are cfls worth it?

[Flagg]

I've seen 250 watt CFLS... they're about 18-24" long and 8-10" in diameter.

8-10 inch diameter bulbs? That's a bulb about half as wide as a basketball.

 

[TeaTreeOil]

I don't know if this site can be trusted, but ~$30($29.99+s&h, I'm sure) for 250w, 13000 Lumen, 6400K CFL?! They have Google checkout.

http://www.hydroponicgarden.net/content-product_info/product_id-1309/compact_fluorescent_grow_light.html

 

[homegrwn]

not sure im down with buying off of a RSS website but maybe someone with good experience can share any thoughts thats a nice price

 

[Brick Top]

I don't think very highly of solely using HPS.

Me either. That is why I also have a MH.

 

[homegrwn]

8-10 inch diameter bulbs? That's a bulb about half as wide as a basketball.

AMEN!

 

[TeaTreeOil]

That 250w claims to be 6" diameter.

 

[phoenix58]

Enjoyed reading through the posts in this thread. I agree totally that CFL's ARE most certainly worth using for flowering too. I have only recently switched to them after years of using HPS lamps for bigger grows. I have downsized to a 2 plant grow and what I'm seeing with my 350watts of CFL's is comparable to anything I grew in years of HPS growing as far as quality is concrened, no doubts about that whatsoever in my mind. The question of reduced yield is not an issue if like me you get what you need from CFL grows, bottom line for me is I dont care if I could have increased my yield because I get enough to keep ME comfortably happy and thats all I want!

Its all relative, I used to have a dozen plants under a single 600watt HPS and some of them were 18" away from the lamp. Under the CFL's I'm just 2/3" away from the budsights. Density and trich coverage under a glass looks excactly the same to me (I have been growing both my strains for many years). CFL's have come a long way recently. Back in the seventies when I was a teenager, everyone grew under strip flouros and was happy with the results