CFL Confusion - NO UPWARD GROWTH???

my electric bill is only $60 a month running them 24hrs? 2700 lumens per 42wt I've got 8 = 21,600 + I've got these ultraviolet side flourescent grow lights on the sides casting 950 lumens, there are 4 of those casting 3800lumens of red spectrum uv light on the sides... the grow rig without picture is if you can imagine 4ft high, 4ft tall, 18in wide, 3 -24qt pots at the bottom underneath 4 split fixtures holding 2 42wt CFLs a piece (8bulbs), then the flourescents screwed on the sides, the CFLs were just about 2-5 inches away at 6-8in tall - they flourished bushing outward heavily and doubling in size over 3-4wks, but the top leaves were scorching there tips and the leaves drooped because light was so close and hot(leaves don't need to fan out to reach so they look sick) now the lights are almost 18in away because that is that is the only shelf plug-in for my grow light set-up is that distance (could raise pots if need be?), the plant leaves fan out and reach for that CFL light at 18in away, they look healthy but am seeing stunted growth this last few weeks??? - as my plants have reached damn near 2ft I'm wondering what the proper light height/distance above & side is during vegatation to get 4ft bushes as I'm 60days in on my grow? Also a recommendation on watering requirements on a 1ft6in, 1ft1in, 1ft, tall plants at 6-8nodes???

keep the cfls 3-5 inch's away . and if its not growing upwards thats good coz the plant is getting what it needs

It's the distance from the lights. The power of your lights diminishes exponentially with distance and you should ahve them much closer. If the plants were scorching at 3in away, try 5in.

Use a book or something to raise the pots closer to the light. It's better to risk burning some leaves than it is to place your lights farther away. Your setup sounds great and you should see some good results if you play by the book.

Also, do your plants seem stretched?. Using red light during veg stage can make this worse and I'd recommend on holding off on the UV lights until you flower. Also, most plants close to double in size when you start flowering so if you want 4ft plants you should start flowering before they are 2ft tall

As for watering try this: water your plants and mark the day. Dont water them again until they show definate signs of drooping. Now plan on watering 1 day before that point (if they drooped after 5 days, water at 4). When you start flowering they are going to need more water too.

the taller a young plant gets the more light it needs so if its really low but like 3 nodes than thats good
all depends on the strain

daisy2687 said:

It's the distance from the lights. The power of your lights diminishes exponentially with distance and you should ahve them much closer. If the plants were scorching at 3in away, try 5in.

Use a book or something to raise the pots closer to the light. It's better to risk burning some leaves than it is to place your lights farther away. Your setup sounds great and you should see some good results if you play by the book.

Also, do your plants seem stretched?. Using red light during veg stage can make this worse and I'd recommend on holding off on the UV lights until you flower. Also, most plants close to double in size when you start flowering so if you want 4ft plants you should start flowering before they are 2ft tall

As for watering try this: water your plants and mark the day. Dont water them again until they show definate signs of drooping. Now plan on watering 1 day before that point (if they drooped after 5 days, water at 4). When you start flowering they are going to need more water too.

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--- are you saying that I could start flowering at 2ft (going 12/12?) and go for how long flowering before harvest??? I am a 1st time gardener and am having "addictive" results on my 1st grow (I'm surprised how far TLC has gotten me despite my scattered unconfirmed knowledge about growing). You read my post so with my plants at the height they are now could I start budding with a satisfying yield, without rambling more... my plants are all slightly over 13in and average 5-8nodes? just a lil experience advice if you got any would be much greatly my friend.thanx for spreading the word - banksybuds

I started flowering my girl at bout 14in. Check out my grow journal for some pics. She's 26in tall now but I topped her twice and did a lot of pruning. Has 20 grow tips (4 tops)

Using CFLs the plant is always going to grow slower than under HID light. It's going to be near impossible to have a successful 4ft plant using CFLs.

As for flowering time you're looking at 10 weeks or so. Maybe more

.... if so niiice. If you got time to kill go my profile banksybuds and check my posts 1st Time grower...etc. It explains my plant and bud strain as it is slightly confusing how my garden came to be(so for me sometimes). If based on your CFL growing experience you might be able to lend a helping nickels worth of free advice on improvements I could make or just what my general bud observations have been I would be thankful, again I do not yet have pics, another week or so. Thanx for spreading the word.--- banksybuds

On3Tim3OnLy said:

the taller a young plant gets the more light it needs so if its really low but like 3 nodes than thats good
all depends on the strain

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..... stray from straight 12/12 and do more dark? I've been wanting to flower and you have helped me decide. So just start 12/12? (I think you said you had it journaled on your homepage?)((forgive me I'm spacy on pink cush))

daisy2687 said:

I started flowering my girl at bout 14in. Check out my grow journal for some pics. She's 26in tall now but I topped her twice and did a lot of pruning. Has 20 grow tips (4 tops)

Using CFLs the plant is always going to grow slower than under HID light. It's going to be near impossible to have a successful 4ft plant using CFLs.

As for flowering time you're looking at 10 weeks or so. Maybe more

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https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/65603-first-time-cfl-grow-using.html

Here's the link to my journal

I bet you'd learn a lot from reading it (or at least see what to expect)

.... nuthin but luvv 4 ya!!!! --- banksybuds

if you have eight 2700 lumen lights... then you have 2700 lumens total. They dont add.

Jayrad said:

if you have eight 2700 lumen lights... then you have 2700 lumens total. They dont add.

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Wtf you Noob
you dont know shit dumb ass i hate people who say this.
the planet has 1000000000's of readers one the leaves so dont say shit you dont know the science behind it yes you have a mental plate which no shit will only pick off one bulb (lumens) but to say it for a plant WTF

NO,ONE LISTEN TO HIM DONT KNOW SHIT

banksybuds said:

--- are you saying that I could start flowering at 2ft (going 12/12?) and go for how long flowering before harvest??? I am a 1st time gardener and am having "addictive" results on my 1st grow (I'm surprised how far TLC has gotten me despite my scattered unconfirmed knowledge about growing). You read my post so with my plants at the height they are now could I start budding with a satisfying yield, without rambling more... my plants are all slightly over 13in and average 5-8nodes? just a lil experience advice if you got any would be much greatly my friend.thanx for spreading the word - banksybuds

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ofcourse you can. i'm preaty sure that your plant has preflowers at this age. Peace!!!

Jayrad said:

if you have eight 2700 lumen lights... then you have 2700 lumens total. They dont add.

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i think he mistake's lumen's for kelvins

yh kelvins

On3Tim3OnLy said:

Wtf you Noob
you dont know shit dumb ass i hate people who say this.
the planet has 1000000000's of readers one the leaves so dont say shit you dont know the science behind it yes you have a mental plate which no shit will only pick off one bulb (lumens) but to say it for a plant WTF

NO,ONE LISTEN TO HIM DONT KNOW SHIT

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I can barely understand what you're even typing here but LUMENS dont add so before you say he doesnt know shit you might want to check your facts

Omg the only facts people have is off a lumen unit of luminous flux reader lol its fucking metal WTF thick as shit a plant has 10000 just on one leave Noobie get your facts right

lumens do add and it might be ur toos check the grow faq for any of the bad root sydroms or check the bottoms of ur poot the might juss be getting rootbound and used to it if thats the case then it will grow in 4-7 days but check the grow fa1 definantly

buy a light meter... oh lord master of pot.

And then maybe you can type in english and not insult other members... Got it, big guy?

BTW... what size pots do you have your babies in? Maybe theyre pot-bound?