cfl

[35yr.exp.]

longtime user on first grow.35 years of puffn and put 1st seed in ground bout 7-8 weeks ago insouth facing window.after yesterday ive been convinced to build box and use cfl compact spiral bulbs (cost and space issues)w/ alil fan for circulation.my ? is this will 3-4 bulbs b enuff and what wattage

 

[LAX Skunky BwS]

should get 42 watters and up no lower than that

 

[35yr.exp.]

my lil guys are 6-8 high w/ 3-4 sets of leaves id like to grow them under lights til 3 feet max how many cfls would you guess 4 two plants

 

[Twistyman]

Before I got T5's I used 2 X 26W CFL's on a Y splitter.. that worked fine for two plants and all for $15..
but, more lights(W's) = more weed =

 

[35yr.exp.]

ok went to home dep. got two 100w 1600 lumens a peace.ive only got a couple of table lamps rated for 60 watts should inot use them?or will they be ok.im also going to run small 6in. fan

 

[frmrboi]

ok went to home dep. got two 100w 1600 lumens a peace.ive only got a couple of table lamps rated for 60 watts should inot use them?or will they be ok.im

you go by ACTUAL watts of the bulb, not their incandescent equivalency. in your case I'm guessing around 24 watts. Hope you got the right spectrum (6500 K)

 

[35yr.exp.]

there are 3-23watt 2700k 1600 lumen bulbs plugged directly into a power strip as i saw someone else do on here

 

[mark0220]

6500k daylight bulbs is what you want... i grabbed couple 65watt 6500k at homedepot the other day for 14.99 each... they put out around 4400 lumens... look for those or the 42 watt they mentioned

 

[SmokeyMcSmokester]

if youre gonna spend over $10 on a cfl..id reccomend getting this 150W hps for flower..use the cfl's for veg..here is a link to the HPS...

http://www.e-conolight.com/Product/EFamily.asp look under vapor tights
you just have to rewire the ballast to make it remote..there are threads on how to do it..Its super simple, and my power bill really wasnt affected.

 

[mark0220]

true... same hps i have for flowering .. but for veg those 2700k's need to be changed to 6500k cfls for better results

 

[35yr.exp.]

depot only had27watt 5500k 1400luman and that was 4th trip is the 1000k difference going to be so signifcant ive got to change bulb

 

[smokeybandit22]

gonna be hard to grow a 3 footer with respectable nugs with cfl's

 

[SmokeyMcSmokester]

depot only had27watt 5500k 1400luman and that was 4th trip is the 1000k difference going to be so signifcant ive got to change bulb

It's the blue spectrum that is important. 6500K daylight cfls for veg, and 2700K warm cfls for flower

 

[frmrboi]

depot only had27watt 5500k 1400luman and that was 4th trip is the 1000k difference going to be so signifcant ive got to change bulb

5500 K is good too, the blue light will produce a shorter bushier plant, keeping the height down is almost always desirable with an all cfl grow. You can combine both spectrums for flowering to get the extra light level (and more bud volume)
https://www.rollitup.org/attachments/cfl-growing/240662d1226605588-5000k-vs-6500k-hortgraph2.gif

 

[35yr.exp.]

5500 K is good too, the blue light will produce a shorter bushier plant, keeping the height down is almost always desirable with an all cfl grow. You can combine both spectrums for flowering to get the extra light level (and more bud volume)
https://www.rollitup.org/attachments/cfl-growing/240662d1226605588-5000k-vs-6500k-hortgraph2.gif

frmrboi, Love the fact that it will produce a shorter bushier plant, which is what I want, no higher than 3' before budding. What do you mean, "both spectrums"? and if you are saying what I think you are, why wouldn't I throw the 2700K bulbs in for the hell of it for more light in the veg state.

 

[mark0220]

you can do that but just have couple more daylight bulbs

 

[frmrboi]

why wouldn't I throw the 2700K bulbs in for the hell of it for more light in the veg state.

you could if you needed the light, they would stretch a bit more that's probably the only downside.
As a side note pure blue light for veging seedlings is supposed to produce more females, a fact I and a fellow grower I communicate with have had several small (5 seed) grows going all female (damn ! wanted to make seeds)

 

[fourtw0]

I go to lowes and get 6500k 26w bulbs for about 5 bucks a piece. They are made buy a company called BrightEffects. I'm currently running 6 of them to grow 4 plants, I will be adding more as the plants grow...

 

[onthedl0008]

eh bro all very good advice here man. I VEG my current plants with 2 42 watt daylight cfls and 2 23 watts as well.i could take the 2 23 watters out and im prolly going to because for my grow i dont need that much for my 2 moms.i have 2 for cutting clones and they are growing at least 7 to 10 inches a week on the cfls.
Cfls are good for veg. I think someone else already mentioned the 20 dollar econolight. if u can get one but grab 2.if u dont want to order online u can find similar lighting in the home security isle at home depot. just check out there hps lighting fixtures man.
the cheapest on starts at 22 bux i think. ive got like 4 of those they work well.

awesome advice here. merry xmas fellas.

 

[abomb]

I noticed you said you wanted to grow the plants 3 feet before budding. If you meant harvest at 3 feet never mind if you meant start flowering at 3 feet tall then you need much better lights like 400w - 600w otherwise those girls will take a long time till harvest!