Light choice help

Im about to start growing in a closet about 8x3 with around 10-15 plants. Im on a relative budget and would like to spend as little as possible. Right now im considering getting a 600w MH and using that the whole time with cfls for clones and germinating, but that seems more expensive than cfls. What would be some good options for a space my size, with a lost cost

Get a 600 HPS instead, more light, same wattage.

Tho an HPS is most efficient, it's best to use an MH for germination/moms/clones, as the spectrum gives best results during vegetative growth stages.

I recommend using a "digital ballast" type lighting set up for anyone that grows "seed to weed" because it allows the user to swap from MH during early growth to HPS for flowering.

A 400w set up will cover 3x3 well and a 600w set up will do larger areas up to 6x4 (three trays wide) nicely assuming the bulbs are proper type and the reflector is an effecient horizontal type.

Don't skimp on bulb quality, by "grow spectrum" bulbs.

-TJ

if i only had money for one lamp, hps or mh, which one would be best for the whole process

It would be a HPS hands down!!!

Definitely HPS because that is what you need to flower. You can get by with cheap flourescent lighting for the rest but when you need to flower the HPS is going to make all the difference.

You might want to get a switchable ballast if you only want to buy one light. If you are going to have a mother plant and using clones you are going to need 2 different areas and more than one light.

HPS and FLourescent is the best way to go if you are on a budget.

You could get a combo of CFLs & a HPS. Try a 400 watt HPS with CFLs around the sides. Make sure the CFLs are in the blue spectrum. This should give nice results as well as be fairly affordable.

Your main money is in the ballast and reflector. Go to HTG.com for prices on complete outfits at better prices than hydro shops. You can pick up a MH bulb for as little as around 30 or go as high as around 100 for top quality. I plan on buying a 600w digital ballast. The benefits of digital are numerous and mine is a smaller grow. With as many plants as you are talking about you will need the 600 at least. Good luck!