can I supplement my cfl grow w/ hps irregularly??

So I am currently running a little cfl grow in my closet. I was planning on using my 400w hps for lighting but I couldn't keep the temperatures low enough with it on and the closet closed so I switched to cfls. My question is would I be able to supplement my cfl lighting with my hps on and off whenever I am home so I can leave the door open for a bit or will this put excess strain on my plants? Thanks for the help.

You bet burn. The light cycle will be unaffected by the addition of more light as long as tehre is light when there is supposed to be and more important, dark when its supposed to be.

Sure, but lets work on the heat issues instead. do you have a air cooled hood for your hps? does it have a remote ballast? where do you keep the ballast if so? do you have a good exhaust fan? what cfm?

I have exhausted all current options for cooling the hps lamp. I can't run anymore fans because noise has gotten to be a concern for me. There is also no easy way to vent outside of the room that the grow is in. I obviously know that running the hps full time would be better, but it just isn't feasible with my budget constraints, maybe I'll spring for a cool tube next go around. And getting a portable a/c unit for my closet grow seems like a pretty ridiculous idea. Where would I mount it, obviously it can't be in the closet and it doesn't really work with my situation. I am home most of the time anyways, the grow uses the cfl lights only for about 8 hours a day and when I kick it over to 12/12 it should be all hps from there on out. Thanks for the help everyone.

Do whatcha can with whatcha got to get watcha want


Start a journal.., post some pics and send me a link.. Love to subscribe to watch it.

Yeah bro, deffinalty use the HPS if you can, but u NEED to controll heat, not only does heat cause stress on the plants, but many pests love the heat, i.e. spider mites