cfl lighting advice?

I'm starting my first grow, and have my seeds germing at the moment. plan on saving up for a HPS in 3-4 weeks for flowering, but i'm really concerned about the lighting for the veg stage. Everyone says to use 6500k CFL's for vegging, but I've called and looked online for the 6500k cfl's and and walmart, home depot, lowes, ace hardware, all have 2700k, n some have 5000k. will 5000k work? how many lamps would i need for 3 seedlings sprouting under the cfls?

the 5000k will work, for the seedlings I would go with three lights a piece and as the plant grows it's second node, I'd add another three per plant, I'd go with 6 to 8 a plant. I'm currently running my plants in veg under 6 26watt 5000K cfl's

5600k work just fine for me. For 3 seedlings, I'd use 4 26w 5600k CFLs but that's just me. Socket splitters are great too...


remember to keep them a couple of inches from the bulbs... if your seedlings are in party cups, it makes things a lot easier.

I have two 400watt cfls (105watt a piece) and they are working out really good for my vegging. I plan on adding just one more when its blooming time

I use these. Available in 13W & 23W.

Plants use the red end of the spectrum and the blue end of the spectrum. They don't have much use for the middle part.

See this post written by self.

thanks for your replies.
now how do the splitters work? do i screw them into a lamp?

I totally agree w/ X, WELL I USE 5000k and ordered a 6500k, u might have to order it. im of the opinion that a dual spectrum is good, depending on the stage of development i.e veg or flowering the ratio is what i look at. i ordered a nice plug &play HPS grow panel yesterday....should be here mon./tues. IOW- what i mean is in veg. state i would have say for example 1 2700k for every 3 or 5- 5000/6500k. and during flowering i'd have say 4 example, well w/ the HPS i'll still use my cfl's for more lumens/lux. i would use 4 or 5 cfl's that are 5000k or 6500k (which seem hard to get b/c not many ppl. use bright-ass light like that in their living room..LOL). w/ my hps and 6 other 2700k cfl's.

right now i have over 20,000 lumens w/ the cfl, plus the HPS I'll be getting is 16,000 lumens alone, plus i have another cfl on order 6500k. i rather use cfl's for veg. then MH. but for flowering HPS is the best. see, u can use a metal halide for vegging but not thru the whole grow cycle BUT w/ an HPS u can use for flowering and throughout the whole cycle (i don't recommend unless ur auto-flowering) but my belief is the HPS red/orange spectrum is more important. just my opinion...u know what they say about opinions. LOL

p.s. i forgot X, THE Y-SPLITTERS I USE TOO. VERY GOOD WAY TO CONCENTRATE AND SAVE SPACE. ESPECIALLY W/ HOOD AND MYLAR REFLECTORS. I USE 42WATT CFL ( I DO HAVE A 25WATT) SO it can be a tough squeeze- i broke 1 last week....had to buy another...just glad it wasn't 1 i ordered.

BEST WISHES....................joey

twelww said:

thanks for your replies.
now how do the splitters work? do i screw them into a lamp?

Click to expand...

yes, they're $2-$3. I had to order mine online because I can't find them locally.

What do splitters do?

...or this

thank u guys soo much i was over stressing myself for no reason at all n i'm glad y'all came to my aid, n it seems like a lot of hassle buying like lamps n bulbs when i could just save n get an hps. but one quick question my area is just a closet now, dont have measuring tape, but at the least its 3'x3' n the 600w hps i want is going to be hot so should i go cool tube for $100, or air cooled hood... specifically just this light?

Xcon said:

...or this

Click to expand...

okaaaayy show off!! as i don't have a grow box yet (just a improvised grow area) so i use the clamp & hood (they come 2-gether w/ socket...gotta but the y-splitter tho) , im jealous! damm u X...LOL....great job!

I do very similar to joey. The vertical bulbs in the picture below are 23W 6500K the horizontal ones are 13W 2700K

BTW the link I posted above is a 4 pack of 23W 6500K for $15

Xcon: Thanks for the links in yoursignature. They were extremely helpful. I am not even going to lie...I amfemale and will not attempt to put this together in fear of catching myself or house onfire. Thank god my dad is a contractor and now I can show him what I want himto build me.

i am 2 weeks away from harvest and all i have used is fluro
they work man, ive impressed a few mates who didnt know it was possible.
the first grow i grew 3" bonsais with 1x23w cfl. worked fine. now i have a 3ft plant and i have 3x23w cfl, 5x20w flurecent tubes and a 40w household style bulb for good luck. no matter how many u have, just go on the rule i use - if its dark it wont grow, so any shadowy areas, just light up with another cfl and keep them about 3-4 inches away from your plant.
ive included a pic of my cupboard to help. and use white paint to reflect, not foil
im no profession myself but just definately encourage more people to try CFL, its cheap and anyone can do it