WEEDING BACK ON EXPENSES

It takes less than $1,500 to get a personal grow operation up and
running with six plants flowering every six to eight weeks.

A Toronto man named Gary set his up in his basement with two 400-watt
metal halide bulbs which cost about $400 each. One is for the
vegetative stage when the plant needs light 24 hours a day, the other
for the flowering stage when the plant needs light for 12 hours.

"I figure that's about the maximum wattage you can use without raising
eyebrows at Toronto Hydro," said Gary, who rents a Toronto house and
has his utility bill included in the rent.

Gary does not believe in electricity theft. He doesn't want an
increase of more than 20% in power usage. One hour with his bulbs
costs 6 cents. Multiply that by 36 hours (one day's lighting) and
that's $2.16 per day or $64.80 a month.

"That's not going to set off alarm bells," Gary said.

Grow Room

The grow room needs to be about 2x3 metres and about 2 metres high.
Gary's is entirely covered in a layer of Mylar reflective material,
which cost him about $50.

Gary uses a small $40 fan to remove air from the area and gently blow
the plants when the lights are on. This is to keep the room cool (25C)
and supply fresh CO2.

For the first three weeks, plants are under light all the time and are
fertilized with a 20-20-20 mixture after the first set of leaves show.

"I just have to be sure not to over-fertilize," Gary said. "That's a
classic mistake."

Finally, Gary needs planter boxes, pots and good seeds to get the
plants going. Seeds are sold through the Internet and can cost
anywhere from $100-300 for "Good seeds can make or break an
operation," Gary said. "I make sure not to scrimp."