CFLs or 150w HPS for autoflowers?

texastiger707

Active Member
Happy Holidays everyone. I have 2 autoflowers. They are 10 days old. I have them in some very good soil. I was wanting to know if I should use CFLs or a 150w HPS for the lighting? Which would be more efficient? Any comments would be great. And again HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE.....
 

budbro18

Well-Known Member
150w hps. I have one auto cheese by dina fem under it and it is booming to say the least. Ill probably get a zip off it. check out my mini cab grow journal. im about to put pictures up soon of it because ive been slackin and it is fucking huge compared to the last pictures. Its about 60 days in got 2 weeks or so left and it is one nice plant. Id highly recommend the 150w.

Hell, use some of the cfls too once they start flowering for side lighting if you can afford the electric bill. Mine only went up like 8-12 bucks running my 150w at 20h on 4 off so if youve got a hundred watts of cfls throw those in too once you start seein pistols and shit.
 

texastiger707

Active Member
150w hps. I have one auto cheese by dina fem under it and it is booming to say the least. Ill probably get a zip off it. check out my mini cab grow journal. im about to put pictures up soon of it because ive been slackin and it is fucking huge compared to the last pictures. Its about 60 days in got 2 weeks or so left and it is one nice plant. Id highly recommend the 150w.

Hell, use some of the cfls too once they start flowering for side lighting if you can afford the electric bill. Mine only went up like 8-12 bucks running my 150w at 20h on 4 off so if youve got a hundred watts of cfls throw those in too once you start seein pistols and shit.
Thank you for the reply. I was curious how far away you have the hps light above the plant?
 

itsgrowinglikeaweed

Well-Known Member
CFL's are cheap to buy and cheap to use relative to what you are getting out of them. Almost everyone could benefit by adding a few CFL's to their indoor grow. Use the HPS AND some CFL's.
 

cc2012

Well-Known Member
well I have 2 autos right now. So how high for it to cover both?. If I lower it to four inches. It wont cover the 2 plants.
Hiya texastiger707 n Happy Holidays. Just my thoughts..but if you have the 150w Hps 4" from the Tops of your Ladies...then you gotta be COOLING the Bulb directly..as well as managing Grow Cupboard/Cabinet Temps...best way to check the Heat when lowering your light(That I've Read) and use is the Hand between the Tops of Ya Ladies and the Bulb..if your hand gets Hot then so are your Ladies...

Now as for the best Light system to use: Hps VS CFL or Both?? a Giant 200w CFL kicks out about 8000-10,000 Lumens(depends on brand) and I Think a 150w Hps kicks out about 16,000 Lumens(depends on brand), but you have to take into account the space you have to grow in? The Air flow and the ventilation of Heat..CLFs work best up close 2-3" and Hps 12" standard? but can be lot lower if the Bulb is Air-Cooled...

Hope this is of some help...

If you have space could use both Hps at Top and CFL closer to the plant.
 

texastiger707

Active Member
Hiya texastiger707 n Happy Holidays. Just my thoughts..but if you have the 150w Hps 4" from the Tops of your Ladies...then you gotta be COOLING the Bulb directly..as well as managing Grow Cupboard/Cabinet Temps...best way to check the Heat when lowering your light(That I've Read) and use is the Hand between the Tops of Ya Ladies and the Bulb..if your hand gets Hot then so are your Ladies...

Now as for the best Light system to use: Hps VS CFL or Both?? a Giant 200w CFL kicks out about 8000-10,000 Lumens(depends on brand) and I Think a 150w Hps kicks out about 16,000 Lumens(depends on brand), but you have to take into account the space you have to grow in? The Air flow and the ventilation of Heat..CLFs work best up close 2-3" and Hps 12" standard? but can be lot lower if the Bulb is Air-Cooled...

Hope this is of some help...

If you have space could use both Hps at Top and CFL closer to the plant.
Thank you for the reply. I dont use the hps at 4 inches. I have 2 plants that I need to cover. So it being that close wont be enough coverage. So I will be using the hps at about 8-10 inches and using cfls for side lighting.
 

Nizza

Well-Known Member
basically you want it optimal distance, and the footprint spread the size of the combined canopy
 

Nizza

Well-Known Member
a 6500K bulb could be re used after harvest for veg, and would help balance the spectrum of a regular hps
 

FuckJeffGoldbloom

Well-Known Member
Or even better yet look into Cree LED bulbs to put on the sides, the best out put is from the sides of them, not the top point like a cfl, but are doing good things. Keep the 150 hps on top

They cost a lil bit more though...


FUck
 
Top