Growing with household LED bulbs?

Noob grower here.

Ive read a lot of conflicting stuff about growing with household LED bulbs. No ££ to buy a proper grow light. Is it possible?

I have a whole bunch of bulbs with e27 sockets here:
- 3x 6500k day light LED bulb (1320 lumen / 100w equivalent)
- 4x 4000k cool white LED bulb (75w equivalent)
- 3x 2600k warm white LED bulb (1320 lumen / 100w equivalent)
- 6x 2600k warm white LED bulb (75w equivalent)
- 1x 24w COB 3000k LED bulb
- 8x blurpie LED cheap grow light bulbs ("10w" advertised, 106* 2835SMD LEDs, 86Red + 20Blue, plastic body)
- 2x blurpie LED cheap grow light bulbs ("28w" advertised, 28* 28SMD LEDs, 15Red+ 7Blue+ 4 White+ 1 IR+ 1 UV, aluminium body)
- 1x 6500k day light 20-25w CFL
- 2x 2700k warm white 25w CFLs

I also have these:
- 1x 25w UVB Reptile CFL
- 1x 4.5v Blacklight LED torch bulb + adapter
- 10m of 12v 5050 LED light strip + adapter (not sure if RGB or RGBw)

I want to save on energy where poss, so planning to use a combination of everything, instead of just CFLs. I wanted to use as much LEDs as poss with as little CFLs as poss.

My grow space for veg is a well ventilated PC case; but im going to move into a grow tent when it gets too big.

Im growing RQS Quick One autos and planning to keep it short with LST, and growing using Coco/perlite 5050 using canna coco, rhizo, zyme, boost, seaweed, magnesium silicate.

It would be possible to grow with these lights if they were positioned properly and the plant was kept very very horizontal with LST. It's going to be a challenge though, and you're not going to yield much.

As above, you're not going to get a whole lot.
Start saving.

Good luck

You’re going to grow in a PC case? How big is it?
I’m sure you have a lot of lights in that list that would keep a plant in veg if it’s real small.
When it gets big and you go to a tent you’ll have a hard time plugging in 20 individual led bulbs and blurples. It’d take some wiring and you’re talking screw in household LEDs right? They’d each need a socket and cord. Plus real low intensity with them compared to a dedicated led grow light.

rollitupupf said:

Noob grower here.

Ive read a lot of conflicting stuff about growing with household LED bulbs. No ££ to buy a proper grow light. Is it possible?

Click to expand...

Sure, but the bulbs and sockets will take up valuable vertical space. I think strips would fit best in a PC case.

Imo you can get away with getting most of your equipment for a cheaper price or devise a way to use what you have. Personally I am a cheap grower, I don't spend money on anything unless I have to and I procrastinate about that. One thing you can't skimp on is the flowing light. It's the difference in weight, quality and quantity. Multiply your grow space and divide that by your lights wattage. 4x4=16 720÷16= 45 watts a sqft. You'd want a minimum of 30 watts a sqft with a high end led like horticultural lighting group, growers choice led, or chill led. Anything less than that I can only recommend mars hydro ( FC-SERIES) maybe a spider farmer. You'll want 50 to 60 watts per sqft with blurples. Unless the blurple is a blackdog. I only veg my closet with 165watts, my 3x3 with 192 watts. My flower tent a 4x4 has 720 watts. You're trying to represent the sun, there's not a light available that can come close yet. But having a quality light helps. Having inadequate lighting is like shooting yourself in the foot. Lastly I'm not saying you have to get an expensive light this first grow, start small. Educate yourself and understand your medium of choice and how to properly water and use nutrients. Until one understands how to take a plant into flower and throughout healthy there isn't a light available that can make up the difference in a growers lack of knowledge. Good luck bud

rollitupupf said:

Noob grower here.

Ive read a lot of conflicting stuff about growing with household LED bulbs
...................................

Im growing RQS Quick One autos and planning to keep it short with LST, and growing using Coco/perlite 5050 using canna coco, rhizo, zyme, boost, seaweed, magnesium silicate.

Click to expand...

My first grow (before the "first grow" in my sig) was in a apple crate that I lined with foil and hung a single burple.
4 micro plants yielded about 1.5 ounces.
I had a blast, and that first bowl of weed that I took from seed to smoke was one of the most satisfying bowls EVER!
Hope you have the same experience!


DO get a "real" light. - You want REAL watts - not "100w equivalent" (appx, 9W, FWIW)
That "300 watt" light, or a model name hinting at wattage (Oregano-2000 for example).
Ignore people saying that you need a HLG-650 because it's the best and you're an idiot for asking (great light btw, not hating on HLG at all)

DO - start.
If it doesn't go well - learn
And start again.
HAVE FUN - it's WEED!

Lockedin said:

My first grow (before the "first grow" in my sig) was in a apple crate that I lined with foil and hung a single burple.
4 micro plants yielded about 1.5 ounces.
I had a blast, and that first bowl of weed that I took from seed to smoke was one of the most satisfying bowls EVER!
Hope you have the same experience!


DO get a "real" light. - You want REAL watts - not "100w equivalent" (appx, 9W, FWIW)
That "300 watt" light, or a model name hinting at wattage (Oregano-2000 for example).
Ignore people saying that you need a HLG-650 because it's the best and you're an idiot for asking (great light btw, not hating on HLG at all)

DO - start.
If it doesn't go well - learn
And start again.
HAVE FUN - it's WEED!

Click to expand...

You need a HLG-650. And use code "RIU10".

HLG-650 in a PC case.