Starting First CFL

Alright so I am going out to buy the lights i need.

Its going to be a tight space, and only 1 plant.

which do you think would be enough light to grow one plant?

one of these - http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/203252142?productId=203252142&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&MERCH=REC-_-product-1-_-203208412-_-203252142-_-N#.UagHejnoDcB

or a pack of these - http://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-23-Watt-100W-Bright-White-CFL-Light-Bulb-4-Pack-E-ES9M823435K/203208412#.UagHeDnoDcB

If i buy the pack of the last ones, I could buy this pack to add on for flowering ? - http://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-14-Watt-60W-Soft-White-CFL-Light-Bulb-4-Pack-E-ES5M8144/100687000#.UagLwDnoDcA

Any advice would be great thanks!

In my possibly useless opinion I'd go with 2 of the first ones, with this to hang it with http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-150-Watt-Incandescent-Clamp-Light-CE-300PDQ/100354511#.UagPX-q9KSM
Reason why is because its 200 watts compared to the second which is only 100, the first has a color temp of 6.5K while the second is only 3.5k hope someone can confirm or deny this. Good luck, I started with 2 cfls before I got a 600 and didn't see anything wrong with my plants.

Great, Ill go buy a pair today.

So my plan is to use 2 of those for the veg state. I have like 3 softer colored cfl laying around the house I could add on for flowering? you think that would be fine?

Is grab three of em at least.... Or maybe you could supplement with one of your softer lights too. Aim for 100 actual watts at least. I'm using a big 42 watt and a a 23 plus two 32 watts for mine. It's gonna need a lot of love man. Don't skimpy ion the cfl trust me.

Ok,

If you are going to use CFL

first thing you need to know...

You go by ACTUAL WATTAGE not "equivalent to a 200 watt incandescent"...

That "200 watt" is only actually 43 watts. You would need about 4 of them for 1 plant.

If I were going to go cheap and not care about what I was growing I would choose 8 26 watts over 4 43 watts so I could place them around my plant better.

In reality I would go buy a 400 watt HID and know I was going to get what I wanted from the final product.

althor said:

Ok,

If you are going to use CFL

first thing you need to know...

You go by ACTUAL WATTAGE not "equivalent to a 200 watt incandescent"...

That "200 watt" is only actually 43 watts. You would need about 4 of them for 1 plant.

If I were going to go cheap and not care about what I was growing I would choose 8 26 watts over 4 43 watts so I could place them around my plant better.

In reality I would go buy a 400 watt HID and know I was going to get what I wanted from the final product.

Click to expand...

Totally agree with althor, rule of thumb is 100w (true watts) per plant. I would start with 2x6500 and 1x2700 and keep them inches from the plant. As they grow you can move the lights, add them or change them as you wish, just keep the light cycle the same.

Remeber to germ three or four seeds. You want to be sure that they catch and sprout. Also if you have less plants, just increases your chances to of getting a male - then one thing a newbie doesn't want.

Good luck
I'm sub'n to this one.

althor said:

Ok,

If you are going to use CFL

first thing you need to know...

You go by ACTUAL WATTAGE not "equivalent to a 200 watt incandescent"...

That "200 watt" is only actually 43 watts. You would need about 4 of them for 1 plant.

If I were going to go cheap and not care about what I was growing I would choose 8 26 watts over 4 43 watts so I could place them around my plant better.

In reality I would go buy a 400 watt HID and know I was going to get what I wanted from the final product.

Click to expand...

agree, I use lots of 23 watt CFL's for veg, the more the better...then I use a 600 HPS for flowering

You dont need "lots" of CFL's for veg. You could veg plants under a t8 shop light and do just fine. Flowering is where you want the more intense lighting.

Here is a plant grown under one 35w 6500k CFL in a Bayco reflector from a hardware store.

i say tht u buy the pack of the 23 watts an the 42 watt at the same time put them all in there cuz with cfls the more the better cant have too many it will work good an add 1 or 2 more single 23 watt bulbs in there as well u should be set after tht

Here is the link to my first shot at CFL's.
I used a total of 98w mixed 2700k and 5000k to veg, and up through flower until about the last month when I added enough to bring it up to 305w.
1 plant in a 2x2 area, and finished with 2 3/4oz. cured.
Several pic there show my setup, using more small bulbs like ISK says.

https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-fluorescent-lighting/614769-my-first-indoor-cfl-grow.html