Tutorial to Growing with Cfl's

[Krawnik]

So just 1 bulb is good for each plant?

 

[TheLastJuror]

So just 1 bulb is good for each plant?

no its not its ok for a seedling but not for anything else really...if you want a decent yield for less lights id recommend scrog or lst, but even then your going to need more lights then 1 per plant

 

[Old Coot]

Thanx for the advice Coot. I will look to get the organics going throughout the entire grow. Today they look better though a bit runt-ish still ( I guess that's autos for you). I have been allowing the soil to dry out and then I add more so as not to stress them. From what I am understanding from others is that this will ensure that the organic nutes that I added in teh beginning will not overdo it. The cotlyedon are a bit darker green though, a cause for concern or not. With the organic fert added to the soil, would a normal flushing of water do the trick (if it is too much, I'm saying). From all posts that I have read on the organic soil growing, usually they are not flushing until the end and by that time they are complete with the nutes and on straight water so they say there's not much need. Do you find that to be the case?

Thank you for the reply and the assistance. You have been helpful.

PEACE

You can add worm casting until hell freezes over and the plant will be fine. Next to the last week I use water and molasses only. Fish ferts full strength feeding and unflushed will screw up the taste. With organic nutes, flushing is an option, not a necessity depending on what you are using and how much. The last week I flush once and let em dry out.. two to three days maybe a week and then harvest. Molasses wont hurt anything either used as prescribed. One table spoon to a gallon of water. Ive used two tablespoons per gallon mid flower with no problems what so ever.

 

[nolimits]

this is a good tread. i use 125w 2700 and 200w 6500 both big ass CFL'S, going to get more 2700 spec, thanks for all the help. one question? i've trained my Euforia babys by tying them all down horizontally? is this okay for CFL i know it is in my heart just asking ? that question mostly to the pro's as im use to growing plants and shit? thanks peace out.

 

[BLACKMESSIAH7]

You can add worm casting until hell freezes over and the plant will be fine. Next to the last week I use water and molasses only. Fish ferts full strength feeding and unflushed will screw up the taste. With organic nutes, flushing is an option, not a necessity depending on what you are using and how much. The last week I flush once and let em dry out.. two to three days maybe a week and then harvest. Molasses wont hurt anything either used as prescribed. One table spoon to a gallon of water. Ive used two tablespoons per gallon mid flower with no problems what so ever.

Thanks Coot, I will definitely use the molasses during the grow, most likely up until the last week if it adds to the buds overall girth and size as I hear it does.

Attempts to rep you were twarted and this will have to do for now, lolkiss-ass!!!lol. Thanks Coot

 

[AJdoinwork]

what if i want to have 2 blue lights to my plant with 4 red spec cfls. it is just starting to get pistils. will this make the floliage grow bigger as well as make it flower on 12/12 or 10light/14dark(or whatever i have it on) light schedule?

 

[Dylan360]

cheers for the info bro

 

[x420xTeXaN]

need some help i have a grow area of 2.5' x 3' closet with about 5' height i will fim and top my plants i was planning on doing two 10 gallon res for 12 plants or so and what is the most cost effective way to grow my beauties 6 42watt 6500k and 6 42 watt 2700k so 12 in total.... also i need a layout to support mulitple lights per srew in (adapters) i have seen pics of a 4light to 1 adapter thus meaning i need 3... or maybe socket to wall plug in adapter i can use power strips as my light support... Please and thanx Riu

 

[josh b]

u sornice nice this will help me like thorughout my plants life and her clones

 

[bubblegoogles]

My opinion is go for the large wattage ones. Mogul bases are cheap. Better yet induction lights are the same color spectrum as CFL's but produce light outputs closer to that of HID with added benifit of life expectancy of 100,000 hours! (23 years @ 12 hr cycle 365days) 400 watt version puts out 96000 lumins. These are available in 2700K and 6400K colors. These you don't have to worry about poor light penetration. These lights ARE the future of grow lights not LED they last longer and more importantly work! Just think of these as CFL's on steriods. Growing with them is the same as using CFL's, keep them close to the top of the plants because they run as cool as CFL's. Check out this link www.enviro-techlighting.com The only draw back is the price however they are cheaper than LED and keep in mind they maybe the last grow lights you need to buy. I use 2 250 watt 6400K CFL's for veg and one 300 watt 2700K induction for bud. the result is better than my old set up of 600 watt HID but at half the power and not having to worry about heat. I veg with CFL's because of the price of having two induction lights was too much for me right now but i plan to go full induction as soon as cash is available. The 300 watt induction cost me about $475 but man it is well worth every penny. There are some on ebay that are full spectrum purple color but didn't work nearly as good as the 2700K. My buddy tried these and was disappointed with his results. He since changed to 2700K set up and more than doubled his crop!

 

[ganjaluvr]

wow...

I personally... am using my old 150gallon fish aquarium as my veg box. Inside my veg box, I use a total of 4 Sylvania 40watt(actual watts) but each bulb puts out the equivalent of a 150watt reg bulb.

So, in a way... inside my veg box.. I am running 160watts total... total actual watts. But with the 4 bulbs.. I am getting the equivalent of using 4 150watt bulbs.
Which comes out to be 600 watts. Or the equivalent.. of having 600 watt light output. Of course.. these are 6500k bulbs.
Which is plenty of light.. for what I grow.


Now, for my flowering box. I have my flowering room (my closet) setup almost the same way.. I'm using the same amount of wattage as i do in my veg box... the only difference is that I have 2700k bulbs for the flowering cycle.

(getting another camera soon.. I can't wait to get it.. so I can post some of my pictures from past grows and such)

Oh, and for anyone that's wondering what kind of bulbs I use... I never mentioned did I.. not yet anyhow.
I am using CFL bulbs.

Peace..

 

[spyvy]

I Would like to know if there is a series of cfl bulbs you can run for all parts of growing..Lets say 1-42 Watt CFL - 150 W Equal - Warm White 2700K & a 42 Watt CFL - 150 W Equal - Full Spectrum 5100K & a 42 Watt CFL - 150 W Equal - Full Spectrum Daylight 6500K without changeing out bulbs for different stages . of growth . Or even a plant that is self flowering what would you recomend or tried .... Was thinking of a setup for a bubleponics 6 plant any ideas on this would be greatful

 

[deh]

I am currently using 5-26W daylight bulbs 2-42 watt softwhites and 1 23 watt red bulb(experimental). should i switch all bulbs to softwhite for budding? Or can I use the combination? I've included a few pics of my set-up. Should I change anything? Let me know please. Rep to all that reply.
I also included a photo of a multi spectrum light set up I found at SH Hydroponics, Inc they have several set ups but this one is only $199.00. And its good from seed to bud.

 

[ieatfood]

I am currently using 5-26W daylight bulbs 2-42 watt softwhites and 1 23 watt red bulb(experimental). should i switch all bulbs to softwhite for budding? Or can I use the combination? I've included a few pics of my set-up. Should I change anything? Let me know please. Rep to all that reply.
I also included a photo of a multi spectrum light set up I found at SH Hydroponics, Inc they have several set ups but this one is only $199.00. And its good from seed to bud.

I think a lot of folks tend to forget that the spectrum you should give to your plant is dependent on the type your dealing with.

Meaning if you were so crazy as to try and grow a 100% equitoral sativa in your closet you would want to give it a balanced light spectrum that matches what it evolved with .. in CFL terms 50% 2700K and 50% 6700K.

A northern indica would have evolved to favour the red spectrum in the flowering stage, so for them, perhaps 2/3 2770k and 1/3 of the blue.

Many people just stick with all blue - 6700K for veg and all red - 2700K for flower, but to me it makes better bud if you tailor your balance to the type of bud your working with.

The more northern your variety the more red (warm white) is needed.

 

[rentjr]

Hey everyone, I've never grown before but Im planning on starting one this weekend. Ive been doing some research so I have a pretty good idea of what I need to do. The grow journals on this site are a great resource as well as all of you who are so willing to help us new guys.

Im going to be growing in a closet thet is roughly 2ft x 2ft and about 6ft tall. I want to use cfl's because it seems to be the cheapest and easiest, also I dont want want to have too many heat issues. Smell will not be a problem as my fiancee is onboard and we have a house to ourselves.

Im planning on growing only 2 plants (do I have enough room to grow 2 plants?). I dont know what kind of seeds I have. I have a couple of different seeds that a buddy of mine gave me from some hydro that he was growing, said he didnt remember what kind it was.

What kind of lights would you guys recommend since I dont know what kind of plant im growing? How many bulbs of what wattage would you guys recommend for veg? for flowering?

Thanks in advance for your help. Im really excited about starting my grow and will be starting a grow journal with pictures every step of the way.

 

[deh]

Honestly i kinda answered my own questions by reading this thread from the beginning. I suggest you start with the first post and read on, soon you will have all the info you will need. Good luck.

 

[Detroit Desel]

I'm supplementing my flower room with CFL's. I'll have a 400w HPS coming down from above, and 24 individual CFL from the sides. Overkill, maybe, but the room is 76" x 76" and I'm going to be running 6 - 4.5' ebb and flow tubes. Each tube with 6 plants in it, so I can afford more light. Anyway, my question is what wattage should I go with? I know I should go with the 2700k bulbs, but should I go with a 23w bulb or a higher one. Or, a lower one for that matter. Does the lumens still matter at this point? I'm sure I'll have more than 3200 psf between my 24 CFL's and the 400w HPS.

These are the light fixtures I have pieced together. I probably could have built one for less but I had other things to do, and some spare cash.

 

[storkypig]

Good stuff...learned lots.

 

[Jubei485]

do 400w CFLs need a ballest?

 

[bigboyfly713]

No Jubie they don't if you are talking about this one. Self Ballasted
http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/store/400w-CFL-Grow-Light-energy-efficient-self-ballasted_290346840147.html