Where to get red spectrum CFLs?

[witelightnin]

Anyone know a good site to get red spectrum CFLs for flowering for a moderate price? Unfortunately none of my local stores carry the red spectrum bulbs and I'd really like a few for my flowering room. I'm on a budget here but I'm really looking to get the most I can out of my grow. Thanks!

 

[un named]

hey, whats your budget? these ones are $17.90 and you get a pack of 3 25 watt 2700k not a bad price but im not sure on the shipping could be free. ill try dig up a few more sites for you.

 

[Gastanker]

red spectrum is what 90% of the CFLs are. Pretty sure if your store carries CFLs it carries the proper spectrum. Home depot has them in 12 packs for $16 an they come with a 9 year warranty.

I often find them in 4 packs at the dollar store (25 cents a bulb).

 

[un named]

its actually proberly worth going for the 35 watt for an extra 3 dollars http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-3-Pack---35-Watt-Compact-Fluorescent-Bulbs.asp

if you was after big wattage go for these 85 watt $26.20 free shipping http://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-SL85-30K-MOG-Wattage/dp/B0035XXNLM/ref=sr_1_23?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1318913905&sr=1-23

maybe give ebay a go. hope this helped

 

[Gastanker]

Keep in mind that with CFLs you want the bulb as close as possible to all parts of the plants. You are better off with more smaller bulbs than fewer larger bulbs. Lumen/watts 45w and 48w bulbs are the most efficient, 68w and 23w are about the same, and lower and higher than those and it gets worse.

Here are some for fairly cheap at home depot - http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical-Light-Bulbs-Compact-Tube-Fluorescents-Compact-Fluorescents/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbmat/R-100686997/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[SlimJim503]

1000bulbsdotcom the lower the amount of watts the better lum per watt i grow with 23-26 watt also the larger the CFL the hotter the ballast gets and 80w get to hot to even touch if you dont have 50CFM or higher moving over the bulb just get a 150w hps flood light or some shit cheap 16,000 lums and with the same air/fan as on the 80w the 150hps stays cool i have mine less then 4 inches away from the top of my plant. 23-26w get hot too but if you have slight air moving over then they stay cool to the touch this is all from experience not something i read or was told.........

If your growing in a box you want a remote ballast i got mine from HTGsupplydotcom had it in a 17 1/2x18x33 inch box one intake one exhaust and one blowing on the bulb all 110CFM but not a single heat issue.....

Just my two cents look for warm light thats 2700K "red spectrum"

 

[witelightnin]

cool, thanks for all the suggestions. SlimJim, unfortunately right now ventilation is a bit too much of an issue for me to swap to HPS or anything producing a lot more heat and really I don't have the knowledge of ventilation systems to make it work. Gastanker, while I realize a lot of the bulbs have the 2700k heat color, I was actually hoping for something that produces more specific red light. I know I've seen people using them in the past, but all the 2700k bulbs I've found are very white and don't seem ideal for bloom. I might just throw a few more bulbs in around the plants and focus more on getting them fully covered by light rather than trying for a better spectrum. Again, thanks for all the ideas and +rep for all.

 

[HSA]

Witelightnin: if you want to go with T-5's you'll find both spectrums; blue for vegging and red for flowering, readily available on line and at most hydro stores. Of course it depends on what you call affordable. In a 2' tube they're between $5 and $6 a piece, but there's no heat problem from the lamps. I keep them 1 inch off the tops of my plants without any problems. It's a good set up for personal stealthy guerrilla growers. HSA

 

[Gastanker]

cool, thanks for all the suggestions. SlimJim, unfortunately right now ventilation is a bit too much of an issue for me to swap to HPS or anything producing a lot more heat and really I don't have the knowledge of ventilation systems to make it work. Gastanker, while I realize a lot of the bulbs have the 2700k heat color, I was actually hoping for something that produces more specific red light. I know I've seen people using them in the past, but all the 2700k bulbs I've found are very white and don't seem ideal for bloom. I might just throw a few more bulbs in around the plants and focus more on getting them fully covered by light rather than trying for a better spectrum. Again, thanks for all the ideas and +rep for all.

When people say 'red' and 'blue' they don't actually mean bright red light and blue lights. If you managed to find a red tinted light it would NOT grow your bud better than a 2700k, it would actually be much worse. The one exception would be a red LED but even then you would need several differing hues of red LED.

If you find a truly red CFL it is due to a filter. This means that the light produces the same spectrum as a 2700k but that half of this light is being filtered (kept back/blocked). All you would be buying is a really really dim 2700k bulb, unless it's a really really dim filtered 5500k bulb - even worse.

This will NOT grow good bud: