So you did start with CFL's? But I'm guessing the yield was not stellar and you advanced to better things? I'll eventually step up I'm sure. This is miry first grow and only for personal use, I could go on and on why I smoke. What's your take on LED? I haven't read the forum yet but intend too.
CFLs starting i avg a oz per plant in 5 gallon planters .....standard box feed plan ( way off only the tops were tight the rest was fluffy joint/bho material '
LED rock my tight to fluffy has jumped to 90% tight 10% fluffy .....my yields were under that HIDs did for me but the better quality buds more then made up for less yield (then u factor in the life of the unit and the energy cost and the cooling/venting cost) i was doing 8 to 10 oz out of 7 gallons on auto plants
HIDs i was doing 10 to 14 oz out of 7 gallons ....the tight to fluffy was about 70%tight 30%fluffy (except with hydro that ended up being like 7% but i have not repeated that experiment so it could of just been a fluke)
the only limiting factor to LED is the over all area of coverage .....u can get more but u will end up given up some of the depth u gain with LED .....it is all matter of the lens angles
120 for wide print (widest possible u get a few more inches in depth compared to HIDs)
90 for small print but greater depth .......best deal over all area coverage with extended depth (2 3 grows in add a 2nd light u will get your large foot print)
60 for depth (u can grow grass under the plant assuming it not 6 feet tall)
the best was HID combined with LED side lights ......i want to try a dual arc bulb and a all spec led