cheapest grow lights for one or two plant grow?

greenthumbz420

greenthumbz420

Well-Known Member
Hi, I have a small box 3feet by 3feet . I want to grow just one plant at a time. What are my best options ? I want to spend under 100 dollars.
 
Squidbilly

Squidbilly

Well-Known Member
CFLS or T5's. You can get a cheap 4' x 1-8 light T5 fixture at HomeDespot or Ludes. The nice thing about a T5 fixture over a bunch of cfls is it's one fixture with one cord instead of multiple lights hanging with multiple cords.

The T5's come in their own reflective 'hood' as well.

6500k bright white for veg and 2700k soft white for flower OR you can do a combo of both through the entire cycle(preferably more 2700K, but a 1:1 ratio works great too)

If you want a slight upgrade, you can buy plant specific bulbs for it too-but regular bright and soft white work great. Also, low heat compared to a HID.

Either way, CFL or T5's still produce heat! Not as much as HID but in a small enclosed area ALMOST! In my veg tent my 4'x8bulb T5 fixture requires the same ventilation as a 250w HID lamp would. Just remember any lights generate heat, some just less then others.
 
Squidbilly

Squidbilly

Well-Known Member
^^^that fixture I mentioned(4'x8bulb) is about as powerful as a 400w HID fixture.

You could outpreform a 150hps with a 4'x4tube T5(which is equivalent to 200w HID) and cool the space easier. Either way, like I said your ventilation system will have to be almost the same-the difference is HIDs puts out radiant heat while fluros not so much.

I think HID's are better because they penetrate the canopy more effectively then fluros but fluros are easier to keep temps in check(slightly easier)

I just hate when I see people say that fluros 'don't' generate heat- they aboslutely do, and enough that ventilation has to be about the same for the same amount of watts of either HID, LED, or Fluros.
 
slowandsteady

slowandsteady

Well-Known Member
Squidbilly said:
^^^that fixture I mentioned(4'x8bulb) is about as powerful as a 400w HID fixture.

You could outpreform a 150hps with a 4'x4tube T5(which is equivalent to 200w HID) and cool the space easier. Either way, like I said your ventilation system will have to be almost the same-the difference is HIDs puts out radiant heat while fluros not so much.

I think HID's are better because they penetrate the canopy more effectively then fluros but fluros are easier to keep temps in check(slightly easier)

I just hate when I see people say that fluros 'don't' generate heat- they aboslutely do, and enough that ventilation has to be about the same for the same amount of watts of either HID, LED, or Fluros.
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How do you get a 4x4 t5 into a 3x3 space?
 
Herb Man

Herb Man

Well-Known Member
greenthumbz420 said:
http://reviews.homedepot.com/1999/203012866/viavolt-4-ft-4-bulb-t5-high-output-copper-fluorescent-grow-light-fixture-reviews/reviews.htm


I may have to chop my box and add an extra foot. Just to be sure this is the correct light in the above link. Thsnk you all for the great tips!!! We these light bring me all the way through flowering?
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This unit will get you through veg as is.

When you want to switch to flowering mode 12/12, take two of these bright white 6500k bulbs out and put two warm white 2700k in.

This configuration will take you all the way home.
 
GroErr

GroErr

Well-Known Member
Whether you're going to try and grow one plant, or 10, you need to provide a proper environment for growing that plant indoors. If you can't afford it, don't, or grow it outdoors, you'll spend whatever you have ($100) and get nowhere. Your lights are only the beginning in providing a grow environment. You'll need water, possibly filtered unless you have a good well, soil (or alternative hydro which will cost you more), air (circulation, incoming/fresh air, exhaust, smell control), nutrients (chemical or organic), you still need to supplement soil, or go with hot soil that'll probably burn the shit out of your plants the first time you try it. You'll need a thermometer and hydrometer if you want to manage the environment and provide an environment that plants will thrive in. Get a realistic budget and/or shop around used and you may be able to do something but if you haven't grown indoor, don't think that $100 will get a plant grown from start to finish with anything more than a couple of grams of fluff. Not being a hater, just trying to give you a reality check and set some realistic expectations on what you'll run into. Nothing worse than getting a newbie into growing to give up after the first try imo.
 
ErieR33FER

ErieR33FER

Well-Known Member
GroErr said:
Whether you're going to try and grow one plant, or 10, you need to provide a proper environment for growing that plant indoors. If you can't afford it, don't, or grow it outdoors, you'll spend whatever you have ($100) and get nowhere. Your lights are only the beginning in providing a grow environment. You'll need water, possibly filtered unless you have a good well, soil (or alternative hydro which will cost you more), air (circulation, incoming/fresh air, exhaust, smell control), nutrients (chemical or organic), you still need to supplement soil, or go with hot soil that'll probably burn the shit out of your plants the first time you try it. You'll need a thermometer and hydrometer if you want to manage the environment and provide an environment that plants will thrive in. Get a realistic budget and/or shop around used and you may be able to do something but if you haven't grown indoor, don't think that $100 will get a plant grown from start to finish with anything more than a couple of grams of fluff. Not being a hater, just trying to give you a reality check and set some realistic expectations on what you'll run into. Nothing worse than getting a newbie into growing to give up after the first try imo.
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While this is very true, maybe starting small is a good idea, and as his plants and hopefully knowledge increases he can upsize if he wants to or if he decides he doesn't like it he can quit.

You don't need huge lights to start a few plants for veg.

Smaller hids and cfls/flouros are easier to manage heatwise and electricity.

As they grow either keep upsizing or throw them beans out.

I do not advise on buying primo shit unless your confident in growing.
 
GroErr

GroErr

Well-Known Member
ErieR33FER said:
While this is very true, maybe starting small is a good idea, and as his plants and hopefully knowledge increases he can upsize if he wants to or if he decides he doesn't like it he can quit.

You don't need huge lights to start a few plants for veg.

Smaller hids and cfls/flouros are easier to manage heatwise and electricity.

As they grow either keep upsizing or throw them beans out.

I do not advise on buying primo shit unless your confident in growing.
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Agreed on the build up as you go, I started indoor last April with one single DIY cabinet and one LED light, total investment of about $600. Now have that cabinet for vegging, a tent for seedlings/clones/or breeding, a 12/12 cabinet, and a 4'x9.5'x7' flower room. My concern is I've seen and known people who start grows thinking a magic light will do the trick and get discouraged/quit. Just trying to be realistic, there's low budget and then there's recipe for failure.
 
ErieR33FER

ErieR33FER

Well-Known Member
GroErr said:
Agreed on the build up as you go, I started indoor last April with one single DIY cabinet and one LED light, total investment of about $600. Now have that cabinet for vegging, a tent for seedlings/clones/or breeding, a 12/12 cabinet, and a 4'x9.5'x7' flower room. My concern is I've seen and known people who start grows thinking a magic light will do the trick and get discouraged/quit. Just trying to be realistic, there's low budget and then there's recipe for failure.
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I'm down with that vibe man.
Somewhere in the middle of our two opinions lies the best option :p...man I'm baked.
 
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