Let’s just say

you’re going to grow 5 from seed , would it be better to run 4 23 watt cfl or 150hps mini sunburst

I feel lighting choice should be determined by grow style. If you are going to keep them low and/or with an even canopy, LED/Fluorescent will work great. If you are going to have taller plants with huge colas, you want MH/HPS/CMH for penetration.

Regardless, of what lighting you choose, more is generally better, and I would recommend you use more total wattage or grow less plants... unless you are SOGging.

If you choose HPS, be careful when they are seedlings.

friedguy said:

I feel lighting choice should be determined by grow style. If you are going to keep them low and/or with an even canopy, LED/Fluorescent will work great. If you are going to have taller plants with huge colas, you want MH/HPS/CMH for penetration.

Regardless, of what lighting you choose, more is generally better, and I would recommend you use more total wattage or grow less plants... unless you are SOGging.

If you choose HPS, be careful when they are seedlings.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the info ! Will look into it

friedguy said:

I feel lighting choice should be determined by grow style. If you are going to keep them low and/or with an even canopy, LED/Fluorescent will work great. If you are going to have taller plants with huge colas, you want MH/HPS/CMH for penetration.

Regardless, of what lighting you choose, more is generally better, and I would recommend you use more total wattage or grow less plants... unless you are SOGging.

If you choose HPS, be careful when they are seedlings.

Click to expand...

@John morgan

While the above is good info
Unfortunately the “ more total wattage” part is not.
That’s old school thinking
Calculate your growing area
Leds : 30-40 watts square foot
CFL, flouros, hps: 60-75 watts per square foot
Any much more your just wasting energy and creating heat that makes it more difficult to grow a good crop.
A even canopy is a must ( scrog, lst)
Growing a tall plant with cfls is not the best unless you have cfls at top and sides up the plant.
My best grows have been with a properly set up cfl growbox
FarmFriendly

Just putting in as much wattage as possible is old school thinking

A plant ( non co2-ed) can only use so much light
The rest is not used so inefficient.
Never said anything about hi end lights
But hiend or low end 50 watts is 50 watts
Every light I said has a low price point.
Leds, hps, cfls can all be purchased from $24 to $100
Hps can be lumped in because it does the same thing as a cfl but in a more ineffecint but more penatrateing way.
They both make light
50-75 watts per square foot for both cfl and hps
Properly set up 50 watts of cfl will grow the same ( if not better) as 50 watts of hps
( note said PROPERLY set up)
Only difference ( as far as lighting) is the cfls need to be closer
Way way closer than hps

Especially in a smaller grow area
Farm friendly