Minimum CFL Watts 4 Veg/Flower

I was originally going to use 2' linear bulbs until I noticed the wattage doesn't get much higher than 20 watts unless Ive missed something. So, I figured I will go with a ballasted CFL, and need to know what is the lowest wattage you can go with and still have a decent growth rate. I have a total of 32" vertical space so I cant be using bulbs that require 18-24" of distance. Thank you for your help.

Growth rate is related to wattage. What kind of yield are you looking for with this setup? What are they growing in?

Two ghetto rigged tote containers, the top half is flipped upside down and sits on top of the bottom half. I would like to have a decent yield, know what I mean, not be running so low of wattage that the plant isnt growing or yielding much. A decent crop, dont need a mega crop.

I meant are you using dirt?

I use the 23W (real) CFL's from the grocery store. 100W minimum for one plant, and at least an additional 50w for every extra plant.

I highly recommend a mixed spectrum of light, at a 3:1 ratio of 6500K (daylight/blue) to 3000K (soft/warm) CFL's for Veg, and the other way around for Flower.

3 - 4 inches is plenty of clearance.

Good luck.

computergroove said:

I meant are you using dirt?

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Yes, I might just stick with soil that will feed it for most of its life, unless this method has a lot of downsides to it.

Hugo Phurst said:

I use the 23W (real) CFL's from the grocery store. 100W minimum for one plant, and at least an additional 50w for every extra plant.

I highly recommend a mixed spectrum of light, at a 3:1 ratio of 6500K (daylight/blue) to 3000K (soft/warm) CFL's for Veg, and the other way around for Flower.

3 - 4 inches is plenty of clearance.

Good luck.

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Will that work on 5000k - 2700k?

Underfirexxx said:

Will that work on 5000k - 2700k?

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I'm really not sure, but I don't see why not.

https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/9582-marijuana-light-spectrum.html

Let me know how they work.

You can get 55w bulbs that are sorta linear. These things put out almost as many lumens as a 4ft T5 bulb but are only 19" long. The look like this.



There's a thread over in the DIY forum
https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/620553-diy-4-pin-pl-l.html