Best light to use for vegging

gimmenobammerweed

Well-Known Member
I'm using cfls to veg my plants right now but they don't seem to be growing bigger. I think it's due to the weak lighting that they're under rift now but I'm not sure. So I was wondering; what's the most efficient light for vegging my plants.my plants were thriving under an hps light but the electricty bill was way to much.
 

GreatwhiteNorth

Global Moderator
Staff member
HPS is a bit in the red spectrum for veg - I prefer M/H & am very happy running 1200W. The bill is not so nice, but the bud is phenomenal.
 

keepinabeat

Well-Known Member
how many watts of cfl and how many bulbs and how big of an hps and how many plants and there size thanks
 

gimmenobammerweed

Well-Known Member
here's a pic of the babies a week ago:





im using 2 cfls that came out of a workshop and some smaller desk lights that i got at a garage sale. i'm willing to spend money on a light that is energy efficient but will still make my plants grow, i'm just not sure which light to go with.
 

ha38bb

Member
here's a pic of the babies a week ago:





im using 2 cfls that came out of a workshop and some smaller desk lights that i got at a garage sale. i'm willing to spend money on a light that is energy efficient but will still make my plants grow, i'm just not sure which light to go with.
ur lights r way to high up. lower them to just a couple inches above ur plants. get some more cfl's also
 

darkdestruction420

Well-Known Member
yeah man, lower them lights right away. cfl lighting intensity greatly decreases the farther from the bulb it is. i keep mine a few cm away, but a few inches would be fine like the other guy said.
 

infdjedi

Well-Known Member
1. How many watts of CFLS are those? You need at least 150W of CFLS that are only 2-3 inches from the plants.. meaning your going to need a bunch of CFLS evenly spread out across your garden. If you want to run 12 potted plants and a bunch of clones, your going to need at least 400W H, though you would get much better results w/ a 600W MH.
2. Those clones should be under CFLs and in a humidity dome for best results... unless they are already rooted and you got them elsewhere.
3. Buy a 600W Switchable ballast and you will be very happy with the results. Power isnt so bad.
 

gimmenobammerweed

Well-Known Member
1. How many watts of CFLS are those? You need at least 150W of CFLS that are only 2-3 inches from the plants.. meaning your going to need a bunch of CFLS evenly spread out across your garden. If you want to run 12 potted plants and a bunch of clones, your going to need at least 400W H, though you would get much better results w/ a 600W MH.
2. Those clones should be under CFLs and in a humidity dome for best results... unless they are already rooted and you got them elsewhere.
3. Buy a 600W Switchable ballast and you will be very happy with the results. Power isnt so bad.
i'm not sure how many watts my flouro is but im defenitely going to lower the light tonight. the 600w mh sounds like a good idea but i have an extra 750w light. on my 750w i have an option on the ballast to set it at 75%. do u think it would be a good idea to run the 750w at 75% to light my whole room?
 

sixstring2112

Well-Known Member
YES, fire that bad boy up. but not on your clones. That 750 on 75% is way better than any clf and you will see the dif in days.it will be like having a 562.5 watt veggin machine and when your plants get used to them bump it up to 100% . peace
 

plaguedog

Active Member
I've tried CFL's, 2700k and 6500k, MH, and HPS. They all work about the same (in veg). No real noticeable difference.
 
Top