I've a question in regards to my new project. I'm trying to grow a few vegetables that are not exactly 'growable' where I live, and so I decided to try and re-create their eco-system indoors.
I am almost done, I've made a cupboard out of wood and literally no external light comes into it, on each side of the box I've installed a fan so that air can circulate in and out, and I've installed a not-so-elaborate, yet reasonable watering system..
Now comes the tricky and as I am about to find out, not so fun part.. Lighting.
The box itself is 4' wide, 2' deep and about 4 1/2' high. It's farely big.
The inside has been painted white so that light will reflect.
I've been told that growers have a MH set-up for seedlings and vegetative growth, and HPS for flowering. Now.. HID lights are extremly expensive, at least where I am at.. I'm not exactly sure if I am in the right NG, but I'll ask anyway.. I live in Melbourne, Australia and.. I don't know of many places where they even sale these lights.. I've been looking around websites, and a cheap one (which you can switch from MH to HPS) retails at around US$300.. Around AU$500, and is more than what I can afford..
Does anyone know if a: i NEED to have these lights, or they're just the recommended types? b: a place where I can find either cheap ones, or second hand ones? c: the direction to the correct forum where this question can be answered properly? :P
Thanks for your time and help..