CFL Proximity to each other
- Thread starter ottomatik
- Start date
Hettyman
Well-Known Member
Yes you can, provided you have sufficient air circulation, and even if you don't, they run so cool, I doubt there would be an issues. Heat should be your only issue (provided you have them set up evenly around your plants), and as long as you can hold your hand between the bulbs without discomfort, you should have no problems. That said, the only prob I can possibly see with the bulbs getting too hot is premature ageing (of the bulb, not your skin)
I guess that you are up to scratch on light intensity of CFL's and distant from plants??
I guess that you are up to scratch on light intensity of CFL's and distant from plants??
ottomatik
Well-Known Member
+rep...OK cool thanks for the good info. I'm considering the idea of building a CFL grow box since it seems pretty cost effective.
From my reading here on RIU, it seems the CFLs can be placed within a couple inches of the plant but i wasn't sure if this was true of the bigger wattage CFLs. My original thought was to place several large CFLs at the top of the grow box, not necessarily "surrounding" the plant if you know what I mean. Do you think that would work out?
I'm thinking like a 6ft wide x 4ft deep x 4 or 5ft tall box with anywhere from 6-10 large CFLs (150w or better most likely). Max number of plants in box would be 8. Any of this is subject to change, still brainstorming.
Do you think it would better to mount the lights horizontally across the top of the box, or hang them vertically between the plants or a combo of both? Also, would the wattage I'm planning on be sufficient for 8 plants? Thanks in advance!
From my reading here on RIU, it seems the CFLs can be placed within a couple inches of the plant but i wasn't sure if this was true of the bigger wattage CFLs. My original thought was to place several large CFLs at the top of the grow box, not necessarily "surrounding" the plant if you know what I mean. Do you think that would work out?
I'm thinking like a 6ft wide x 4ft deep x 4 or 5ft tall box with anywhere from 6-10 large CFLs (150w or better most likely). Max number of plants in box would be 8. Any of this is subject to change, still brainstorming.
Do you think it would better to mount the lights horizontally across the top of the box, or hang them vertically between the plants or a combo of both? Also, would the wattage I'm planning on be sufficient for 8 plants? Thanks in advance!
Ok, so first question: I've been running 200w equiv. (43w) cfl's and 100w equiv. (23w) pretty much touching or about 1/2 inch apart for 2 weeks now. No issues for the bulbs themselves, as long as your air is moving.
This is what mine looks like. When they get bigger, I will be adding more lights to the sides to get the lower buds the light that they otherwise would not receive from top only lighting. Also I will be hanging vertically between the plants as you described. Hopefully by these methods, and keeping the lights as close as possible and adjusting daily, way we can remove the disadvantages of using CFL lights (not enough penetration/coverage)
This is what mine looks like. When they get bigger, I will be adding more lights to the sides to get the lower buds the light that they otherwise would not receive from top only lighting. Also I will be hanging vertically between the plants as you described. Hopefully by these methods, and keeping the lights as close as possible and adjusting daily, way we can remove the disadvantages of using CFL lights (not enough penetration/coverage)
Hettyman
Well-Known Member
Right, if you want a set up that big, and that many plants, forget CFL really, you just won't be getting enough bang for your buck, and it sounds like you want to grow a fair bit of budd. I've never done big grows, I've just set up a 250w HPS, and that is more then enough to keep me smoking.
If you want to keep your box height down to 4 or 5 foot, may I suggest something more like 4'w x 3'd x 5'h, and put 2 x 250w hps, and have 2 rows of 4 plants. Alternatively stick a 400w hps in there and some CFL's for side lighting.
Ultimately, it all depends on what you want from your grow, and what space and growing considerations you have (noise, smell, neighbours, landlords, house mates etc). what grow experience do you have? I had a little look at your LED, and your plants look nice my friend, I'm surprised that LEDs can do it.
Oh yeah and even big cfl's can be a half inch away from the bulb, provided you have plenty of air circulation, just like trunks says. The problem is during certain growth periods you will be raising the bulbs daily.
Thanks for the rep...it's nice to spread knowledge rather then leech it off everyone else for a chnage
If you want to keep your box height down to 4 or 5 foot, may I suggest something more like 4'w x 3'd x 5'h, and put 2 x 250w hps, and have 2 rows of 4 plants. Alternatively stick a 400w hps in there and some CFL's for side lighting.
Ultimately, it all depends on what you want from your grow, and what space and growing considerations you have (noise, smell, neighbours, landlords, house mates etc). what grow experience do you have? I had a little look at your LED, and your plants look nice my friend, I'm surprised that LEDs can do it.
Oh yeah and even big cfl's can be a half inch away from the bulb, provided you have plenty of air circulation, just like trunks says. The problem is during certain growth periods you will be raising the bulbs daily.
Thanks for the rep...it's nice to spread knowledge rather then leech it off everyone else for a chnage
ottomatik
Well-Known Member
Thanks for helping out all! This is awesome... so a little background info:
I'm authorized to cultivate up to 12 plants and I only have room for 3 or 4 in the closet in my house. Don't have any other options in the house. It's killing me that I only have 3 going right now when I could have 4x that many! I'm concerned this yield might not even get me until the next one.
I do have a workshop/man cave type room that's attached to my garage. This is where I would like to put my cabinet. The room is 6ft wide and really deep. The huge issue I will have to face is controlling heat. I live in the desert Southwest, extremely hot temps here. Pumping A/C is not an option due to cost. I would have to hire an electrician to do some major work like adding breaker panels, etc. plus the monthly cost of running it here would be a lot. MAYBE a small swamp cooler would be an option but not even sure about that. Half of the room is insulated and drywalled and the other half is not, just bare studs.
I'm a little surprised how expensive all the equipment has been so far, just to get the closet grow running, so don't have much cash to put into this other box I want to build. That's the main reason I was thinking CFLs. That, and the heat issue but I will definitely compare costs on HID vs. CFL for my specific needs.
End goal: Grow 8 more plants in this room.
Strategy: No idea yet
Any suggestions having that additional info?
forgot to answer some of your questions:
-I'm in my first grow, so no experience to speak of but I've researched like mad here on RIU so have a good idea of what to do and what not to do.
-Smell would be a concern but I plan on dealing with that later by adding filters and ona gel and whatever else I can do. I will be exhausting to the attic or maybe right outside into the backyard, not sure yet. If I exhaust to the backyard, i was planning on planting some other fragrant flowers near the exhuast port to help mask the smell.
-Thanks for the props on my current grow, can't wait until they start putting on the weight!
I'm authorized to cultivate up to 12 plants and I only have room for 3 or 4 in the closet in my house. Don't have any other options in the house. It's killing me that I only have 3 going right now when I could have 4x that many! I'm concerned this yield might not even get me until the next one.
I do have a workshop/man cave type room that's attached to my garage. This is where I would like to put my cabinet. The room is 6ft wide and really deep. The huge issue I will have to face is controlling heat. I live in the desert Southwest, extremely hot temps here. Pumping A/C is not an option due to cost. I would have to hire an electrician to do some major work like adding breaker panels, etc. plus the monthly cost of running it here would be a lot. MAYBE a small swamp cooler would be an option but not even sure about that. Half of the room is insulated and drywalled and the other half is not, just bare studs.
I'm a little surprised how expensive all the equipment has been so far, just to get the closet grow running, so don't have much cash to put into this other box I want to build. That's the main reason I was thinking CFLs. That, and the heat issue but I will definitely compare costs on HID vs. CFL for my specific needs.
End goal: Grow 8 more plants in this room.
Strategy: No idea yet
Any suggestions having that additional info?
forgot to answer some of your questions:
-I'm in my first grow, so no experience to speak of but I've researched like mad here on RIU so have a good idea of what to do and what not to do.
-Smell would be a concern but I plan on dealing with that later by adding filters and ona gel and whatever else I can do. I will be exhausting to the attic or maybe right outside into the backyard, not sure yet. If I exhaust to the backyard, i was planning on planting some other fragrant flowers near the exhuast port to help mask the smell.
-Thanks for the props on my current grow, can't wait until they start putting on the weight!
Warriorbuds
Well-Known Member
I have 23w cfl's literally touching each other, bulb to bulb and even bulb to balast, and they are working great! Very versitile! I also found closer than 3-4" from plant was burning plants! Be carefull and dont believe everything you read on the internet!! Lol
Good luck!
Good luck!