Can someone give me some theory behind the "fluffy buds" flourescent grow stories?

So it seems everywhere that people agree your buds will be fluffy if you use T5 bulbs for your flower stage. I'm wondering why this is? Is it because people aren't using enough lights when they use T5's? Or is it for some other reason? I'd really like to get to the bottom of this on curiosity alone.

I have a 1000W MH (it's a magnetic ballast so I don't think it will take HPS bulbs, could be wrong though) and my room is small and has limited ventilation, so I was thinking T5 would be the way to go as I use these lights for veg with good results. I was planning on using a crapload of T5s - probably eight bulbs per plant (36,000 lumens) placed around each plant like a "Teepee." That's as much light as having a 300W HPS per plant. You think I'd still get fluffy buds with this setup?

over distance from the bulbs, light dissipates greatly from a CFL or t5 as it is spread in all directions. to get an even coverage one would have to use many, MANY floros to get the same "light" from a single HID light - and probably use more wattage too. also, floros don't have the same penetration power so those buds closest to the light will be big and beautiful, those closer to the stem will be fluffy.


don't let this discourage you however - my first grow was with an aerogarden using only CFL's and I got around about a half o from a one foot plant.

t5's and CFL's still put off heat and having that many in a cramped space would still lead to a heat issue.

what size room are we talking about here? a little more info would help us help you alot more