Tutorial to Growing with Cfl's

[gthumb]

thanks for the info doc.
If was using a 150hps up above with two 100w cfls in a small gbox, would it really matter where I place the cfl's? (IE, sides, below and so on) because the MJ would mainly be stretching to the 150watt above? Does that seem like a valid theory?.. someone please enlighten me, thanks

 

[Malphator]

Excellent information, and a very big help. I'll be migrating to CFLs when I can afford to build the setup.

 

[Am I Norml]

thanks for the info doc.
If was using a 150hps up above with two 100w cfls in a small gbox, would it really matter where I place the cfl's? (IE, sides, below and so on) because the MJ would mainly be stretching to the 150watt above? Does that seem like a valid theory?.. someone please enlighten me, thanks

if your running the HPS about all the good the CFL's would do is make killer side lighting but your right basically ....below or side lighting but putting them up by your HPS is definitely out

 

[btnhbizzy]

Thanks so much i finally think i understand how to make a great grow now.

 

[spreadthelove]

thanks a bunch for the article. Very clear and well articulated. I know I'm not alone when I say I can't stand when someone writes like they're iliterate and in the end they're the only ones who know what they are talking about.You helped me out because I an one of those who can't use hps or mh.

 

[redzi]

CFL on the cheap - go to Walmart and buy some sockets that plug into a outlet (.99 each, 2ac prongs attached to a socket). Go to 1000bulbs web site. Navigating is pain in the ass but you can buy a 30 watt 2000 lumens 6400K bulb for 4.58. Stick four of them on a power strip and use some foil to get the light directed where it needs to go and you have a light source that runs cooler than those T5s. I paid 150 for a 4 row 24" T5 for seedlings...lots of heat in a tight area, never linsten to those hydroshop guys. "virtually no heat" he says, I heard that McDonalds is replacing thier heat lamps with T5s to keep their nasty burgers warm.

 

[tiedyediva]

CFL on the cheap - go to Walmart and buy some sockets that plug into a outlet (.99 each, 2ac prongs attached to a socket). Go to 1000bulbs web site. Navigating is pain in the ass but you can buy a 30 watt 2000 lumens 6400K bulb for 4.58. Stick four of them on a power strip and use some foil to get the light directed where it needs to go and you have a light source that runs cooler than those T5s. I paid 150 for a 4 row 24" T5 for seedlings...lots of heat in a tight area, never linsten to those hydroshop guys. "virtually no heat" he says, I heard that McDonalds is replacing thier heat lamps with T5s to keep their nasty burgers warm.

Good advice on the bulbs redzi, thanks! But just a tip, NEVER use tin foil around your plants. It will make "hotspots" and could cause burns to your plants. Mylar is the shit! I use 2 mil, and you wouldn't believe the amount of reflection in my room. It's bright enough to make sunglasses almost a necessity!

 

[Am I Norml]

Good advice on the bulbs redzi, thanks! But just a tip, NEVER use tin foil around your plants. It will make "hotspots" and could cause burns to your plants. Mylar is the shit! I use 2 mil, and you wouldn't believe the amount of reflection in my room. It's bright enough to make sunglasses almost a necessity!

with mylar intensity on your CFL's is never a issue...the light reflection and saved lumens makes up for the hassle of putting it up

 

[faderharley]

I am in my 11th week of grow which 2 weeks I have been flowering. My grow area is 3'x4'x9', basically 12 sqft. I painted it flat white. I started out w/ (4) 85watt/350watt, 6500k, 4000 lumen CFLs during my veg. stage on 7 plants. Anyway, the 4 CFLs, plus 4 more CFLs 105watt/400watt, 3000k, 5000 lumen, so that made 8 CFLs, then at Lowes the other day, they had a shit load of 65watt/300watt, 2700k, 2500 lumen CFLs, so I bought 4 of those to replace the (4) 85watt/350watt, 6500k

lights. My gals have been thriving

 

[tiedyediva]

In my experience, it is better to use more bulbs with less wattage then bigger bulbs. You can put a splitter in the fixture if thats a problem but with smaller bulbs you can get them closer to the foliage and you can get better coverage, all while running the same or less watts.

 

[blackcap]

Whatsup guys new to this forum and growing in general and was wondering where you guys purchase your single bulb lamp sockets for CFL's? I am starting a stealth box frow with a sweet leaf autoflower dwarf and am having a hard time finding lamps like the one in these pictures:

Thanks for anyone that can help.

 

[tiedyediva]

You can get the fixtures that the bulbs plug into at Home Depot or Menards. Just use a piece of wood, get 3 fixtures (they come in plastic and porcelain) use some old extension cord to wire them all together, and then u can have 3 fixtures with only one cord. The ones on the right in the picture are the ones I use.

 

[spreadthelove]

thanks, not all of use can use hids, this helps us newbies problem solve much easier. I got more info from this article than from half a dozen other sites. The cool thing is that it had the technical info needed but didn't get so deep that it was boring to anyone but a physics major.I've seen that a lot.. useless info that bores as opposed to impress.

 

[Chronic.D]

 

[MuppetMan1989]

how many cfls will it take to grow in a room 3 x 3? i just wanna grow one plant!

 

[tiedyediva]

how many cfls will it take to grow in a room 3 x 3? i just wanna grow one plant!

Just make sure you use fixtures that can be adjusted up and down and side to side. If you can't do that with one fixture (3 bulbs) then use two. You can start a baby sprout with just one bulb. As the sprout grows, just add bulbs. Just make sure you have even coverage with the lights. If you use mylar on your walls you will need less bulbs. I have 3 babies at about 3 weeks old, they each have their own bulb, and it is more than sufficient.

https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/327458-first-real-grow-doinit2gether-doin-2.html#post4157019

 

[Am I Norml]

how many cfls will it take to grow in a room 3 x 3? i just wanna grow one plant!

im a die hard CFL grower and here is a easy equation for you to help y'all figure out how much wattage per square foot of space...
you want 2000 lumens per square foot of floorspace ... as long as you cover that your golden....

another easy way to do it for a single plant is one main bulb over the top of the plant and 2 smaller bulbs under it for side lighting but your main bulb should equal 2000 lumens or close to it because lumins don't add so your lumen output is always equal to your brightest bulb

keep em green

 

[MuppetMan1989]

Just make sure you use fixtures that can be adjusted up and down and side to side. If you can't do that with one fixture (3 bulbs) then use two. You can start a baby sprout with just one bulb. As the sprout grows, just add bulbs. Just make sure you have even coverage with the lights. If you use mylar on your walls you will need less bulbs. I have 3 babies at about 3 weeks old, they each have their own bulb, and it is more than sufficient.

https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/327458-first-real-grow-doinit2gether-doin-2.html#post4157019

Thanks man! I really appreciate the replay back first and foremost! I've got 2 23 watt 2700k and one 42w 2700k running 12/12 at the moment. I figure it's a bag seed, And i wanna try the set up.. why not just have it go 12/12 all the way. I know theres drawbacks, Unless is there a possibility i could veg with the lights i have now at 18/6?

 

[MuppetMan1989]

im a die hard CFL grower and here is a easy equation for you to help y'all figure out how much wattage per square foot of space...
you want 2000 lumens per square foot of floorspace ... as long as you cover that your golden....

another easy way to do it for a single plant is one main bulb over the top of the plant and 2 smaller bulbs under it for side lighting but your main bulb should equal 2000 lumens or close to it because lumins don't add so your lumen output is always equal to your brightest bulb

keep em green

Exactly how i did my set up!, I figured it would be a nice layout anyways with the space provided. As it gets bigger I'll add more, unless thats mad overkill?

 

[tiedyediva]

Thanks man! I really appreciate the replay back first and foremost! I've got 2 23 watt 2700k and one 42w 2700k running 12/12 at the moment. I figure it's a bag seed, And i wanna try the set up.. why not just have it go 12/12 all the way. I know theres drawbacks, Unless is there a possibility i could veg with the lights i have now at 18/6?

You can try vegging at 2700K if you want to. You have plenty of bulbs, but they are flowering spectrum, not vegging. I'm really not sure which way would work better. If it were me, I'd go to wal-mart and get a 2 pack of daylight 6500K bulbs for 10 bucks and do 18/6 veg. I'm not one for risk taking tho-LOL