Using CFL's..How many , how much .. !!

qroox

qroox

Well-Known Member
I am using a growtent 0,76m x 0,76m x 1,20m . I think it would fit at least 4 plants( which i plan to keep em short and bushy in order to help light get everywhere).How many cfl bulbs will i need ? What wattage should i use ? I m currently using 18watts(that produce 80) cfl bulbs x3 for 2 small plants(almost 1 and a half node tall).Ideas?
 
Banana444

Banana444

Well-Known Member
You need about 100w per plant and 50 more watts for each additional plant. You have 3 18w so that would be 54w total, you would need approximately 13 of those little 18w. I would suggest getting the 42w cfls, about 7 or 8 bucks. They are the most bang for your buck.
 
SunnyJim

SunnyJim

Well-Known Member
If you want to grow 4 plants in your space, you'll need to multiply the amount of light you're currently using by about 10. That'll give you roughly 150 watts per plant. Stick with two plants, give each plant about 200 watts of the right spectrum during veg and flower, and supplement with alternate spectrum. A 3:1 ratio of 6400K and 2700K during veg, and the opposite during flower.
 
Banana444

Banana444

Well-Known Member
You will get really good results using what sunny jim said. 100w per plant is the bare minimum. I've been using one 85w per plant then adding 42w bulb on the sides as they progress through veg.
 
qroox

qroox

Well-Known Member
SunnyJim said:
If you want to grow 4 plants in your space, you'll need to multiply the amount of light you're currently using by about 10. That'll give you roughly 150 watts per plant. Stick with two plants, give each plant about 200 watts of the right spectrum during veg and flower, and supplement with alternate spectrum. A 3:1 ratio of 6400K and 2700K during veg, and the opposite during flower.
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I've got the right spectrum.I'll stick to 3 plants..(i've got a green-o autoflowerer that was planted recently and i thought it was dead,yet it sprouted!!).I'm doing 6500k now . Should i use my 3rd bulb on this seedlings as well ? Or get my new 42watts which they produce ? ( how many watts :) )
 
qroox

qroox

Well-Known Member
Banana444 said:
You will get really good results using what sunny jim said. 100w per plant is the bare minimum. I've been using one 85w per plant then adding 42w bulb on the sides as they progress through veg.
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seems legit ^^. I'll hang my 3rd bulb right now.
 
qroox

qroox

Well-Known Member
SunnyJim said:
If you want to grow 4 plants in your space, you'll need to multiply the amount of light you're currently using by about 10. That'll give you roughly 150 watts per plant. Stick with two plants, give each plant about 200 watts of the right spectrum during veg and flower, and supplement with alternate spectrum. A 3:1 ratio of 6400K and 2700K during veg, and the opposite during flower.
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also dear sir,please let me know if i should get more light for my seedlings.5-10 cm is good distance ?
 
SunnyJim

SunnyJim

Well-Known Member
Put in as much light as you can afford and cool sufficiently so as no to burn your plants. There's a limit you can reach with light saturation (which can cause bleaching to the chlorophyll in the leaves) but fortunately you won't get anywhere near that limit with CFLs. If you can cool your box, fill it with bulbs.

Re: bulb distance from plants -
The rule here is to place your hand, palm-side down below each bulb, with a distance of about 20 cm between the bulb and the top of your hand. Slowly raise your hand towards the lit bulb. Stop raising your hand once the heat from the bulb is uncomfortable for the top of your hand. If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for the plant. The final distance between hand and bulb shouldn't be more than a couple centimeters, and that's the safe distance from bulb to plant. 10 cm is too far. With that kind of distance, your seedlings will stretch like crazy.

Post pics of your setup.
 
qroox

qroox

Well-Known Member
I will get some photos and post em tomorrow..!! i'd like some thoughts on ma seedlings as well.They had some pretty rought time with sunligh..
 
K

kalmarrin

New Member
Hi everyone...I'm new to this forum, but was on last night getting some info about my pitiful little seedlings. Turns out I had the wrong light, and not enough of it. So, today I went and purchased some CLF's (100w) with reflectors and hung them up. Hopefully they will hang on. I lost 3 already - wish I'd found this forum sooner - but, hopefully these last three will make it now. I am concerned though about how close some folks say to put them. I hung these about a foot away - my little guys only have their first few leaves, but they are spindly, so I'm thinking the light should be closer - but I don't want to shock the plants...is that something I need to be concerned about? All they have had thus far are LED's. Any help will be appreciated.
 
Spicy8305

Spicy8305

Active Member
qroox said:
I am using a growtent 0,76m x 0,76m x 1,20m . I think it would fit at least 4 plants( which i plan to keep em short and bushy in order to help light get everywhere).How many cfl bulbs will i need ? What wattage should i use ? I m currently using 18watts(that produce 80) cfl bulbs x3 for 2 small plants(almost 1 and a half node tall).Ideas?
Click to expand...
That box is a bit small for 4 plants I would try to stick with 2, that would leave you a bit of space for a younger plant if you plan to do a perpetual grow (.. which I highly recommend) and as far as the # of lamps, that really depends on how much you are able to cool. You do need lamps with a greater wattage, like bannana444 said the 42watters are the best bang for your buck.
 
Spicy8305

Spicy8305

Active Member
here's a pic of my current box with about 500watts of mix spectrum cfls (16 lamps/ 482watts) my VEG box measures roughly 1.2 x 1.2 x 1m IMG_20131030_170409.jpg
 
qroox

qroox

Well-Known Member
kalmarrin said:
Hi everyone...I'm new to this forum, but was on last night getting some info about my pitiful little seedlings. Turns out I had the wrong light, and not enough of it. So, today I went and purchased some CLF's (100w) with reflectors and hung them up. Hopefully they will hang on. I lost 3 already - wish I'd found this forum sooner - but, hopefully these last three will make it now. I am concerned though about how close some folks say to put them. I hung these about a foot away - my little guys only have their first few leaves, but they are spindly, so I'm thinking the light should be closer - but I don't want to shock the plants...is that something I need to be concerned about? All they have had thus far are LED's. Any help will be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Read again this whole post,you will get your answer ;)
 
Banana444

Banana444

Well-Known Member
Here's something I did to help out on my power bill, look at your light fixtures in your home/apartment/homeless shelter (I just had one of those ideas when you smoke, never seen a grow using the homeless shelters electric) anyways, my electric company pays stores to discount cfls. Picked up 3 5packs of 23w 2500k cfls for 5 $ a box!!! That's a steal, so I changed out a lot of my light fixtures in my home. I had 4 60w incandescent bulbs in several ceiling fans, one of which is on almost 24/7. So by replacing then with 23w bulbs I'm saving a lot, that's why they made cfls, to save on electric. So in a decent sizedhome you could offset your electric bill by switching out your old incandescent bulbs.
 
qroox

qroox

Well-Known Member
Banana444 said:
Here's something I did to help out on my power bill, look at your light fixtures in your home/apartment/homeless shelter (I just had one of those ideas when you smoke, never seen a grow using the homeless shelters electric) anyways, my electric company pays stores to discount cfls. Picked up 3 5packs of 23w 2500k cfls for 5 $ a box!!! That's a steal, so I changed out a lot of my light fixtures in my home. I had 4 60w incandescent bulbs in several ceiling fans, one of which is on almost 24/7. So by replacing then with 23w bulbs I'm saving a lot, that's why they made cfls, to save on electric. So in a decent sizedhome you could offset your electric bill by switching out your old incandescent bulbs.
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I think i got what you mean.I'll get me some 42watts cfls today,and i'll check how it goes.If more needed,i'll do more and try to reduce costs from other factors.Thanks for the info.I'll get those pictures ready as soon as i can.18/6 is a good light schedule ?
 
qroox

qroox

Well-Known Member
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so..how do they look ? they had direct sunlight when they first sprouted so i think they are still recovering(i should have read more.).maybe a LITTLE overwatered,but i will not make that mistake again.ideas ?
 
G

Genja

Member
Hang the CFLs more to the side, or both from top and side. 1 CFL around 30w aint close to enough light, if its 2 inches from your plant the lumen probably is below half for optimal grow. The lamps also light better to the sides then to top, irritating when you hang the bulbs from the roof like we do. :P
My girl just went nuts when i stoped overwatering her and put 3 CFLs (100w total) AROUND her (she was a wreck before), check my thread in this section for pictures. The distance depends on the bulbs, how warm do they get etc.
Now that i got a fan blowing from 1m directly on the bulbs/plants, i can have the bulbs VERY close, closer then an inch and it only burns if they grow to much during the night and actually comes in contact with the bulb. :P

Ps. If you dont wanna change to much, put a lamp (maybe warm?) between the plants, as low as possible and you should have enough light until they get bigger. Im gonna try to hang pairs of lamps and have 2 plants between each.

= : light


===================================================
=(6500k x2)= vegg =(6500k/2700k)= small flowering =(2700k x2)= big flowering

A bit few lamps but i think it'll work if i put it all nice and tight together with as low bulbs as possible. Dont forget that even the bottom buds want light, when your plant is 10inches even with decent CFL above plant, the lower part will get a useless amount.

I also forgot to tip about ebay when it comes to CFL, i bought 2x135w + 2x105w for 30£/45?$. They are being sold as photo studio bulbs.
 
qroox

qroox

Well-Known Member
Genja said:
Hang the CFLs more to the side, or both from top and side. 1 CFL around 30w aint close to enough light, if its 2 inches from your plant the lumen probably is below half for optimal grow. The lamps also light better to the sides then to top, irritating when you hang the bulbs from the roof like we do. :P
My girl just went nuts when i stoped overwatering her and put 3 CFLs (100w total) AROUND her (she was a wreck before), check my thread in this section for pictures. The distance depends on the bulbs, how warm do they get etc.
Now that i got a fan blowing from 1m directly on the bulbs/plants, i can have the bulbs VERY close, closer then an inch and it only burns if they grow to much during the night and actually comes in contact with the bulb. :P

Ps. If you dont wanna change to much, put a lamp (maybe warm?) between the plants, as low as possible and you should have enough light until they get bigger. Im gonna try to hang pairs of lamps and have 2 plants between each.

= : light


===================================================
=(6500k x2)= vegg =(6500k/2700k)= small flowering =(2700k x2)= big flowering

A bit few lamps but i think it'll work if i put it all nice and tight together with as low bulbs as possible. Dont forget that even the bottom buds want light, when your plant is 10inches even with decent CFL above plant, the lower part will get a useless amount.

I also forgot to tip about ebay when it comes to CFL, i bought 2x135w + 2x105w for 30£/45?$. They are being sold as photo studio bulbs.
Click to expand...
I'll consider what you've just said mate.I am planning to do something better and add some lighting as well..!! :)
 
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