Constructive Criticism Please..
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
Not going to yield much with that setup. Maybe 1/2oz if you're lucky.
Your plant is only getting about 1/4 of the light given off by those bare bulbs the way they are. Fashioning some reflectors out of tin foil to direct all the light toward the plant will help a bunch and increase the yield somewhat. You can put the foil right on the bulbs and use twist ties or the foil itself to hold it around the base or tuck it in at the top of the bub to hold it in place. Put the shiny side against the bulb to get max reflection and don't listen to anyone who might say you'll get hot spots and hurt your plant. CFLs just don't have the intensity to do that but even a 150W HPS can. In fact a 150W security light would really boost your yield. Just make sure it's HPS and not some other type of light. They do get a lot warmer tho so heat may be an issue.
I'd try and get a bulb or two down in the middle of the pant to fatten up those lower buds too. Those bulbs all look like daylight types, 6500K, so you should swap out half or more with warmer lights around 2700K that have more red in them to promote better budding. They would look yellow in your pic but are really redder.
Your plant looks nice and healthy so would definitely respond better with more quality light.
Good luck!
Your plant is only getting about 1/4 of the light given off by those bare bulbs the way they are. Fashioning some reflectors out of tin foil to direct all the light toward the plant will help a bunch and increase the yield somewhat. You can put the foil right on the bulbs and use twist ties or the foil itself to hold it around the base or tuck it in at the top of the bub to hold it in place. Put the shiny side against the bulb to get max reflection and don't listen to anyone who might say you'll get hot spots and hurt your plant. CFLs just don't have the intensity to do that but even a 150W HPS can. In fact a 150W security light would really boost your yield. Just make sure it's HPS and not some other type of light. They do get a lot warmer tho so heat may be an issue.
I'd try and get a bulb or two down in the middle of the pant to fatten up those lower buds too. Those bulbs all look like daylight types, 6500K, so you should swap out half or more with warmer lights around 2700K that have more red in them to promote better budding. They would look yellow in your pic but are really redder.
Your plant looks nice and healthy so would definitely respond better with more quality light.
Good luck!
Takeoff28
Active Member
Thanks! I've always suspected I should find a way to add reflectors but didn't think to use foil, will definitely make those today. I didn't know if dropping a light in the middle would "confuse" top buds. I have about 3- 2700k out of 8 lights at this point, been swapping one 6500 for a 2700 every week of flower. Any thoughts as far as trimming additional fan leaves?
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
There are so few leaves on that plant now I wouldn't take any off. Leaves are the plants solar panels and make the food your plant needs to grow and when you take them off the plant puts more energy into growing new ones when you want it growing buds. Wouldn't matter much if you had a bushy indica but your plant is stretched out a lot and leaves are far and few between.
You can grow plants with no overhead lights and it all coming from the side and the plant will grow fine. Adding light lower down won't confuse anyone and will help the lower buds fatten up.
You can grow plants with no overhead lights and it all coming from the side and the plant will grow fine. Adding light lower down won't confuse anyone and will help the lower buds fatten up.
vostok
Well-Known Member
keep the electrics above ya waist and water below, to extend ur life span
to my blog on the members arrays:
https://www.rollitup.org/Journal/Entry/a-collection-of-diy-ghetto-blasters.30154/
good luck
Los Reefersaurus
Well-Known Member
Nice quote I like it
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
Little on the small side for week four but many fatten up a lot near the end.
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
keep the electrics above ya waist and water below, to extend ur life span
to my blog on the members arrays:
https://www.rollitup.org/Journal/Entry/a-collection-of-diy-ghetto-blasters.30154/
good luck
Too bad those CFLs aren't mounted on their sides as 80% of the light is given off from the sides so a lot is getting wasted. By the time the light hits a reflective surface and bounces down to the plants it's lost a lot of it's intensity.
BOB SPONGE
Member
My blood giving friend,i just would like your opinion on what is best reflective material for this sm cupboard iv'e been talking to you about. Got 4 T5s lowered down to 2-3in above seedlings,was wondering if mirrors are any good or something else
Cx2H
Well-Known Member
Greetings, flat white or titanium paint.
vostok
Well-Known Member
Try a cheap viparspectra light off amazon... Ive been running the 600w complete spectrum and it has been a dream. Plants look good though... Just hungry for more light!
HazednConfused
Well-Known Member
Next time keep the cfls within 1-3 inches of the plant, throughout it's life to keep that stretch down. An even canopy is key with Cfls. Good luck
Takeoff28
Active Member
I will try the viparspectra next time. Can't make it work in current grow closet.
Takeoff28
Active Member
I nute burned first couple of weeks and thought was light burn smh, so kept them high, I know now
Cx2H
Well-Known Member
Atleast 4 more weeks.
'Thanks for coming out, God bless and goodnight'
ANC
Well-Known Member
Those are spiral bulbs, the whole reason you use them is that they don't dump all the light out the sides.Too bad those CFLs aren't mounted on their sides as 80% of the light is given off from the sides so a lot is getting wasted. By the time the light hits a reflective surface and bounces down to the plants it's lost a lot of it's intensity.
I would cut off the tiny flowers at the bottom, they are a waste of energy.
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
I've tested with a simple light meter making sure the distance was the same from the bulb and it's easily 20 - 25% more light coming off the side than from the end. Put a piece of tinfoil against the back of the bulb and it jumps up another 10 - 15%.
They are already a low power light source for plants so I like to get the most I can out of them.