Leafylimbo
Member
I’m growing 3 plants ...they are bag seed. I wanted to know if using a bunch of cfl bulbs and led bulbs would be good or if there are any cheap led lights with power. Any suggestions? I appreciate any constructive response.
WinterSoldier89
Well-Known Member
Ditch the bag seed and get some proven genetics then start them off with cfl.
eyderbuddy
Well-Known Member
Lighting needs depends on your grow space area, and the efficacy of the grow light itself.
The blurplee lights (cheap purple leds from amazon) can do the job, but you have to compare them watt for watt (at the wall, not "equivalent") to what an HPS would be.
Then aim for at least 50W per squarefoot of grow space. So if you have a 2x2 (=4sqft) then you'd need at least 200W of those leds.
The blurplee lights (cheap purple leds from amazon) can do the job, but you have to compare them watt for watt (at the wall, not "equivalent") to what an HPS would be.
Then aim for at least 50W per squarefoot of grow space. So if you have a 2x2 (=4sqft) then you'd need at least 200W of those leds.
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Leafylimbo
Member
200w LED for 3 plants, not 200 watt equivalent?
eyderbuddy
Well-Known Member
The amount of plants doesn't matter. The space matters... How big is your grow area? 2x2? 3x3?
And yes, it has to be 200W of power consumption, not "equivalent"... Equivalent only means bullshit.
Hugo Phurst
Well-Known Member
I agree, 200w minimum for 3 plants.
Also if you're going with CFL's use a mixed spectrum of bulbs
Also if you're going with CFL's use a mixed spectrum of bulbs
Leafylimbo
Member
Thanks bro this is really helpful . Right now I have all of them in 2 buckets that I’ve attached at the tops they in week 3 from when the seed popped out of soil. ....they’re in solo cups I was going to transplant them into 3 gallon pots, if I keep them small would I still need that many watts? My grow area is 2x2.
eyderbuddy
Well-Known Member
3 plants in 3 gallon pots are gonna get cramped in a 2x2, but if you can do some defoliation, you'll be fine
Leafylimbo
Member
I’m using led bulbs they are
thanks a lot for the input, very helpful!! I just have one more question. If I’m only begging for 4-5 weeks would I still need the 200w? Or it would it make a difference? If I still need the 200w I’m going to buy this ufo light that has 75w I uploaded pic, then I’m going to use 125w from different bulbs on different angles. I have a bunch of bulbs that are regular led from Home Depot. Btw have u ever heard of that ufo light?
Attachments
eyderbuddy
Well-Known Member
I've heard of it, and it actually is only 25watts? read the description!
https://smile.amazon.com/Horticultu...5ZP5Q5F2545&psc=1&refRID=T3VGW43CT5ZP5Q5F2545
Check that light out, sure it's pricey but you'll be set for achieving the best possible yield. The only barrier would be your skill level and knowledge.
If that light is too pricey for you, then aim for something similar to this:
https://smile.amazon.com/BESTVA-Spe...H5RQZFX9VJQ&psc=1&refRID=KQTJE4PG8H5RQZFX9VJQ
See that it says 1000W? That's the "equivalent" mumbo jumbo. If you read the description, you'll see it's actually 185 watts at the wall. This should be sufficient. The difference with the other light i mentioned before (the quantum board) is that the QB has a MUCH better spectrum, and consumes less power while having higher efficiency.
Something like this is also good (150W), and has a better spectrum (mainly due to being white light instead of blue and red combined) than the BESTVA:
https://smile.amazon.com/YGROW-Spec...qid=1544646225&sr=1-6&keywords=led+grow+light
The thing about LED light bulbs is that they're not very efficient, so they're not going to do a good job at all, it's just a hassle...
You can actually veg with much less light than flowering, it's in the flower stage where the light needs go up (massively)
Leafylimbo
Member
Thank u for the advice extremely helpful. I’m going to check out the lights right now
ChiefRunningPhist
Well-Known Member
@JSheeze light from..
https://www.rollitup.org/t/got-my-ge-brightstiks.896869/page-19#post-13875178
-$25, 270w
$10 for sockets
$15 for (10) 30w LEDs (eBay)
https://www.rollitup.org/t/got-my-ge-brightstiks.896869/page-19#post-13875178
-$25, 270w
$10 for sockets
$15 for (10) 30w LEDs (eBay)
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JSheeze
Well-Known Member
The reason folks are so adamant about "grow space area", is because no matter if you have 64 plants, or just 1 plant, the only buds that will grow effectively are the ones receiving direct light. The most effecient way to do that is by making sure all branches are effectively the same height. That way one aggressive, untamed branch doesn't overshadow another. If all branches are at equal height then the maximum effeciency is directly related to a 2 dimension, or planar, "grow space area".
64 plants or just 1 plant both have the potential to fill a grow space area equally. The difference is the time it takes to fill the grow space. 64 will fill a grow space faster than 1. Your limiting reactant isn't the number of plants, it's the area the plants have to grow into.
So your 3 plants are limited to the area you have available and you're just going to fill your available area faster than if you only had one plant.
So with that being said, yes, @ChiefRunningPhist the household LEDs w bulbs removed will work, but at about 90-110 lm/w (the general opinion is somewhere in there). Its a cheap way to go but you'll want a fan, they run brighter if you cool them.
If you got the scratch, I'd do one of these... ~$160...
$99...
$58...
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eyderbuddy
Well-Known Member
JSheeze
Well-Known Member
@It's not oregano is one of the pioneers..
And if anyone makes something similar, I'd recommend just ditching the lasagna pan and just using a flat board. It's hard to keep cool with a surrounding reflector and the bigger E27 LEDs (30w and 40w) actually fit because the fixture is not width restricted like it is with a lasagna pan reflector.
Check out this thread...
https://www.rollitup.org/p/13893747/
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Leafylimbo
Member
That’s dope where did u get a 25$ 270w
JSheeze
Well-Known Member
These are the products I used, the sockets are out of stock, but there's tons of vendors selling sockets on Amazon, just search "10-pack E27 sockets" and you'll find some if these aren't in stock by the time you search. Also the LEDs fluctuate drastically in price, one day they'll be $13.40/10 the next they'll be $25.60/10 so if you don't get the price your looking for, just give it a few days and check back in. I think it's some sort of algorithm adjusting price by view count possibly but idk..
$10 - (10) sockets
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074SH9RKD?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title
$15 - (10) 30w LEDs
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Bulb-L...hash=item41d361073a:m:mgJMhA_cqSna90ML8JFqPkw
~$25 total
I used an old extension cord to wire them up and for a plug. But you can buy a 16ft extension cord for $4/ online if you need...
