Can I use just one CFL for veg and flowering?

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Yaaaldi

Member
So I'm doing my first grow in a closet and I'm trying to keep my budget to a minimum. I'm going to be using an auto-flowering strain.

My closet is 160x90x45 cm and I'm only gonna grow one plant in there for my first time.

What kind of wattage should I be looking at for?

I was hoping a 125W flowering lamp like this would hopefully also get me through veg:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/125W-RED-2700K-5U-CFL-GROW-LIGHT-FLOWERING-HYDROPONICS-/280525677124?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item4150a22244#ht_3559wt_1137

Or I was thinking a 65W 6400K bulb for veg and then when flowering comes, keep that light on and then add a 2700K 65 bulb alongside it?

I was hoping because the strain is autoflowering I could get away with just one temperature light?

What do you guys think? Looking for a low watt cheap solution.
 
stumpjumper

stumpjumper

Well-Known Member
You can veg with 1-23w daylight bulb.. You can buy them for about $3. When it starts bushing out buy another.. 2 is all you need. Flowering is a different story though.
 
bouche753

bouche753

Active Member
i grew an auto under 1 red 125w lamp like that check my first grow link in my sig
if u have any other small bulbs (red,blue or purple) throw them in to the extra lumens will help
 
WickedPagan

WickedPagan

Active Member
I veged up to 11" with one 23w 6500k 4-pin CFL, and it was bushy as fuck. I then added more lights just before I switched to flower. The key is try to use every last bit of that light, I surrounded my pot with poster board then stuck the light over head along with an over head oscillating fan. It probably would have grown a lot bigger with more lights but it definitely did work.
 
Y

Yaaaldi

Member
so would I be better off with the 125W red bulb for the whole thing? or 65W blue for veg and then adding the 65W red come flowering?
 
stumpjumper

stumpjumper

Well-Known Member
I would buy one or two 23w daylights and switch to the one you have now plus some extra 23w soft whites for flower..
 
tadamofo

tadamofo

Active Member
it will work and dont listen to anyone who hasnt tried it cuz they are just repeating wat they have read.
im vegging under 191 watts of 2700k and 10 watts of 6500k and my plants are loving it.

i have a pic on my comp somewhere but im to high to care to find it
 
R

r7o2d6

Member
Watt's aren't much actually, I've seen CFL's that have a high wattage but lower lumens being put out than something of less wattage, With CFL's you're better off to use multiple low wattage bulbs rather than one high wattage bulb because you'll be able to cover more of the plant doing so, What I'm going to do for my setup is get 7 26 watt 2700k for the flowering stage and 7 26watt 6500k for vegging, I'm going to be using 10 lights total at a time so during vegging I'm going to use 7 6500k and 3 2700k and the opposite for flowering, Everything you need to know is already here, Just look around, Keep them an inch to two inches away from the plant, Then let em grow, Also if you haven't already get some reflective surface to go around your plant, Basically what you could do is get some Styrofoam and cover the inside of it with Mylar, Then put your beauty inside those walls as well as the light source then you're set. For just one plant I'd suggest you go simple and get two 6500k and two 2700k, Go ahead and use them all at once if you like, But hey that's up to you
 
WickedPagan

WickedPagan

Active Member
Yaaaldi said:
so would I be better off with the 125W red bulb for the whole thing? or 65W blue for veg and then adding the 65W red come flowering?
Click to expand...
Yes! Blue for veg, red for flower. I'm sure 65w CFL will be plenty to veg, and if you decided you need more light you can always do that later. Just try it out and see what happens, that's the best way to learn.
 
Medi 1

Medi 1

Well-Known Member
agreed...multi cfl with less wattages. no penetration with cfl so gives a better over all coverage. most cfl are only good for a couple inches of good light
 
Y

Yaaaldi

Member
also I was wondering whats the best thing I can cover the surface of my wardrobe with? I'm looking for something cheap. Bearing in mind I want to keep heat to a minimum cause I'm growing in a closet.

Foil, white paint, emergency blanket?
 
B

BigBudE

Well-Known Member
Menards has a sale on the 23w daylight cfl they are 4 for 10. Im using 12 on 2 mothers. Use the 5000K or the daylight 6500K for veg, then 2700 (or around there) for flowering. for veg im using the daylight (6500K)
hope this helps
BigBudE
 
Y

Yaaaldi

Member
cheers for the deal but im in the UK. but could you tell me how you would go about wiring 4 CFL's cost effectively and still have them easy to move as the plant grows?

also what to cover my closet in ^^^
 
P

PsymonCloud9

New Member
Sorry to bump an old thread but I was looking at a cheap alternative for reflective material for the grow closet walls and I was in the garage and something shiny caught my eye... I found a car windshield sun reflector I had bought for 5 bucks. Works good if your on a budget!
 
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