You can definitely surprise him with seeds without asking 
Even if you just got strains YOU like, I bet he’d like to grow your favorite herb I do that for my wife once in a while, pop something I know she likes or maybe would’ve picked, she loves it 
Seedsherenow now offers a price-match guarantee, I’d say just go there and look around
NF1 might also be hard to find. Looks like there are folks in humboldt with clones, but i cant find any breeder info and all the seeds i see for it dont look very reputable.
Ideally when you’re buying seeds, look for breeders who are actually doing work vs companies that are buying and reselling bulk white label seeds (like ILGM, pacific seed, barneys and a ton more)
I usually use greatlakesgenetics.com Ive considered growing almost every breeder they stock at one point or another.
Happy upcoming Bday to the BF, its tough to make a recommendation without knowing what your looking at for budget,
However, I started out with a system basically like this vivosun grow kit
the only other things required are either dirt and nutrients or a simple dwc system (5 gallon bucket, with airstone and pump) and nutrients.
When i started out this was a great system for growing smaller plants like autoflowers… and with the automated grow controller it does an excellent job of controlling your lighting/ temp/ etc so that your grow is successful…
hope this is helpful
If I were you, I’d buy him a rare or very expensive pack of seeds, something he’d never buy. Or one of the clones from the dispensaries. Or a ticket to a Cannabis Cup, including the hotel.
Cant go wrong with a Bong.
Buying stuff like that for a gift is pretty risky unless he’s hinted directly at stuff. There’s so many choices and and grow styles, I’d leave it to him tbh.
I would say the safest things to buy would be a 2’x2’x4’ to 6’ tent. Small, and easy to use as a mother tent later in.
Next would be a nice set of clip on fans. Like Honeywell or vornado or vivosun. Worst case he gets a fan.
Last would be a portable AC unit if you live in a hot area and don’t have central ac. Worst case he gets an AC.
Cant we all send him seeds?
I still like the bong idea. There are some really nice ones out there, and pricey ones too, and if decides not to take up growing, at least he will still be smoking.
Thank you for all the replies!! Sorry I dipped and went MIA for a few days. 
A couple things I guess I should’ve mentioned. He’s grown in the past, doesn’t currently have a setup, and just keeps mentioning he wants to get a grow tent again, nothing specific. I think he just had a super basic setup before. I’m gonna go through and look at all the links y’all have sent and see what I can do! Thank you again, I was super nervous about posting because, like I said, I am super new to the weed scene and it’s kind of intimidating, but y’all are so nice! 
If he wants to grow again hard to go wrong with a 2’ by 2’ tent.
You could ask him a subtle hint. “Back when you grew did you use a big 4x4 tent or was that to large?”
Then you’ll know that size to get him
My first thought was something else. Askiing for strains and such. To many ads for “mood” gummies and old threads here
I have several packs from Sunshine Dream Genetics . So far I’ve only popped 6 seeds from a freebie pack of Deep Chunk x Sour Bubble x (King Louie x Sunshine Hashplant) .
I started them in late June just on a whim . All 6 popped quickly . 2 got eaten by something when very small , 2 males and 2 females . Both males were really nice , worth keeping based on structure and vigor but I axed them . The females are pretty nice also . So far so good with a virtually unknown breeder .
I’m in. A birthday seed bombardment sounds like a good plan.
Listen, I’ve had a rough day so I’d probably cry if people sent him seeds. 
Y’all are so nice here. I don’t know what I was so nervous about, posting here. 
Not asking, obviously. But if anyone is for real, let me know!
Take them up on it, we don’t play around here. If for any reason anyone wasn’t serious, I’m happy to send you/him some 
We are real
Best bang for buck IMO:
Get the cheapest 3x3 tent you can find on Amazon.
Get a Mars TSW3000 light.
If noise is a potential concern, pony up for AC Infinity inline exhaust fan. Go with 6" dan filter and duct. --Noise no biggie? Get a cheap inline fan on Amazon, same size.
Buy one 27" tower fan and a couple of 6" or 8" clip fans at Walmart
Get a pack of solo cups at Walmart, and get a pack of clear cups to fit inside those
Black light and velvet Elvis
Personally I’d buy the grow tent off temu with a virtual credit card. Amazon cheap tents are the same shit as temu. Shit I’ve had Amazon deliver my temu order because it’s a drop ship.
My temu tents are branded zeny. Looks the same as every other Amazon tent I’ve seen pics of but was $70 for a 4x4 tent