Useing a halogen bulb? ok?

i have a halogen bulb but was wondering if ok to use? if so i would prob use it formy new clone that just took root, could this light be of any advantage to me?

clones don't do well with intense lighting right off

Can I grow using halogen lights?
Can I grow using halogen lights?

Don't use regular incandescent bulbs ("grow bulbs") or halogens to grow cannabis, this type of light generates huge internode spacing, poor vegetative growth, skimpy yields, and could set your grow room on fire due to the dangerous amounts of heat these lights produce. Spend your money wisely, invest in Fluorescent lighting (good), or High Intensity Discharge lamps (HID-- recommended). HID lighting such as Metal Halide (MH) or High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) supply the high-intensity light that cannabis needs for good growth and large buds.

Added technical information why halogen lighting is a poor choice for plant cultivation by wannabee2004:


Q: Do halogen bulbs have a good spectral output for plant growth?
A: No, the spectral plot output of various halogen bulb types is by far the worst.

Q: Are they efficient at generating useful light for plant growth?
A: No, the best floro/hps/mh lighting each being approx 5X more efficient at plant growth than halogen.

A good way to measure plant growth efficiency of different types of lighting is PAReff. PAR stands for Photosynthetic Active Radiation: the wavelength range of light between 400 and 700 nm that can be absorbed by leafs for plant photosynthesis. PAReff is the PAR/Watt efficiency ratio over a certain area.

Some examples:

Philips Advantage Fluorescent, 5000K: 1.44 PAReff

Philips High Pressure Sodium deluxe: 1.38 PAReff

Philips Dense-Line Emitter Metal Halide, 4100K: 1.38 PAReff

Philips Spot Halogen Masterline, 2950K: 0.263 PAReff

People usually choose halogen for the "low startup" costs of a halogen light. The real costs of halogens result from its low efficiency. 500 Watt halogen lighting produces about 0.08 Watt/s/nm in the green-yellow spectral region which is about the same as 80 watts of cfl's. A 500w halogen grow will cost approx $63 for electricity, whereas a more efficient light source generates the same par value for around $10 (depending on your local prices).

ok, thanks, cuz if been giving it acually a larg amount of light. ill have to cut back...

how long will it take to burn the babies while its beginning to grow i am usng one 500 watt for 3 babaies and they have sprouted over the past 2 days...i am waiting for hps and mh to show up and only have the halogen for now...will they be safe for a week or 2'?

if you can controll the heat they will be fine for two weeks ,

You would be better served getting rid of the 500w halogen and simply using a couple of 26 or 42W CFL bulbs (Those newfangled energy saver bulbs that say they are 26W but = 100W and look like spiraled tube) , in my opinion. Not much of the light from halogens is usable by plants and the heat they throw off is insane. Not even many construction workers like to run them for 16 hours straight.

First Plant (comments and suggestions please) you'll be fine till the hps show up

if the two circle leaves are looking a litle bit darker underneath are they beginning to burn? and would 3 34 watt cool white fluorescents save them or work better?

Mike Davis said:

if the two circle leaves are looking a litle bit darker underneath are they beginning to burn? and would 3 34 watt cool white fluorescents save them or work better?

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OMG!!!! Fuck yeah the 3x34 watt flouros would be better!! Holy shit man, put those cool whites on there. They'll give you a much better spectrum, and i cant even imagine how hot a 500 halogen is for indoor growing! Since you'll be able to get the flouros with an inch or so of the leaves with no burning, I'd say those three little guys will prolly quadruple, (or more!) your growth.

MikeDavis, the two circular leaves you speak of act as food supplies for the plants and almost always fall off. Don't sweat it.