Flowering with fluorescents

Okay so I wanted some feedback or thoughts rather on flowering with fluorescents, I have the option to throw up my 600W hps when I flower but I also have the T5 sunblazes that i can use.

Cliffs-
-Wanna try to flower with fluorescents
-Have a 600W hps to use if wanted
-trying to keep heat and power down(as well as sound)



The Setup:
GL80L
Vortex 8 inch fan(hate this thing -__-)
Maxlume T5 Light System
Can-Filter 33-13"
Extra T5 bulbs and T5 flowering bulbs
Backup 600w HPS and 600w MHL

Hey NoSwag,

First off I've only ever used MH/HPS lighting so I dont have any personal experience with flowering in Fluros. But from what I've seen from others you need to get the fluros very close. CFLs are good for that purpose because you can move them around the plant wherever they're needed. I don't think you'd be able to get as much light as you'd want to all the parts of the plant with just T5 on the top. You'd need some supplemental lighting for sure.

Theres a book I read not too long back by seemorebuds, and it shows a grow with CFLs and how they should be arranged.

I know it's not what youre looking for, but I hope that helped.

Psychedelic Breakfast said:

Hey NoSwag,

First off I've only ever used MH/HPS lighting so I dont have any personal experience with flowering in Fluros. But from what I've seen from others you need to get the fluros very close. CFLs are good for that purpose because you can move them around the plant wherever they're needed. I don't think you'd be able to get as much light as you'd want to all the parts of the plant with just T5 on the top. You'd need some supplemental lighting for sure.

Theres a book I read not too long back by seemorebuds, and it shows a grow with CFLs and how they should be arranged.

I know it's not what youre looking for, but I hope that helped.

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Thanks for the input, I would be flowering with the light right over the plants. Also scince im doing a scrog it just seems perfect for the "equal light opportunity" with that light panel im running. What you think the outcome could be?

You'll notice if you continue on with the T5's your buds will end up being a little smaller than with that HPS, but they wont be dense buds either, they will be very fluffy, so your overall yield will probably be about 1/2.

I wouldnt agree with you massah, ive seen some incredibly good yeilds with T5 fluoros. Question, how many bulbs does your fixture hold? im assuming its four, in that case you should use cool whites for vegging, which it looks like you are doing. Then, when you start to flower, id switch it to 3 warm white (for the red spectrum) and one cool white. That would do fine for flowering especially with Scrog growing. If you have the extra cash, id throw in some cfl's for extra lumens But my question to you, for that many fluoros, it might be cheaper to just run the HPS no?

Growse said:

I wouldnt agree with you massah, ive seen some incredibly good yeilds with T5 fluoros. Question, how many bulbs does your fixture hold? im assuming its four, in that case you should use cool whites for vegging, which it looks like you are doing. Then, when you start to flower, id switch it to 3 warm white (for the red spectrum) and one cool white. That would do fine for flowering especially with Scrog growing. If you have the extra cash, id throw in some cfl's for extra lumens But my question to you, for that many fluoros, it might be cheaper to just run the HPS no?

Click to expand...

That is a good responce and with good options ....... and the best part was the last part...." it might be cheaper to just run the HPS no?" Id say yes to that one..... First thing you should consider is where is your exhuast going to?? Is it going to be directed someplace OUTSIDE or atleast to someplace not in the room the grow tent is in?? that should be your first priority.... If you say you dont have an exhaust and you arent going to make one then id say your screwed as far as running a HPS bulb and just to use your CFLS and except the results that you get for what you put into it.....If you do want to make a proper exhaust with an OUTLET that goes someplace else other then the room your tent is in then we can talk about HID lights ....... Also like growe said if you do choose the no exhaust cfl light (suficate my plants) approach. then best to do a SOG grow becasue CFLS have little penetration and SOG growing lends itself best to that kinds low penatrating light......

Iv'e only gotten whispy buds, but good buds. depends on what you want. if you want braggin rights go HPS, if you want just good buds and save a $... T5 with CFLS around the base. You'll get good stuff either way IMO.

the endless debate, but it's good debate, just remember the cat can be skinned in many ways
here's a pic of someone's vertical fluoro setup(not mine), and these were t8's to boot

a person wastes like 3 months growing ??? just to get litterally nothing from goin with t'5s you got a 600 use it in flowering
more n more i am thinking of this thread i think geez flors are good for cloneing and i guess vegging if your into slow mo growing hahahhaa