First time grow - Help please.

[Starscream]

Hi I've recently decided to start growing ( 1 or 2 plants), And im looking for help from people who know there stuff....



WHAT I HAVE SO FAR :

A Dresser (23 inches wide 30 & 3/4 inches tall and 15 inches deep)
1 100 wat CLF on the end of a lamp cord ( Is this good for one plant?)
1 2 gallon planter (Big enough?)
A computer fan 12 volt 34 CPM (Having trouble putting that on an plug in)
This bright white "Shelf lining" im not too sure weather to use this or not (Safteys my number 1 concern and i dont really wana burn my house down)

Have no idea what to do for soil and nutrients or if there one and the same?

And when I start growing how close should I try to keep my seedling to a light source?

 

[brettweir]

You have a decent-sized cab but you really have to do more reading before you get started.

First of all, the CFL you'll probably want to get is a "cool white" colour. It emits the right colour spectrum that is used by plants in the vegetative stage. Once you start flowering, switch to soft white. You're also going to need more lights once the flowering begins. Especially if you're doing 2 plants. You'll need around 10,000 lumens per plant if you want a decent yield. Some people use more, others less. More is better.

As for the computer fan, all you have to do is strip the wires and connect them to the wires from a cell-phone charger or any kind of 12V adapter. Simple as pie.

The lining in the cabinet might work, but most people use mylar or a matte white paint (doesn't have a shine to it. looks flat). CFLs emit little heat so you probably don't have to worry about fires.

You're going to have to read up on soils and nutrients my friend. Everyone has their own mixes and brands and really there's no "best" in these categories. Most people start with pro-mix and add things like blood/bone meal, bat guano, and worm castings to the mix. How you mix it is up to you. Just remember that drainage is very important so don't mix it too heavy. Use perlite to help with drainage. As for nutrients, a lot of growers go with Fox Farms and Advanced Nutrients.

Your light can remain pretty close to the plant (within 4 inches or so) but during seedling stage I'd back it up a bit so the plant doesn't get too stressed from all that light.