First timer - braking in! Seedlings / CFL advice

Hey team,

Few firsts for me here...this is going to be my first grow...this is my first forum registration and this is the first time i will post this message .

Anyway iv done TONS of reading - sorted my grow room out and neglected an important area...Starting off seedlings !! My first ten stretched and died / dampened off due to lack of decent light. They were 8 days old .

I have since purchased a heating mat and CFL Propagation Light. However, I cannot find an accurate answer online and feel free to have a dig at me if a similar question has been raised

My CFL lights will be 2 X 55W = 4150 Lumens each. Is this enough to start off 8 Seedlings or should i break them 4 and 4 ?. That wouldn't be a problem as I am vegging 4 in aquafarms and the others in a wilam system, thus the aqua ones could veg longer due to pot size.

Iv read 100w per plant then 50 there after. Iv read others ask a similar question only to get an in depth answer about their whole vegging process then certain threads just go over my head. I hope to use these lights for the first two weeks then place under 600w HPS lights. Is this a sound approach ?

Hey, thanks for your reply sir.

Astounded by that journal will take a lot from it. However what am asking is specifically about the lights i have and how many seeds i can put under it untill it is time to stick under The 600w HPS . I just want to start my seeds off , then transplant them. I will be using rockwool then clay pebbles. I have 1 600w hps for every two aqua farms then one of the 8 pot wilma ( which will not be full to give the plants a little more space and light penetration ).

Like i said though, i was hoping to gain a little advice about the propegation kit i have . Will these 2 55W lights suffice for 8 seeds or should i go 4 and 4.

NOTE : I cannot find the kelvin/color ratio on the box unless it possible uses another term or unit display for it.

Right.. I have grown with CFLs many many times and at the beginning I was in a situation just like you. 2 55w bulbs army going to get you far, as CFLs only penetrate 2-3 inches efficiently. And as for what k they are, simplest way to get a I dear is what color are they, orangy red or blue? Red is going to generally be 2700k and blue 6500k if they are red and you are not growing a auto flower you have run into a problem, and if they are blue then OK, your bulbs have to be as close to your mj as possible. About 2 inches, but each plant will need one of your bulbs, andtthen it will only cover you for about a week until you will need to throw in she more lights. So just for simplicity to your answer. Thoes 2 CFLs you have isn't going to do anything, can you fix it YES!! firstly you are going to need one of them bulbs on each plant, keep them very close, when they get a bit bigger 5-6 inches you need she more bulbs. Get some between 20-30w (bigger isn't better) and get as many as humanly possible around each plant and when your mj gets to the third node and every say blow fairly hard on the plant a few times and ruffle up the leaves and gently bend to the sides. This will help to get a strong stalk. Just remember the golden rules
1. CFLs no more than 3 inches away.
2. Bulbs between 20-30w
3. For veg 6500k blue light
4. Strengthen stems
5. Don't get caught.
Of you need anymore help please just ask

Sorry bout auto spell hope u can read it

Thats the sort of information I was looking for. Thanks brother

I had a feeling as soon as i got home and set it up that i would struggle with the amount of light ! They are 6500k so thats a good start, I will get more light sorted then hopefully get a winning formula and start a journal of my adventure.

Thanks team,

No worries , there is just a lot to learn you are on a long rocky road but just like every one of us you will be sprinting towards the finishing line soon

Good luck. Will keep a look out to your journal