CFL's?????????

[oldleave53]

Any cfl experts out here to answer what might seem to be an easy enough question ( or so you would think lol). In a 2*4 tent how many 23w mixture bulbs would you have for only 3 or 4 plants?

 

[Nice Ol Bud]

As many as you want.
Cant get enough lumens.. They sure love those lumens..

 

[Hugo Phurst]

At least 8, 23W CFL's for 4 plants, more would be better. Use a 3:1mix for a fuller spectrum.
Veg 3, 6500K (daylight) to 1, 2700K (soft/warm). Flower is the other way around, but I'd recommend a HPS for that.

Have fun.

 

[rollinbud]

I'd be more worried about having enough room for 4 plants in such a small area, unless you buy small varieties. I would recommend at least 150w actual per plant. I wouldn't use 23w ones, but would use some 55watt and 40 watt ones (300w equiv and 200w equiv. )
I am getting 3/4 to ounce plus per plant depending on strain. The more cfl's the better. Shoot for about 7500-10k Lumens. I do have some smaller bulbs as well. I don't mix color temps. either.

 

[oldleave53]

If did my math right I have roughly 21000 (probably a little less). I made 2 cfl fixtures out of heat and air ducting and some bathroom fixtures ( a video I saw on youtube). I have 4-5000K and 2-2700K on each all 23 watt so that is a total of 12 bulbs an the bulbs packaging said each bulb puts out 1750 lumen's I'm sure that's a little on the high end but it gotta be close. Is that enough for 3 or 4 plant when talking about CFL's?

 

[rollinbud]

It should work fine, I would be more worried about having enough space. I did a 5 plant grow in a 3'x6' area and ran out of room. Personally I think the higher wattage cfl's work better in flowering for sure.

 

[oldleave53]

Im flowering in a differnt room with 4ft 8 bulb T5. I just got the tent and I made the cfl fixtures for about $55.00. thats a hell of alot cheaper than buying another T5. Im not rich by no means.

And also they put out the exact amount of lumens as the t5.

 

[Total Head]

Any cfl experts out here to answer what might seem to be an easy enough question ( or so you would think lol). In a 2*4 tent how many 23w mixture bulbs would you have for only 3 or 4 plants?

as many as you can fit and afford without creating a heat issue. most on the top, some on the sides, if they'll fit. t5 tubes make excellent side light also, if you can get them, and they don't take up the room that cfls do.

 

[oldleave53]

21000 Lumens, 1200 watts, in this space is 150 watts per sq/ft and 2625 lumens per sq/ft. For four plants to veg in 8 sq/ft I dont think that's cramping it at all but I'm no expert.

 

[oldleave53]

as many as you can fit and afford without creating a heat issue. most on the top, some on the sides, if they'll fit. t5 tubes make excellent side light also, if you can get them, and they don't take up the room that cfls do.

With what is in the tent now the temp is pretty much staying right at 77 or 78 I know that should be a bit lower but Im not stressing over 3 or 4 degrees, the rh is around 40% and I know that needs to be a bit higher for vegging so Im gonna work on that.

 

[rollinbud]

Another 5 degrees in temp wouldn't hurt a thing, it doesn't need to be lower than 78, 80-85 works great. I used to try to keep it under 80, now I don't start getting concerned till 85.
You can hang a wet towel in a bowl of water and it will help with RH

 

[oldleave53]

Another 5 degrees in temp wouldn't hurt a thing, it doesn't need to be lower than 78, 80-85 works great. I used to try to keep it under 80, now I don't start getting concerned till 85.
You can hang a wet towel in a bowl of water and it will help with RH

Cool man. Im gonna try the towel thing, if I do two in two differnt bowls it should help even more. I would like for my vegging rh to be around 60% or 65%.