Cfl / mh / hps

I haven't sarted my batch yet, only because I haven't completely decided on the arrangement.
I have, basically, unlimited FREE access to MH, HPS, and CFL bulbs. I haven't grown before, and I'd like to know in what order I should use these. A friend of mine recomended CFL for the veg stage, then when I switch to a gallon pot, use the MH and when my plant starts budding I use the HPS, is this correct?

Sounds good if you dont care about wasting money. MH is good for veg, HPS good for flower. CFL's are good if you cant have a lot of heat, but if you have good ventilation and the space i would definately go with the MH/HPS route

CFLs are good for seedling stage because they produce low amounts of heat and allow the young plants to get used to light and then work up to the MH and then to the HPS in flowering. Very good route to take, but u can just start with the MH as long as you start it out 3-4 feet above the plants and lower every few days til as close as possible without causing too much heat stress to the plants. the height at which u stop lowering depends on what wattage bulb you use. hope this helps your decision

i wouldnt use CFLs if you have access to MH bulbs. i've started plants under HPS before, they can take the heat

BeefSupreme said:

Sounds good if you dont care about wasting money. MH is good for veg, HPS good for flower. CFL's are good if you cant have a lot of heat, but if you have good ventilation and the space i would definately go with the MH/HPS route

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Heat would be a problem, The room i'm in is a warm one, what ventilation system do you recomend?

Goat of the Flock said:

Heat would be a problem, The room i'm in is a warm one, what ventilation system do you recomend?

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Heat was a problem for me too. My 400watt HPS overheated my 4'x3'x6' box in about 10 minutes. You need enough ventilation to circulate all the air out of your box ever 5 minutes. Or you could get an enclosed light and vent the light, that works good too.

PS: if you get an MH or an HPS you are going to have to hang it from something, you cant have it touching anything because of the extreme heat! Thats why i had to grow and flower with CFLS. Good buds at the top, but definately would love an HPS

BeefSupreme said:

Heat was a problem for me too. My 400watt HPS overheated my 4'x3'x6' box in about 10 minutes. You need enough ventilation to circulate all the air out of your box ever 5 minutes. Or you could get an enclosed light and vent the light, that works good too.

PS: if you get an MH or an HPS you are going to have to hang it from something, you cant have it touching anything because of the extreme heat! Thats why i had to grow and flower with CFLS. Good buds at the top, but definately would love an HPS

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That's what I'm afraid of. I don't want the room to become a fucking inferno.
What do you mean by an enclosed light, and how would I vent it?

EDIT: I'm unable to install a exhuast fan, I'm not the home owner. And I don't think they'd allow me to bust a hole in the wall.

use a PC fan to directly blow air on to the bulb and blow the heat coming off the bulb and away from the plants and out of the room. u can use AC duct to provide direction for the heat you are blowing off the bulb. if u cant cut holes to ventilate u gunna have to get creative with the space you have to make it work. either that or stay away from MH and HPS bulbs, which is gunna put a damper on your grow.

kanabiis420 said:

CFLs are good for seedling stage because they produce low amounts of heat and allow the young plants to get used to light and then work up to the MH and then to the HPS in flowering. Very good route to take, but u can just start with the MH as long as you start it out 3-4 feet above the plants and lower every few days til as close as possible without causing too much heat stress to the plants. the height at which u stop lowering depends on what wattage bulb you use. hope this helps your decision

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Reps

This is the best route because seedlings really don't need HID lighting. Save electricity

If you don't have venting heat will only be one issue you face. you'll need fresh air to and from the plants. even with cfl's you need to vent.

stumps said:

If you don't have venting heat will only be one issue you face. you'll need fresh air to and from the plants. even with cfl's you need to vent.

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yeah i agree,with my last grow(which was my first btw)i had to open the closet door at least once every hour to vent even tho all i had were cfl's,but all in all it wasnt too bad,maybe open and close the door three times in a row just to vent the room,i do this like 5 times a day,to exchange air.....but i finally invested in a small hps,i havent started my grow yet(well i have,but its vegging)i know im gonna run into a few issues,dont get me wrong my closet is a walk in,about 8 feet high 4 feet deep and 5 feet wide,but my apartment is fire proof(each apartment in my building is essentially built the same way to prevent fire spreadin to the other apartments)so you could imagine how hot it gets in there 92 degrees plus(especially during the day) so im kinda hesitant to start flowering with that bad boy yet