Question on lighting (more like im seeking advice from others who use cfl's)

[sm0keyrich510]

Lets say I planted 4 seeds (no germination...straight in the dirt the old fashioned way).

and I was running 4 23W 65K CFLs and 2 23W 27K CFLS...6 CFLS 138watts total power (equivalent to 600 watts of regular bulbs).

Is this enough for the beginning stages?

I was hoping this would work until the flowering stage where i was looking to nearly double my light output.

would this work or would i be wasting my time n need more lights NOW?


and on a side note...with this many lights is it better to run 18/6 or 24/0?

Rite now im doing things by hand as my timer wont co-op w/ me. ugh...stupid timer.

 

[moorex]

I think it'll work for now, but i think you want closer to 100w per plant using CFLs when they start growing into veg. My 2 bagseed sprouted and vegged fine on 6 23w 65k bulbs, but you've got double the number of plants I have.

 

[desertrat]

i'd add two more cfl's to have 2 per plant - it's hard to make a single cfl light two separate plants without causing stretching

 

[sm0keyrich510]

actually they are on strips at ground level...which just so happens to be level with the plants.

I just drew up a two second drawing in paint so you get the picture.

Let me any ideas thanx!

 

[sm0keyrich510]

and one typo...the box isnt enclosed (completely) not while the lights are running!

 

[kalikush420]

It'll work. I have the same amount of light accept I have more 2700k than 6500k in my setup. I just harvested and got an ounce and a half off two plants. Had to LST, crop, and super crop them of course.

 

[fredsgrow]

You may want to see about suspending the lights above the plant to simulate the approximate position of any plants natural source of light. Side lighting will definitely be required during flower to get to the lower branches, though. Kudos on the full spectrum, I'm just about ready to plug my 10-bulb set up in (8x6500, 2x2700 veg, swapped for flower). I may also suggest 2 more cfls for a total of 4/plant (roughly 100w/plant). That might give you that extra kick you'll need to ensure a heavy harvest going into the flowering stage, as well. Best of luck!

 

[sm0keyrich510]

You may want to see about suspending the lights above the plant to simulate the approximate position of any plants natural source of light. Side lighting will definitely be required during flower to get to the lower branches, though. Kudos on the full spectrum, I'm just about ready to plug my 10-bulb set up in (8x6500, 2x2700 veg, swapped for flower). I may also suggest 2 more cfls for a total of 4/plant (roughly 100w/plant). That might give you that extra kick you'll need to ensure a heavy harvest going into the flowering stage, as well. Best of luck!

I think im going to have to add more...maybe do a little lst soon as i feel comfortable enough in how to do it successfully.

im working with what i feel is a very limited space...for now!

 

[WvMade]

I think im going to have to add more...maybe do a little lst soon as i feel comfortable enough in how to do it successfully.

im working with what i feel is a very limited space...for now!

Go to Lowes Buy 100 watt cfls i hate buying 50 small ones just takes up more room and your like me you have limited room there about $16.99 but there worth it you can get 6700k and 2700k thats what i use there so much better then haveing a bunch of bulbs but since you have all the others don't waste them use them just buy 1 or 2 of the 100 for flowering



You can tell which ones are the 100 watts the others are 2x29 and 2x45

 

[sm0keyrich510]

Go to Lowes Buy 100 watt cfls i hate buying 50 small ones just takes up more room and your like me you have limited room there about $16.99 but there worth it you can get 6700k and 2700k thats what i use there so much better then haveing a bunch of bulbs but since you have all the others don't waste them use them just buy 1 or 2 of the 100 for flowering



You can tell which ones are the 100 watts the others are 2x29 and 2x45

See this was an original idea of mine but when i posted a while back i was told that it wasnt a good idea because the lumen to watt ratio decreases i believe above 42 watt ones...or maybe it was 23 idk.

well i will look into getting some. i have only 8 65K's (actually only 7...i went to unscrew one after only 1 use and it broke in my hand....didnt cut me thankfully) but i have a pack of 12 2700K's...so for flowering im pretty much set...however i still want to add sum bigger ones (100+)