Do you need a 5 x 5 area to grow 4 autos? Can’t you place them closer together so the light becomes more efficient? I grow 4 phots in a 2 x4 ft closet using 400w of led T5 and T8’s (all are 4 ft long). A bit crowded when full grown but they all get lots of light. I trim the bottoms so good air flow. I even run a tube on the back and front of closet about a foot or so lower than the over head lights so sides get lots of light. My first grow was with 320w and averaged 60g (2 oz) per plant. Bumped up to 400w this time so hopefully my yield will increase. Love to hear your comments.
Do I need a 5x5 grow area for 4 autos? I don't know. I chose a place in my basement that I could give up the room for and that's what I came up with. 4 autos are what's in there now. Next grow might be 8. I was considering adding another light because while noticing the perimeter of the plants not getting light I started looking around on the internet and came up with info such as this site (
https://www.ledtonic.com/blogs/guides/how-many-watt-per-square-foot-sq-ft-for-cannabis). If I go with the high efficacy recommendation of 25-30 watts per sq. ft. I am currently under the 625-750 watts per foot with my 400 watt light as suggested by this site. Other sites are about the same.
I currently have the 4 plants on a 4'x4' pallet so the grow area is less right now but the plants are getting bushy and need to be spread out.
I just figured adding the extra 400 watt light might help. It would be closer to the recommended 750 watts suggested by that site I linked.
I know that by the shape of these lights that there will still be some areas that won't get optimal light but I was hoping the extra light would help.
Do I need the extra light? I don't know and with all of the conflicting info on the internet I was just hoping to get some good info from the growers here. Just look at the answers so far.
The footprint overlap in the tent is still going to leave 2 sides short. As someone mentioned better for 6X8. Rotate your plants around if you go with a second light because the middle is going to be very well lit. I have a fair PAR meter off Amazon and it’s pretty interesting the intensity at a given spot while almost next to it it’s lower. Barring a meter I suggest rotating. Reducing power defeats the purpose of adding a second light.
I have a couple of 4 bulb T5 fixtures. I might could add one to each side of the current 400 watt led but Id have to look up the total amps drawn. Im on a 15 amp circuit now. With running fans, lights and a inline duct fan I would want to put too much on the circuit.
