Educated First Timer DWC

Hey Experts

So I have a few seeds germinating. I currently have 3 feminised hybrid seeds in rockwool cubes, although i'll probably only grow 2. Now that i'm actually doing this, I need some surefire advice on what methods and techniques I should implement to maximize yield and potency for 2 plants. I'm aimin' for the fences. BUT... I plan to use CFL's. a combination of T5 High Outputs and regular spirals with 2700K & 6400K. Right now I only have a total of about 17,000 Lumens but I plant to add more lights as the crop continues on. I understand MH and HPS lamps are the best bet, but I'd like to know how to grow big boy plants with these specific lights. I'll be using 5 gallon buckets, hydroton, the 3 part GH series, in a 4x4x6.5 mylar reflective tent. I'll probably grab some H202 and Blackstrap Molasses. Should I Top? Supercrop? any insight to how I can do this efficiently would be appreciated.

Generally if you have time I think topping a couple of times works well in getting your plant bushy and then after recovery I may FIM a few tops. If your going to run CFL's your going to need a lot of lights in flower, I find it works best if you position the bulbs close to the tops, generally one over each top in flower. I know you have heard it before but I would suggest a 150w hps placed near the top of your tent in addition to having the CFL's right over the tops but be careful and watch for stretch. The 150w hps can give you a boost in lumens and also won't heat your tent much. Your T5's you could run vertical along the frame of the tent. Just a suggestion, but I definitely recommend placing a bulb over every top. Good luck and happy growing.
KnB

I agree with Kush's statement as well. That big tent will take a lot of light. If you're bound and determined to use just the cflz and the T5 then I would definately top and lst your plants to keep them short and wide. I only top once and then lst the main branches afterwards and it seems to work pretty well for me. Just saying with all that room you wanna make the most of your light coverage. In keeping the plants shorter and fatter you could place your lights at equal levels above the whole canopy rather than letting them both grow uncontrolled and risk one plant being way taller/bigger than the other. I think the key with cfls is really controlling how much branching your plants do to make the light available to the main branches only and not so much side growth. Obviously more light equals more crop....hope this helps. Cheerz

You are being very ambitious for the lighting you plan. Remember, it's all a tradeoff. I would plan for your grow to be contained within a 2x2 quadrant of that tent. Veg all three plants but before you go to 12/12, cull the smallest one. Don't veg long, you don't have the lights for any big boy plants. Get the healthiest plants you can and learn a lot along the way. Next time you will want a 600w hps in that tent.

I don't know what kind of yield your looking for from 2 plants under CFL and T5 But here is what I run. I have a room about the same size4' X 6' and I can get my light up to about 6' to the bottom of the hood. I run a 1000 watt hps. and usually have between 4 and 8 plants. The best yield I have ever gotten was just over a lb and average about 13oz.

There is no magic formula