Ive been looking into getting an indoor grow going and ive read that it is better to use MH for vegatative and Hps for flowering because of the spectrum of light they are. but does it make that much of a difference should i just get the hps and save some money or does it make a big difference and im a fool if i dont.....also another side note a 600watt hps that emits 95000 lumen would be good for a 10sq feet closet....and how many plants do u think i could fit in there (its aurora indica usually one main cola but i plan on attempting the topping technique in advanced cultivation to make four main colas)
Metal halide and Hps or just Hps
- Thread starter ejc06
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la9
Well-Known Member
Yes HPS makes a BIG DIFFERENCE. Get the HPS to flower with, and don't think twice about it. If you are starting out you can Veg with flourescent. I recommend the full size tubes over CFL's unless you are only doing one plant. Since you are starting out, once again I'll recommend the flourescents and then if you decide you want to keep growing then get a MH to Veg with in the future, that is my opinion.
you can def veg with an hps light. a lot of people on here do it with great results. the benefit of a mh light is with the better spectrum of light for vegetative growth. the mh light will make it a bushier plant. do you have two grow rooms, one for veg and one for flower, or just one. if you have one room, get one of the switchable ballast where you can run both types of bulbs. if you have two rooms and have then money i would def get the mh light.
any answers to my other questions
and its a walk in closet most likely i wont divide it until i get more experience under my belt so 1 room
la9
Well-Known Member
Yes, you can use just the HPS to veg with if you want to but I would suggest going with flourescents instead. Being the wrong spectrum of light I think you'd save electric and get better growth using the flourescents.
As far as the closet size goes you keep saying it is 10 square feet, that is like 2x2x2. What are all three dimensions ? A 600 watt HPS should cover 5x5 and a 400 watt should cover a 3x3 and 1000 watt should cover 5x5.
As far as the number of plants, it depends on the growing method and what strain they are. It takes I think 2 square feet per 5 gallon bucket, so if you use soil or DWC using a 5 gallon bucket you'd have to take the measurements and figure it out. If you use ebb and flow you might get a few more plants in. Use sea of green and the whole equation changes.
ill most likely end up doing the 600 watt switchable mh and hps the closet is 6x3x9
its going to be in soil and the strain is aurora indica (short plant) what would you suggest with this set up just put as many 5 gallon buckets as i can or put smaller buckets...im still in the planning phase nothings final so whatever your opinions on what i should do would be appreciated
its going to be in soil and the strain is aurora indica (short plant) what would you suggest with this set up just put as many 5 gallon buckets as i can or put smaller buckets...im still in the planning phase nothings final so whatever your opinions on what i should do would be appreciated
la9
Well-Known Member
If you are handy with electrical things you can make an HPS ballast switchable yourself for just the cost of a switch.
I'm going to assum your are using standard dimension of HxWxD. The 600 would be fine although (2) 400's would be more efficient since the closet is so skinny. The 600 is only going to cover 5 feet out the side and your closet is almost twice that in length. To get coverage across the whole closet you will need 2 lights. I would hold off buying 2 lights since you are just starting and you may partition it off for a veg/mother room. Then 2 lights would be a waste of money, also being your first grow you can see how you do with just one light to start with unless you wnat to spend the money.
I would use the 5 gallon bucket dimensions, even if you use smaller pots by the time you finish a grow you transplant up to 5 gallon buckets. You may get away with 3 gallon buckets but I recommend going with 5.
hobogrower
Well-Known Member
I run hps hps because i thought lumen counted more 20,000 instead of 14,000 lumens on a 250 watt digi could change to mh anytime but i've had great results with the hps. Just a tad bit more stretch gives it an early edge for cloning moms but you can't clone that well under it uless using big branches