CFL only grow, is it worth it... or do you need HPS?

I am starting a microgrow and have heard mixed opinions on this matter. Originally i was told to use CFL's only as they give off little heat, are cheap/easy to replace, and more forgiving in small spaces. But then i was told you wont yield anything worth while with only CFLs, that HPS was needed.

theres plenty of people that have pulled more than enough to make them happy off of just cfl grows go check out grow journals that say cfl only and see

but ofcourse hps lamps are better, just not for a low cost micro grows

cfls usually take longer and the buds are likely to be light and fluffy, although sometimes the quality of a cfl grows buds can be much better, if you want the fat juicy buds i would invest in the hps also speeds things up a bit

i myself am doing a cfl grow. plans to build a box soon. good luck

Cannibal Sativa said:

i myself am doing a cfl grow. plans to build a box soon. good luck

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Yeah, Im using CFLs too and my buds are pretty fat and dense but theyre not as big as I would have liked them to be but I think I can make up for it next time by building a cabinet and adding a few more cfls and better reflective material.

Go ahead and start out with the cfls and see how it works for you then take it from there. I bet you wont be disapointed.

From what I have read for vegging at least CFLs are fine, so might as well start with them and make your decision after thinking about it some more. (I am doing CFL only, but still just in vegging)

Ive been using mine through the entire process minus the first 2 months they were outside and I havent had any problems with them. The only complaint Ive had is the amount of bud produced. I see a lot of room left on the main stem that should be covered by bud but isnt. I blame this mostly on my coverage though because Im growing in a closet and dont have proper feflective material and never added more lights as the plants got taller. I plan on correcting this in my next grow by using a cabinet, adding more lights for better coverage and using more, better reflective material.

IMO, if youre pressed for space, have heat issues and arent concerned with a super high yield, cfls are fine. If you want a perfect grow with a high yield and keeping your grow space cool is not an issue, go with the hps.

Personally, If I had a seperate room with an a/c unit and was not concerned with power consumption, I would be using hps too but it doesnt fit my needs and cfls seem to work fine. Hope that helps.

heres a link to a RUI user itsgrowinglikeaweed

https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/98018-cfl-grow-final-results-6-a.html

look at those pics and tell me if you think cfl's are worth it.

I hope that my cfl's do me like that too. how far did you place them away from the plant to get those results, mammal? I bet you used the 100 Watt cfl.

theyre not mine, its rui user (very cool helpful guy) itsgrowinglikeaweed, follow the link in the above post for his setup etc.

mammal said:

heres a link to a RUI user itsgrowinglikeaweed

https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/98018-cfl-grow-final-results-6-a.html

look at those pics and tell me if you think cfl's are worth it.

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wtf .. thats a whole lot of watts for cfl.... wouldnt it have been cheaper to go HPS or MH..??

people dont grow with CFL just to save money (although it can be a factor.)

they also give off alot less heat (and are therefor easier to use for more compact grows or stealthier grows, and doesnt involve the extra expence of cooling vents)

they also draw alot less power.

and you can possibly get better light coverage by having more lights spread around the plant rather than just from above then needing to scrog/LST to get coverage, some of these techiques are beyond the new grower.

i know you undoubtedly know these, just posting them for other users who may not!

mammal said:

people dont grow with CFL just to save money (although it can be a factor.)

they also give off alot less heat (and are therefor easier to use for more compact grows or stealthier grows, and doesnt involve the extra expence of cooling vents)

they also draw alot less power.

and you can possibly get better light coverage by having more lights spread around the plant rather than just from above then needing to scrog/LST to get coverage, some of these techiques are beyond the new grower.

i know you undoubtedly know these, just posting them for other users who may not!

Click to expand...

hell i got you bro... its just that that many cfl is gonna bring alot of heat as well.... i have 4 cfls on my top cab for the clones and seedlings and it gets pretty hot too.... i cant imagine 600+ watts of cfl...that must be pretty hot as well... for a small place i would rather go with a 250 hps... a small squir fan and your good to go... tru that the cfls can be placed down to 3 inches fromt he tops... but im jsut saying in order to get that many watts... jesus...