I have conducted an experiment with cfl lights to create the cheapest energy to bud. I have managed to veg a single plant with a single 26 watt cfl bulb. For the flowering stage I had to add an extra 26 watt cfl bulb. This dose work but was not to effective. I have also used 3 26 watt cfl bulbs for veg and 6 for flower. This gave much better growth. With cfl's I have found the more light the better. I now have 12 23 watt cfl's over 1 plant. when i introduce flowering i will add another 6 bulbs. I now use the 23 instead of the 26 watt as they where £2 when the 26 where £5 a bulb. To be honest the cost to the bills don't bother me to much but with hid's I have had problems with heat. I have found the more the merrier you can't get to much light. Try to get bulbs lower down the plants when they are in flowering as this will keep the bottom buds tighter as cfl's aren't as effective at penetrating through the plants as hid's. hope this helps. happy growing.
I really respect someone who goes about something in a planned out systematic manner...kudos and +rep...
..my thing with CFL's is sorta/kinda whats the point? (that's not not a smart-azzed rhetorical question, but a question looking for polite/intelligent rebuttal)
I made a decent rig that in all honesty isn't that much cheaper than a 150W HPS and in no way shape or form outperforms it watt for watt .... the heat thing is likewise questionable as my suspicions point to heat simply being more spread out with CFL's (to a point, I still think CFL's are cooler, but IMHO that's cooler thing is somewhat over-rated by the status quo_)
and yeah BTW I'm a DIY'er and currently using CFL's
