by Nebula Haze
See Other Examples of Cannabis Growing Setups
400W HPS Grow Setup (For Hobbyist Growers)
- Average Yields: 7-14 ounces
- Recommended 2-6 plants
- Grow space is 3’x3’x6′ or 4’x4’x6′ (bare minimum is 2’x4’x6′)
- $495 to get the simplest version of this setup
About This Setup
When you’re just starting to foray into the world of larger grow lights, a 400W HPS is an appropriate first light to try. It’s energy efficient, relatively cheap, and makes for large colas than stretch far down the plant. These light are more popular than the 250W HPS, but less than the 600W HPS, and far less popular than the current line of LEDs or LECs. Still, these lights are a workhorse and will pay for themselves quickly in any medium-sized indoor cannabis grow.
Pros: Cheap, effective, high yields and potency
Cons: Not popular, yellow spectrum is easy to spot by nosy people, some models emit RFI which can alert HAM radio users to your grow
Cost Estimate: $495 to get the cheapest version of this setup (no premium equipment)
Check Out More Examples of Grow Setups
Complete Grow Supply List
This cannabis grow room setup list includes all the supplies you need to get to harvest.
Grow Light
400W MH/HPS Grow Light
- This version is cheap but effective: iPower 400W MH/HPS All-in-One kit – $120
- More expensive version but has an enclosed hood to help keep heat near the bulb – $190
- Alternative LED Grow Light: HLG 350R LED grow light (a VERY powerful LED) – $550
The iPower 400W MH/HPS All-in-One kit can produce some intense yields for just $120. Much cheaper than LEDs for the amount of yield but gets much hotter!
Grow Space
- Grow Tent Recommended Sizes
- 2’x4’x6′ (bare minimum viable space) – An example is the CoolGrows 48″x24″x72″ Grow Tent
- 3’x3’x6′ – An example is the CoolGrows 36″x36″x72″ Grow Tent
- 4’x4’x6.5′ (recommended) – an example is the CoolGrows 48”x48”x80” Grow Tent – plenty of room to grow!
- Learn more about grow tents
- Cost: ~$100
- Exhaust Fan
- A quality 6″ exhaust fan works best. Avoid small cheap “booster” fans as they usually don’t have enough power to exhaust all the hot air effectively. Hang from inside tent to help keep quiet.
- Learn more about choosing and setting up an exhaust fan.
- Example 1: Cheap but loud VIVOSUN 6 Inch 390 CFM exhaust fan. If you plan to use a carbon filter to stop smells, it’s typically cheaper to get a kit that contains both the fan and filter than to buy them separately. Avoid “booster” fans that cost under $35. Although they seem like a good deal, they’re not powerful enough to properly vent heat or use a carbon scrubber. I’ve tried.
- Example 2: Quiet but expensive AC Infinity CLOUDLINE S6 or CLOUDLINE T6 (T6 version is the same fan but has a digital interface)
- Cost: ~$110 ($75-160)
- Carbon Scrubber
- A carbon scrubber and an exhaust fan are used together to clean the air in your grow area. Learn more about controlling odors.
- Note: it’s sometimes cheaper to get a kit that contains both the exhaust fan and filter than buy them separately.
- Recommended: 6-inch Carbon Filter, 6″ x 16″ version
- Cost: ~$80
Connect the carbon filter to the fan inside the tent like this and smells get filtered before air exits the tent. Totally smell-free cannabis growing! (Click for closeup)
Plant Pots
I prefer fabric pots or air pots because cannabis plants grow faster. However, standard hard-sided plant pots also work well and can be watered less often.
- Recommended: Fabric pots between 2-7 gallons (here’s the brand I used last but I just pick what looks good because any fabric pots work great)
- Alternative: Regular plant pots between 2-5 gallons
Cost: $20
Plants grow faster in fabric pots compared to hard-sided pots, but need to be watered more often
Grow Medium (Soil, Coco, Hydro)
Grow mediums can include coco coir or soil (hydroponics for more advanced growers) but if you’re not sure, a coco-based soil like Coco Loco is perfect for beginnners.
- Recommended Soil: One 2 cu ft bag bag of coco-based soil with perlite should be able to fill 15 gallons worth of pots. For example, it will fill 5 x 3-gallon fabric pots.
Cost: ~$40
Coco Loco is a coco-based soil that makes thriving cannabis plants
Nutrients
- You need a “vegetative” or all-purpose plant nutrient for the first part of your plant’s life
- You need a “bloom” or low-nitrogen nutrient for the budding phase
- Many nutrient systems have a nutrient schedule so you give your plants the right ratios for each stage of life
- Always start at half strength with a new base nutrient system because the recommended strength is typically too high for cannabis
Get examples of great cannabis nutrients
Recommended Nutrients: Dyna-Gro Grow + Bloom nutrient combo is excellent, cheap, and easy to use for growing cannabis.
- “Grow” bottle: Give 1 tsp per gallon of water during the vegetative stage
- “Bloom” bottle: Give 1 tsp/gallon of water during the flowering stage
Learn about other cannabis nutrients we recommend
Cost: $25
Dyna-Gro Grow + Bloom is my recommended nutrient system for newbies. One bottle for veg, one for bloom. 1 tsp/gallon. Super simple!
Other Supplementary Items
- Get your seeds – $5-12/seed (on average, can be more or less depending on the breeder)
- 24-Hour Timer (to put your grow lights on a timer so the plants get a day and night period on a schedule). Why do cannabis plants need to be on a day/night schedule? What about autoflowering light schedules? – $10
- Water containers (I personally use a 3-gallon or 5-gallon water jug to mix up nutrients, but anything can work) – Much cheaper at Wal-Mart ($5-15) than online!
- Extra 1/8″ Rope Ratchets (sooooo handy) – These can be used to hang your grow light or carbon filter from inside the tent, and still be able to easily move it up and down without needing any strength. Your grow light usually comes with a set of rope ratchets, but it’s a great idea to get an extra set to hang the carbon filter – $15
- Thermometer/Humidity Monitor with a probe so you can keep track of the temperature inside the tent – $15
- PH Test Kit – Prevent potential nutrient deficiencies by testing the water pH: https://www.growweedeasy.com/ph – $15
- Measuring spoons for measuring out your nutrients (many people already have these) – $10
- Learn about other cool growing tools
Estimated Cost: $495+ plus the cost of seeds
