Newbie light recommendation

Samd5

New Member
Hi,
I am a newbie wondering if there are good lights for new growers. Preferably lights that are cheap like 40 bucks? I know that is a lot to ask Im not growing many plants maybe 4 or so.
 

s2mikey

Member
Where are you growing them? Tent? Grow box? Closet? CFLs can grow decent weed, Ive been doing that for years and they are cheap. You'd need a bunch of them for 4 plants but they wont cost you much and are cheap to run. No heat either.
 

Samd5

New Member
Where are you growing them? Tent? Grow box? Closet? CFLs can grow decent weed, Ive been doing that for years and they are cheap. You'd need a bunch of them for 4 plants but they wont cost you much and are cheap to run. No heat either.
Small room with insulation but the size of the room is really adjustable there is reflective material all around. Do you have any brand recommendations?
 

Samd5

New Member
What size is the grow space?
There are adjustable walls in the grow space with reflective and insulated material so whatever size you would recommend id be open to suggestions! Like I said I’m a newbie and just looking to get my space started
 

banks358

Active Member
There are adjustable walls in the grow space with reflective and insulated material so whatever size you would recommend id be open to suggestions! Like I said I’m a newbie and just looking to get my space started
4x4x6 would be a nice size even 36x36x72 or 60
 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
There are adjustable walls in the grow space with reflective and insulated material so whatever size you would recommend id be open to suggestions! Like I said I’m a newbie and just looking to get my space started
Well really you need an extraction fan and filter at the minimum.

Maybe check ebay or craigslist for second hand 400w or 600w hps.

Unless your planning a micro grow with tiny 6" plants then look at screw in LED bulbs and see if you can find a good deal in $ shops or online.
 

TreeFarmerCharlie

Well-Known Member
care to explain please?
It's a cheaply made Chinese COB LED light. I used to run better quality COB lights from Amazon than that one, and those were OK to start out with, but they just have horrible coverage and they are weak. I was running 600W of those (two "1500W models) in my 4x4 and the difference in growth I'm seeing under the new lights I built (running at only 490W) is insane.
 

banks358

Active Member
It's a cheaply made Chinese COB LED light. I used to run better quality COB lights from Amazon than that one, and those were OK to start out with, but they just have horrible coverage and they are weak. I was running 600W of those (two "1500W models) in my 4x4 and the difference in growth I'm seeing under the new lights I built (running at only 490W) is insane.
even tho mines 800w? and im only growing 1 plant too...
 

banks358

Active Member
It's a cheaply made Chinese COB LED light. I used to run better quality COB lights from Amazon than that one, and those were OK to start out with, but they just have horrible coverage and they are weak. I was running 600W of those (two "1500W models) in my 4x4 and the difference in growth I'm seeing under the new lights I built (running at only 490W) is insane.
care to show me a better light that you would recommend???
 

TreeFarmerCharlie

Well-Known Member
care to show me a better light that you would recommend???
If you go with quality LEDs (Samsung LM301B/LM301H) then you want around 30W/sqft. For the type of COB LED you are running you want closer to 60W/sqft. For LED lights I recommend either building your own or going with lights from Horticultural Lighting Group or Timber.

Here's where I got info to build my own
 

s2mikey

Member
Small room with insulation but the size of the room is really adjustable there is reflective material all around. Do you have any brand recommendations?
Honestly, I just use whatever CFLs I can get locally at Lowes or Home Depot(GE, Sylvania, etc). You want 23W bulbs(100watt equiv) - 5000K color temp for veg and then you have to switch to 2700K temp for flower. You'll see the color temp on the package. I think "day" bulbs are 5000K and soft white is 2700K. Figure at least 2 bulbs per plant or somewhere in there. CFLs are nice since you can keep them really close to the plants and they make no heat. You'll have to come up with a fixture for the CFLs to hold them but regular power strips and bulb holders work fine. Just hang them somehow and then thats enough to grow some herb.
 
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