loose buds

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NewbyGRowr

Active Member
I just finished up my second grow which was a pretty decent success in my mind due to the small amount of cash i have invested. I have noticed that my buds are not tightly packed like the bag stuff i used to get. They are soft and not very dense. I am using CFLs and by my calculations I have more than enough lighting. Any ideas on what I am doing wrong ?
 
laserbrn

laserbrn

Well-Known Member
Your estimations are wrong...Use real lights and you'll get real buds. Use CFL's and you'll get lighter, fluffier buds.

Or double the amount of CFL's you're using and you might have a bit better success, but the right way is to get a real light.
 
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NewbyGRowr

Active Member
laserbrn said:
Your estimations are wrong...Use real lights and you'll get real buds. Use CFL's and you'll get lighter, fluffier buds.

Or double the amount of CFL's you're using and you might have a bit better success, but the right way is to get a real light.
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Any sugestions on lighting? I am running 16 115 (true) watts for 8 ladies on each of my grows.
 
brasmith

brasmith

Well-Known Member
It really is in the lights. When I first started to grow I used cfl lights and had fluffy buds and then invested in a 400watt hps (tax return) and bam nice dense fat sweet nugs on the next grow. However, after 5 grows with the 400 watter I'm ready for MORE BEEF..............1000 wattter here I come
 
brasmith

brasmith

Well-Known Member
NewbyGRowr said:
Any sugestions on lighting? I am running 16 115 (true) watts for 8 ladies on each of my grows.
Click to expand...
Use you cfl bulbs for veg stage growth and invest in a 250 to 400 watt hps system, you will not be dissapointed.

Besides, cfl bulbs add up in price and you have probably already spent as much on cfl bulbs and set ups as you would have on a 250 watt hps system.
 
laserbrn

laserbrn

Well-Known Member
brasmith said:
Use you cfl bulbs for veg stage growth and invest in a 250 to 400 watt hps system, you will not be dissapointed.

Besides, cfl bulbs add up in price and you have probably already spent as much on cfl bulbs and set ups as you would have on a 250 watt hps system.
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That pretty much covers it. Run the CFL's for veg and use HPS for flowering. You'll be much more satisfied. Especially if you want to run 8 plants at a time. I would get a 600w minimum. You only need to run it 12 hours so run it the 12 cooler hours and you should be fine.

I actually have 400w, 600w, and 1000w ballasts so that depending on HOW cold it is at night I can run more lighting in my hood.
 
FilthyFletch

FilthyFletch

Mr I Can Do That For Half
If you want to buy a good hid ballast for future needs that gives you choices the new cap one nextgen dual digital ballast are great. About $240 for th unit and its digital so it runs cool quiet and saves your bulbs while giving off up to 30% more light and the dualk lets you run either 400 watts or 600 watt hps or mh bulbs all in one ballast..The cfls will give you fluff unless you use a lot of them and the bigger actual 250-300 watt grow kind then you still need a couple and for the money its cheaper to get the digital ballast.
 
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NewbyGRowr

Active Member
Thanks for all the info. I ends up buying 2 400watt hps and installed them last night. My main concern at this point is burning the plants. How far away should they be from the plants? My grow room temp last night was a constant 72 degrees due to a lot of duct work I also installed.
 
laserbrn

laserbrn

Well-Known Member
NewbyGRowr said:
Thanks for all the info. I ends up buying 2 400watt hps and installed them last night. My main concern at this point is burning the plants. How far away should they be from the plants? My grow room temp last night was a constant 72 degrees due to a lot of duct work I also installed.
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Nice....your main concern is going to be the temperature right below the lamps. Are your lights air cooled? If not air cooled they need to be about 18" from the bulbs. Especially at the start. Then just monitor the temps at the tops of your plants and get a gauge for how far they can be.
 
JonnyBtreed

JonnyBtreed

Well-Known Member
anywhere from 10-30 inches away, If your temps are in the 70's at the top of your plants you should be all set.
 
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NewbyGRowr

Active Member
They are enclosed and air cooled. I appreciate all of your help .. i will just monitor the temp at plant level and adjust from there. Thanks for the help.
 
brasmith

brasmith

Well-Known Member
NewbyGRowr said:
Thanks for all the info. I ends up buying 2 400watt hps and installed them last night. My main concern at this point is burning the plants. How far away should they be from the plants? My grow room temp last night was a constant 72 degrees due to a lot of duct work I also installed.
Click to expand...
Damn!!! You pounced right on that light shit, awsome!! Now sit back and watch those nugs fatten up. You got yourself some good lights and aircooled too:hug:

Just tack a bit more flower time on and you will be soooooo happy with your final product.
 
FilthyFletch

FilthyFletch

Mr I Can Do That For Half
400 wattersw dont getto hot so they can get pretty close especially air cooled. As long as the plants are feresh from clone or seed you can use the 400 watters if they are new seedlings or young clones then use the cfls to veg a bit as young plants can take it. Easiest way to find how far to be away is the simple hand test. Place you hand palm down at the tops of the plants and lower the light untilit just becomes uncomfortable hot on the back of your hand then go up 2 inches and your safe. Good luck and enjoy the new lights. Hope you bought digital since they are cheaper last longer and run mh and hps bulbs with 30% more output and no heat
 
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