to CFL or whatever the hell the other options are

[granitestate]

so just any old compact fluorecent? i work at a hardware store and grabbed a couple of those to start with. i also saw a high pressure sodium light there too but it didnt say anything about growing. is there a certain HPS bulb for growing or will jus a standard one do?

 

[butter111]

a standard one will do but there are hydrolux hps that are much better for growing u will have better results they are brighter than regular hps

 

[Pullin' weeds]

The HPS will do much better than the CFL - though CFLs will work for small plants if you use enough watts. You may need to rewire the HPS to eliminate the optical sensor.

 

[granitestate]

rewiring shit, this a site for potheads, not tweakers an shit haha. good information tho. i just have one girl inside, two 26w cfls, kinda worried about how often/long i can run them. she just sprouted, its in a pot and i had it out on my porch until i noticed her. then i brought her in as its getting kinda cold aorund here, so i kinda needa a crash course on the whole artificial light scene.

 

[Red Ganja]

so just any old compact fluorecent? i work at a hardware store and grabbed a couple of those to start with. i also saw a high pressure sodium light there too but it didnt say anything about growing. is there a certain HPS bulb for growing or will jus a standard one do?

The combo of the 2 will give you the best results. I HATE CFL's and thought people were pussies who used them! BUT, I have found that you can get some GREAT coverage with about 4 or 5 of the biggest CFLs you can get... Seedlings react favorably, you are able to spread the light and move it closer. Then after 3 weeks go to HPS, I go with 600 and if I need more I add more.

These results equal or better when I was using a 400 MH seedlings and 1000 HPS! (flower)

CFL alone, through harvest will get some buds that make pretty pictures BUT will be wispy and light and IMHO worthless! You REALLY need the light for flower!

 

[granitestate]

but to start the cfl's will be alright? what kinda hours should i run em?

 

[Red Ganja]

but to start the cfl's will be alright? what kinda hours should i run em?

Starting with CFLs would be FINE.

There are 2 thoughts on this.

24 Hours works fine and some people like this. There is research that suggests more females come from 18/6 but it is inconclusive!

18/6 - Plants may or may not need a down time. Its open to debate, just as is the ratios of male to female! BUT, I recently have gone back to 18/6 with no noticable differences! And with CFLs the extra 6 hours wont break ya!

Good Luck
What strain are you starting?

 

[granitestate]

oh just some random bagseed. the buds it came from were the best ive had in a while, so i went for it. and when you say "18/6 - Plants may or may not need a down time." what do you mean by downtime?

 

[butter111]

down time is the 6 hours of dark

 

[RASCALONE]

a grow im on right now is on 18/6 and the growth is great, there working on there 5th set of leaves and i germed them on sept 21st i believe,and im vegging them with 8cfl's half23w and half 26w cool and daylight...........but there going under 400w hps when ready to flower.........

 

[Red Ganja]

down time is the 6 hours of dark

EXACTLY!!! I meant from the plants point of view


Thanks!

 

[JESSE]

if buds are light and fluffy wont they just dry faster and be ready to smoke sooner, or does that degrade the bud itself? i know dence desert nugs are easier to sell but if its for personal does it really matter all ive heard is it doesnt last as long in a bowl....well if it gets you high does it matter? or do you have to smoke like twice as much?

 

[upinchronic1]

I have a question on te 18/6 thing, this is the only timing i see for veging along with 24 hours straight but why not any where inbetween? Does it confuse plants or what??

 

[t0k3s]

I have a question on te 18/6 thing, this is the only timing i see for veging along with 24 hours straight but why not any where inbetween? Does it confuse plants or what??

18/6 is good because it gives them a rest and still plenty of light to grow good. i knew a guy who grew under 20/4 and still had good results so its experimental but 18/6 seems to be the prime schedule for lots of people.

 

[upinchronic1]

yeah i guess its the way it is, but i guess its contriversial cause some think a plant needs rest like yourself and others say you can go non stop without rest, both having good results, so still unsure about the whole thing but i have a better picture