: Cultivators can use insulation materials, ventilation systems, and climate control devices to regulate temperature and humidity in the growing environment. By preventing temperature fluctuations and excessive humidity levels, cultivators can create a stable growing environment conducive to healthy plant growth.
• Water Management and Irrigation: Proper irrigation involves delivering the right amount of water at the right time to meet the plant's needs without causing stress or root suffocation. Various irrigation methods, such as drip irrigation, flood irrigation, and hydroponics, can be employed to efficiently deliver water and nutrients to plants while minimizing water wastage and nutrient runoff.

The full blog covers basics such as light spectrum and photoperiod, environment conditions, and water manager/irrigation, and much more. Will go into much more detail on each topic later. Feel free to give it a read here.

Thanks for reading!

What’s up everyone, this is just a little update. I know this isn’t medicine or anything special yet but I finally completed my tote yesterday and I have had a small pot of basil and a small pot of daisys I have had sitting on the windowsill for about 2 weeks. I put them in my tote yesterday and just after one day of being in there the stems are so much stronger and the leaves are so much greener after just coming out of the soil. I’ve got big expectations for this tote. Cant wait to start my cereal milk s1 from exoticgenetixs for my first grow of true medicine within the next week or so!

Hello! My beautiful baby is growing strong after topping. She's growing in a space bucket and I can't let her expand more horizontally, so I'll stop at one topping.

She's at the 38th day of vegetative. Keeping her at a steady 7ph and 21c, well fed and watered. Second set of fan leaves got a bit mangled but she looks overall healthy.

What do you recommended I do besides letting her grow some more? Should I trim the bottom fan leaves? The little ones too? Suggestions appreciated!!!

edit: mixed up veg and flowering

https://preview.redd.it/wgs4s3pmq0tc1.jpg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=168d06fe03b9a96778c94f201d16483c4c47bdef

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I'm looking to build a grow bucket, and I was wondering if there were any disadvantages to having a fan and a carbon filter on the intake and outtake side. From my understanding this is not entirely necessary, but I live in an apartment building and want to reduce smell as much as possible for my neighbors.

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I'm also planning on drying in the grow bucket, and wanted to see if anyone had good experience with that?