600w or CFL on my seedlings

[TooBakedd]

Have my 600w like 3.5' away from them, Should I switch to maybe like 50w of cfl over them for the first couple days? They haven't sprouted yet but seeds were germinated with paper towel trick and planted today. Heat is no issue what so ever in my tent. Don't really know never really grown with seeds indoors its always been clones for me.

 

[SPLFreak808]

The 600 is fine if you start off with the bulb high enough, cant get it too close till 3/4 nodes in.
Using cfl's for the first few weeks would save you some electric though.

 

[vostok]

I'd go the cfl, put it close and save some cash, you will need it later

plants in veg should get an even amount of cool white and warm white for correct internodel growth

the cfl should suffice if within 4 inches of your seedling but keep an eye on them

any sign of wilting pull the light back

 

[Don Geno]

I agree cfls for the first two weeks save your cash a few bux is a few bux especially if they havent popped out yet

 

[TooBakedd]

I'd go the cfl, put it close and save some cash, you will need it later

plants in veg should get an even amount of cool white and warm white for correct internodel growth

the cfl should suffice if within 4 inches of your seedling but keep an eye on them

any sign of wilting pull the light back

I agree cfls for the first two weeks save your cash a few bux is a few bux especially if they havent popped out yet

The 600 is fine if you start off with the bulb high enough, cant get it too close till 3/4 nodes in.
Using cfl's for the first few weeks would save you some electric though.

Thanks will probably switch to CFL tonight, and about the spectrum, I can only have one or the other MH or HPS and i went with hps for veg, more lumens, plus i heard you will get closer nodes with hps. Did i make the right choice? or?

 

[SPLFreak808]

Thanks will probably switch to CFL tonight, and about the spectrum, I can only have one or the other MH or HPS and i went with hps for veg, more lumens, plus i heard you will get closer nodes with hps. Did i make the right choice? or?

You can veg with hps no problem. MH=short nodes/inter-nodes,more bushier plant in general. HPS=long nodes, long stems, more yield. Dont worry about lumen output with 600w bulbs. If anything, familiarize yourself with photosynthetically active radiation.

 

[TooBakedd]

You can veg with hps no problem. MH=short nodes/inter-nodes,more bushier plant in general. HPS=long nodes, long stems, more yield. Dont worry about lumen output with 600w bulbs. If anything, familiarize yourself with photosynthetically active radiation.

So should I grab myself a MH or just stick with my HPS then? Ballast is compatible with both.

 

[vostok]

Freak^^^ is correct as far as internodel growth if you want short squat plants,

like many cfl users here (pc grows) stick with the m/h or cool white,

if you want tall stretchy plants go the way of hps,

its why I recommend an even balance of kelvin

whether you go HIDs or cfl's

good luck

 

[hotrodharley]

So should I grab myself a MH or just stick with my HPS then? Ballast is compatible with both.

Add 2 weeks total grow time using HPS alone.

 

[Labs Dexter]

I use 200 cfl to vegg for a month or so I find its easier yo maintain heat, saves electric and imo easier to train the plant because the stems are thinner and not so stiff before putting in flower.
Might just be me I am a noob lol

 

[Buzz Buzzilla]

So should I grab myself a MH or just stick with my HPS then? Ballast is compatible with both.

If anything id save the hps for week two, and not for the $8 you may save, but be cause most hps bulbs don't have enough of the correct blue spectrums you need for early growth and an 600w hps or mh that far away will make plants stretch and spindly. I would use fluorescents 4" away with cool white as mentioned above. Another tip for tight internodes is to keep temps even from day to night, the bigger this difference the more space between. The easiest way to maintain this is to run a 24/0 light cycle!

One last note I like to run fluorescents along with hps in veg to supplement the blue spectrums or you can opt for an expensive hps that covers blue and red spec.

Hope this helps!