CFL first-timer

So this is my first time and I feel as if I may have fucked up.
I've got 4 23W 3500K bulbs and 2 19W 5000K bulbs.
I have 3 plants on a hydroponic system with an airpump and all that jazz..
My question here is are they adequate for 3 plants, and how would I place them ._. ?

Try this out : http://cannaversity.com/calculators/lighting.php

Measure the space of whatever you're using and convert it into the right units, select 120v.

You have 130 watts of light. Divide that by the square footage of the space, and you're left with the watts per square foot.

My grow cabinet has 204w of CFL light, its 4.5 sq ft. that = 45.3 watts per sq ft. Optimal for my space is 40w/sq ft , maximum is 60.

Hope this helped, on my first grow as well. 1 week in.


Also, if your water/nutes/airflow/temp/humidity etc are all good, you probably just need a couple more 23w CFLs.

I changed my lid to one plant since its my first grow. I don't wanna ruin something so soon lol.
but now I have one plant with 4 23W 3500K bulbs and 2 19W 5000K bulbs.. It's in a closet about 3' wide, 4 1/2' tall, and 2' front to back.
Would hanging the four lights around the one plant, and dangling the other two somewhere and just swapping their spots in between the 4 lights weekly work well enough ?


I'm also open to any suggestions on some fairly priced hydro-organic nutrients as well.

calculator said 6.0 squarefeet
""

So according to that calculator you need 110 more watts to reach optimum lighting for the room.

But now you only have 1 plant? You'll probably be fine with 1 with the amount of light now. add light from every direction.

but more light is always better, as long as you have the space


this is the set up: https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-fluorescent-lighting/805408-cfl-1st-grow-plastic-bin.html

somewhat halfass but it's not completed.

you havent fucked up yet your still doing ok i would def get some higher wattage bulbs and get them in the 2700k range you can get 105 watters at HD for like 10 bucks and they rock!!! if your in flower id say the sooner the better but they are a weed remember that and they honestly will grow from the light from the phone

Can I just use these CFL's all the way through or does that require some sort of auto flowering strain ._. ?

they will switch once you do the flip in time but adding the right light spectrum helps alot

acesap said:

Can I just use these CFL's all the way through or does that require some sort of auto flowering strain ._. ?

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Absolutely, you can use CFLs the whole way through. I would recommend getting 1 or 2 40-50 watt 2700k CFLs, as they'll work better in getting dense buds than a 20w.

are those 105 watt bulbs the kind that aren't curly but straight and longer with a 4 pin base thing?

http://image.lampsplus.com/is/image/17479.fpx?qlt=75&wid=460&hei=460&fmt=jpeg

I'm curious about those. They seem to put out a better light pattern than the curly ones. I just don't know what sockets they work with.

I've seen those when browsing and I haven't figured out the socket thing either. I have a 125w that works great but it's has a mogul ballast that I just screw it on to my hood. I got my hood/reflector and veg/flower bulbs all for 80$ on amazon. Seemed like a good deal when one bulb costs 30$. My avatar pic is of a plant I grew with it.

Cereal box said:

I've seen those when browsing and I haven't figured out the socket thing either. I have a 125w that works great but it's has a mogul ballast that I just screw it on to my hood. I got my hood/reflector and veg/flower bulbs all for 80$ on amazon. Seemed like a good deal when one bulb costs 30$. My avatar pic is of a plant I grew with it.

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Yeah I was looking for higher wattage ones but the highest I could find was 42 with the 4 or 2 pin bulbs. I found fixtures for them for 3-5 bucks on amazon. I'd rather just get some t5s i dunno.

Yeah I've always heard good stuff about t5s, I just like that with CFLs you can move them around the plant more. Probably all personal preference,though.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-FLCDG125D-Fluorowing-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B001UV6P9I

that.s what I use. You can get adapters for the bulbs so they can be used without that fixture. It's a pretty sweet little fixture but they do heat up a bit more than your standard CFL.

hey thats cool and pretty cheap. How do you cool/vent it?

Do you use that + other single cfl bulbs? that sounds like it'd be ideal

I just have one fan pointed at the hood and a fan blowing on the plant. It usually doesn't get above 80f in there.

yeah, I use that an two other bulbs. Both are 56w spirals CFLs. All in all I have a little over 200w running.

awesome man I cant wait to finalize my setup

About the CFLs in many cases it was found that during vegetative growth to use 6500 kelvin ( cool blue ) and flowering use 2700 kelvin ( warmer color). Duri g partner grows we used primarily 6500k bulbs mixed with 3000, 5000k, and 2700k bulbs for flowering we switched to primarily 2700k and a few 6500k, did great. Ill be starti g a journal soon finishing up my box now.

It's too hot in my closet D: I dont know how to cool it down either... I have 2 fans already !

ace what lights are you using and how big are the fans?

eLinc420 said:

About the CFLs in many cases it was found that during vegetative growth to use 6500 kelvin ( cool blue ) and flowering use 2700 kelvin ( warmer color). Duri g partner grows we used primarily 6500k bulbs mixed with 3000, 5000k, and 2700k bulbs for flowering we switched to primarily 2700k and a few 6500k, did great. Ill be starti g a journal soon finishing up my box now.

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Interested in seeing what you set up. It's good to have a full spectrum of light like that. What kinda box were you workin with?

Atlanta I see, me too.