Might be answered before but need input!!!!

Ok here I go, I use a low wattage fluorescent bulb (23w/hr) and MY plant seems to be doing wonderfully, but I've heard that I shouldn't bother with a LOW WATT bulb. I have 1 bulb on it right now and it is almost 6" tall at almost 3 weeks old, has four levels of leaves that are now up to 9 segments/leaf. I also have 1 miniature oscillating fan ( to help strengthen the stem ). So I guess my question is, Why do people not suggest using LOW WATTAGE BULBS? Even for small 'personal consumption' growers like myself?

Because eventually the plant will require more light to put energy into flowering. With that one low wattage bulb, your plant will starve and your reward will be light airy buds..

Edit: Also, your plant will outgrow the 23w light footprint well before she flowers.

but even still wouldn't it still be more practical to use more low wattage bulbs that are at around 1700 lumens then to use high wattage lights?

you can use larger numbers of low watt fluoro's, they can work well
for a small single plant it can work fine, for larger plants in larger numbers, then low wattage bulbs may get quite expensive because hps efficiencies are much higher at higher watts

so your saying as long as i am having only one or two plants then multiple low wattage florescent bulbs are ok? when should i add the 2nd light if it is at what it is now in the above?

There is great debate on CFL wattage and what works the best. More light doesn't always mean better. You can place several low wattage bulbs that encompass your plant rather than high intensity in one area. You don't need the MOST light you can throw at it, rather enough to sustain healthy vigor. Check out another member on this sites grow (riddleme). He grew one monster plant off of 97 total watts. Light distribution, grow space, and placement make a world of difference.

all right will do and thanks for everyones input!!!

Spoc said:

There is great debate on CFL wattage and what works the best. More light doesn't always mean better. You can place several low wattage bulbs that encompass your plant rather than high intensity in one area. You don't need the MOST light you can throw at it, rather enough to sustain healthy vigor. Check out another member on this sites grow (riddleme). He grew one monster plant off of 97 total watts. Light distribution, grow space, and placement make a world of difference.

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amen to this, it's not a simple answer, the amount of reflector, strain your growing, and other techniques(such as lst, scrog, etc) all make a difference

ColdCronic said:

but even still wouldn't it still be more practical to use more low wattage bulbs that are at around 1700 lumens then to use high wattage lights?

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CFL's are great and all but they are not as efficient as HID lighting, meaning they put out more lumens per watt. I would recomend a small HID over CFL's any day, especially in flowering. CFL's are great for rooting clones and starting seeds, but that's about it IMO.