36W x2 + 18W CFL Tubes, enough for four plants?

xMaYHeM

xMaYHeM

Active Member
I know that when using your standard cfl bulbs, ideally you'll wanna hit at least 100W per plant.
Is it any different for CFL tubes considering theyre much longer and cover more surface than bulbs?
I've gone out and bought two 36W 6500k (~2000 lumens each, I think, box didn't have a reading) CFL tubes to accompany my unknown (guessing 18W) tube for my part indoor veg.
Basically I'm using these lights to prolong the light time for my plants, so I have them outside during the daytime to receive a good 14 hours of sunlight, and then put them inside under these lights for another 4 hours and turn them off when I go to sleep. So theyre on a 18/6 schedule.
My main question, when using tubes, would my combined total of about 90W be enough to grow all four of my plants?
I've got 3 photoperiod plants and 1 autoflowering white widow.
I'm just collecting the money to go buy another two 36W lights and install them so I'll have 162W total.
Thanks everyone on these forums, seriously I would be no where without you all.
 
M

minnesmoker

Well-Known Member
Short answer: you'll need more light. Although those lights spread the light more, they also stretch the light further.

If you look around a bit, in the indoor and indoor>cfl sections there's a very experienced grower that primarily used the tube CFLs, and they posted in the last 5 days about it, I just can't find the thread right now. I'll update if I do.
 
delvite

delvite

Well-Known Member
xMaYHeM said:
I know that when using your standard cfl bulbs, ideally you'll wanna hit at least 100W per plant.
Is it any different for CFL tubes considering theyre much longer and cover more surface than bulbs?
I've gone out and bought two 36W 6500k (~2000 lumens each, I think, box didn't have a reading) CFL tubes to accompany my unknown (guessing 18W) tube for my part indoor veg.
Basically I'm using these lights to prolong the light time for my plants, so I have them outside during the daytime to receive a good 14 hours of sunlight, and then put them inside under these lights for another 4 hours and turn them off when I go to sleep. So theyre on a 18/6 schedule.
My main question, when using tubes, would my combined total of about 90W be enough to grow all four of my plants?
I've got 3 photoperiod plants and 1 autoflowering white widow.
I'm just collecting the money to go buy another two 36W lights and install them so I'll have 162W total.
Thanks everyone on these forums, seriously I would be no where without you all.
Click to expand...
errr no............................my usual rule of thumb is at least 100w per plant :)
 
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