quick someone help me PLEASE!!!!! CFL GROW

pblayde1906

Active Member
So i've started my cfl grow. I'm about two weeks in. Plants are super healthy. I'm growing 2 master kush and 1 NL. i've been using 3 68w cfls. 1 over each plant. only one problem... I just found out i'm using the wrong color light... I'm wondering if this is a big deal since my crop seems to be progressing great so far. If so i'll change them out. Also i've read conflicting advise about using cfls for flowering. If they work well, I'll keep the lights i have and use them for flowering. if not i'm going to trash them, get some daylight lights and go from there. help me out folks.


Keep in mind that I'm not so concerned with a huge yield. this is more of a science project for me than anything. but i do want good buds. ok lay it on me.
 

Slipon

Well-Known Member
well if its a science project you forgot to tell us the Kelvin of the bulbs you have now ?

I reccon its 5000 Kelvin ? and they will just be fine for a complet grow ...

your right 6500K daylight is what is the best to use doing Veg. tho a plant need all colors all grow ..

just more blue in Veg and more Red/yellow (2700K) in flowering ..

5000K actualy have it all as its eaquel to sun light .. it just not have as much blue as 6500K and not as much red as 2700K

I like to mix it up a bit to provide as much diffrent colors as possible for my girl ..

so if your going to buy more bulbs (I would for flowering as a plant need twise as much light doing flowering then veg. roughly) get some in 2700K ..

a plant will need atlest 3000 Lumens per sq ft. in Veg. and atlest 5000 Lumens (10K is better) doing flowering to grow to full potential


Kelvin= color of light

Lumens = strenges of light (plants realy use PAR and not Lumens but Lumens is what we use to calculate how much a light source provide and can be used as a rull of tump ..


p.s.
I found out that with my 49W T5HO tubes ... 2-4 inches away from my plant tops was best ..
try to keep most of the plant inside 10 inch`s ... between 2 and 10 inch`s my light meter show 5000-15000 Lumens per sq ft.

after 12" I couldnt even get a reading .. so keep em low .. train/top em or sumthing .. that the only realy down side with fluorescent .. penetrations/strengs ..
 

scroglodyte

Well-Known Member
Walmart carries the GE 6500K bulb. the only place to buy it in person, here where i live. but, yeah..........5000K will get you there.
 

Slipon

Well-Known Member
Slip........you save me a lot of typing. keep up the good work:)
Np. Scrog :)


I like my T5 Tubes and have done a ton of research ..
and even got a light meter as I was curious .. and it was .. kind a cheap .. long storie ..



and if anybody is intersted ?

my 600W HPS did make me read 4x as much a foot away then 2 inches away from my T5HO tubes ..

that just show how powerfull a HPS is .. specialy 600W I guess ..



had +5K footcandles (=53000 Lumens per sq ft.) 16-20 inchs away/plant tops ..

my T5HO 2-10 inches away show 500-1500 foot candles (= 5300 -16000 Lumens per sq ft.)



hmmm ..for some reason I cant add pictures now ? ..

sumtimes rollitup is realy fukcd up :( they need more security and a better server .. bord is totaly Kool tho ..


Ooh well maybe later .. would just have show my light meter in use and also show that Myalor is way superior to flat white .. atlest twise as refletiv ..
 

pblayde1906

Active Member
The lights I have now are 2700. So I'm pretty sure I need to go get different lights and use these for flower. Thanks for the help guys. Much respect.
 

*BUDS

Well-Known Member
They will work for flowering only thing is you will poor quality buds that weigh very little. I just harvested with 2200w of HPS and the buds are tight blow ya head off and are as heavy as logs.
 

SOMEBEECH

Well-Known Member
Has anyone used cfl for flowering? Give me feedback. The last guy just made it sound like a total waste of time.
For me yes it would be a waste, buy great genetics and then flower with CFLs.But if thats all you got go for it atleast add some more CFLs. look in the Cfl grows under lighting to give you some kinda idea what to expect.Get HID if possible.
 

Slipon

Well-Known Member
I think you can get very close with fluorescent (and I do consider it myself)

but you need to do your home work and invest the money nesseary ..

I have seen Ppl. useing fluorescent with a end result very close to a big HPS.. but they did`t have small 23W CLFs aso.

they had ther gear in order .. big 12 tube T5HO or even VHO fixtures .. with the right bulbs .. in most cases also a DWG or hydro system ..

and they knew what they wher doing .. they knew to train em right (SoG/Scorg aso) to keep them close to the light
(as this is the biggest downside .. have lots of advanges like low heat and low power aso)

would be fun to see a experienced grower and a total nub make a side by side grow ..
wher the nub have a 600W HPS and some soil/pots and the veteran had the best T5HO fixture and a great DWG system ..

I dont belive the end result would be that diffrent ..
the nub might even get close if he can keep his temps down and dont fukc it up to much along the way ..
 

Slipon

Well-Known Member
ok lemese if I can post a link to my pictures insted ?

https://www.rollitup.org/members/slipon-438244/albums/fist-indoor-grow-27551/

ther are some of my light meter aswll ..

know its not 110% accurat .. but it do show the diffrent between tubes and HPS and diffrent between flat white and Maylor ..
and it also show me how the distance from the light make a big diffrent and give me a good idea of how fare my plants can be and still get good light ..

I like it :) specialy since I got it for free ;) well used 350$ in my local grow shop .. so he threw one in for free :)
 

Cajun Grower

Active Member
i did cfls for a year switched to hps and will never go back cfls r good but it takes alot of them to produce the buds a hps will i spent more money in cfls and hooking them up than wht i paid for the hps im runnig now no diff in elec bill r heat problems better looking fuller buds ! t5s r good but side lights r still needed !
 

pblayde1906

Active Member
Ok. Sounds like what I'm hearing is I have to make a choice between good buds and fantastic buds. Considering the fact that I'm on a budget and this is probably a one time thing, I think I can live with good. So I'll be going with the CFL grow. Thanks everyone for the input and the advice.
 

Slipon

Well-Known Member
ok wanted to post a long MSG as usealy ..

but rollitup mess it up .. with ther stupid safety type ins .. dont work .. and couldnt even go back/refresh ?



but in short .. repot .. 1-2 gallon pots .. nice drain holes .. fresh soil .. they will love it .. I bet they are rootbound and that stalld grow ..

another thing ..

on a budget .. all I would buy is 3 Y splits and 3 more bulbes .. 5000K can work well mix with the 2700K you have ...

make a DIY hood .. for reflextion ...

cover it all in maylor or use them camping matress or ice cover for car windows (silver once) for reflexion .. flat white paint can be used ..



but nice small plants .. look helthy .. a bit small maybe .. but what to expect I guess .. still in small cups .. 2700K CLFs in Veg ..
 
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