CFL lumen output?

Quick question ....I have 8 cfl bulbs that all together equal 9380 lumens ...how many lumens do I need to have a nice sized indoor plant?(Not including temp, enviorment,nutes,and all the extra important things that I know plays a huge part in the plants life.) I only want to grow 2 auto plants at a time and want to know if the amount of lumens I'm putting out will help me(hopefully) grow 2 nice average sized indoor plants...and if its not enough how many more lums do I need

Growweedeasy.com learn some more basics. Guys around here will give you a hard time with posts like this.

With cfl you want at least 100-150 actual watts for the first plant and 50-75 for each plant after the first.

Bare minimum, 150 actual watts and ideally 225 actual watts.

This may help to explain your lighting needs

Lumens per square foot:

Minimum amount of lighting needed is around 2000 lumens per square foot.
(Two – 23 watt CFL’s, per square foot*)

Mid range is around 5000 lumens per square foot.
(Three – 23 watt CFL’s, per square foot*)

Optimal is 7000-7500, or higher, lumens per square foot.
(Five – 23 watt CFL’s, per square foot*)

*I’m only using CFLs as a reference here, with the assumption they’re kept at a distance of 3 – 5 inches from the plant. It is important to understand that the “penetration” (the farthest measure that quality light reaches down into the plant canopy) will at best be only a few inches deep.

Source.
http://www.growmedical420.com/how-many-lumens-or-watts-per-square-foot-of-light-do-i-need/

^^^^ Agreed ... The more the merrier

A fave of small grows and autos ....
I use a single CFL ( 5000k ) for young seedlings ....



Then 2 ( 5000k ) ...... ( surrounding the plant is key )



I built a reflector hood with 12 CFLS with Y - splitters ... Adaptable to 4- way sockets


For me ..... it works to have SIDE LIGHTING around plant to IMPROVE PENETRATION to lower areas.

Spectrum :
Mixed : ( 2700k WARM and 6400k or 5000k DAYLIGHT ) - In a 50/50 mix
I find this as the most effective .....

Vegging : ( ALL Daylight spectrum 6400k or 5000k )
( good for propagation / seedlings / clones )

Flowering : ( ALL 2700k WARM LIGHT CFL )
This a good setup for " The Transition " or FLIP to flower and sexing .
I sometimes do this setup when an auto starts to sex ( around day 30 ) THEN run this light spec to PUSH FLOWERING . It works well.

But i tend to run the mixed spectrum more often .

2700k CFL ( these are super cheap ! )





PEACE !

So you guys think I need more bulbs to get better results because I'm working with 5 60Watt cfl bulbs that push out 900 lumens per bulb and 3 23 Watt bulbs that push out 1640 , 1600 ,and 1640....I just gotta determine my grow areas length and width now

$Aint418 said:

So you guys think I need more bulbs to get better results because I'm working with 5 60Watt cfl bulbs that push out 900 lumens per bulb and 3 23 Watt bulbs that push out 1640 , 1600 ,and 1640....I just gotta determine my grow areas length and width now

Click to expand...

Look at the actual watts not equivalent.