grow light question

bakenast

Well-Known Member

• May 1, 2015

• #1

im wanting to start a mother plant for clones,, would one of the cheap led grow lights being sold now work? or do i need to use a t5?

 

HydroRed

Well-Known Member

• May 1, 2015

• #2

You can get a low watt (150W) hid light/hood/ballast for very cheap. Not sure what your setup will be like but thats where you will get the most light likely on the least amount of $ to keep your plant vegging well and continuously providing clones. If you are on a super budget, you can use regular old fluorescent lights and it will grow ok on very little power consumption. How big of a momma we talkin about here?

 

ttystikk

Well-Known Member

• May 1, 2015

• #3

I'm firmly in the CFL camp on this one, especially at lower wattages; you can with practice get the bulb all but inside the momma plant, maximizing your return on the electricity invested.

 

707humboldt

Well-Known Member

• May 1, 2015

• #4

I have a couple 4' 8 bulb t5's in one of my mother/clone rooms and the other I have a couple 600 mh's. Imo the t5's make the plants stretch more a have less clone sites. My mothers that are the same age in both rooms, have almost twice the amount of clone sites under the 600's than they do under the t5's. Also the cuts that come out of the 600's seem to root a day or two faster, be a little stronger, and grow more vigorously. This is just my opinion and personal experience

 

johnny961

Well-Known Member

• May 1, 2015

• #5

Go with the the T5's for veg!!!

 

johnny961

Well-Known Member

• May 1, 2015

• #6

& keep em a few inches from the top. You will be fine!

 

johnny961

Well-Known Member

• May 1, 2015

• #7

Unless you are going Big Time

 

bicit

Well-Known Member

• May 1, 2015

• #8

bakenast said:

im wanting to start a mother plant for clones,, would one of the cheap led grow lights being sold now work? or do i need to use a t5?

Click to expand...

It's hard to beat the price on T5's for an entry level lamp. I'd avoid cheaper LED panels. Do you have a budget in mind?

 

bakenast

Well-Known Member

• May 2, 2015

• #9

its not so much a budget my room im using is on a 20 amp breaker, im running 1000 watts total in two tents, im wanting a small mother plants just for maybe 5-10 clones a month if its possible.. i cant find much info on electricity and circuits I dont wanna burn the place down.. I use a 600w and a 400w with ballasts,, 2 small fans and 2 a bubbler

 

Greenhouse;save

Well-Known Member

• May 2, 2015

• #10

I'm with 707 on this one......and it doesn't even have to be a 6 it would do just fine with the 400 m/h.....that wot I use and it serves me well......as far as your breakers are concerned....I don't think you will have any worries.....

 

HydroRed

Well-Known Member

• May 2, 2015

• #11

bakenast said:

its not so much a budget my room im using is on a 20 amp breaker, im running 1000 watts total in two tents, im wanting a small mother plants just for maybe 5-10 clones a month if its possible.. i cant find much info on electricity and circuits I dont wanna burn the place down.. I use a 600w and a 400w with ballasts,, 2 small fans and 2 a bubbler

Click to expand...

You are using approx 12-13 amps if that is all you are running on that breaker. A 150W MH light would give more adequate light and would be very inexpensive on initial cost. It wouldnt use but maybe 2 amps tops.