flouresants

Hi,

I'm new to this so bare with my newbie questions. I've just received my prescription for MM. I want to start growing my own. I'll start with a 1/2 dozen plants. With no legal way to buy it in this state you can grow 12 for your self. I need to keep expenses way down. I've been out of work for a year and will be out about an other year.
I know I'm going to get a lot of flack for this but I want to go with florescent lights for the full grow cycle, 48 inch tubes if possible. PLEASE DON'T TRY TO TALK ME OUT OF THEM. I'm aware of the draw backs and maybe down the road I can afford to up grade or the state will allow dispensaries.

So now what I want to know what lights to start the seeds and what lights to continue with? I know about the need for color light spectums at different stages. Where can I buy them?

I have searched the forums but there are to many threads talking you out of them than helping you pic the best of these inexpensive but usable lights. Flouresants have come a long way. Prize winning, tall beautiful plants are not what I'm after, just usable ones for now.
Please remember I need to keep cost of the lights and the electric bill low.

This is the first of I'm sure many questions.

if your trying to keep costs low. CFL's are better for that than floro's I would think. they are the same thing but the compacts use less energy.

nah man... near the same energy, but they are compact

Floro can be used to grow some buds/ you will need a bunch of tubes, it really would almost be easier if you at least picked up some cfl's
the tubes can be bought home depot, lowe's wal-mart same with cfl's

cheetah2007 said:

nah man... near the same energy, but they are compact

Click to expand...

really? i thought they use less....... if they don't then why use them?
are incandescents and floros different?

gsspike said:

So now what I want to know what lights to start the seeds and what lights to continue with? I know about the need for color light spectums at different stages. Where can I buy them?

Click to expand...

From Jorge Cervantes "Medical Grower's Bible". Chapter Nine, "Lights, Lamps & Electricity", page 206:

"Plants will flower under fluorescent lights. The buds will be small and light, but, with enough fluorescent light, you can grow a mature crop. The grow show will have to literally be lined with fluorescents."


So.... sounds like you can start your garden with a set of 48" fluorescents like you want..... save your money as your garden is growing and add more lights every chance you get. I have no idea how many you are going to need to flower 6 plants.... but I'm sure a more experienced gardener will come along and let you know.

Good luck and get well soon

my first crop is almost up, i grew 2 plants with 48" flouros the entire time. i only have one 2 bulb fixture, buds are small and don't reach down the plant much. i'm just surprised they lived. chopping next weekend ill try to show you some pics if possible.

i would go for something like a 4 or 6 bulb fixture above the plants and at least two 2 bulb fixtures for side lighting. youll get bud, but you cant compare it to the pics on this site, not with flouros

I was thinking of two 2 bulb fixtures to start.

High Tech Garden Supply

some of the cheapest T5's iv seen, i love these things im 5+ weeks into veg and the temps are fine, very small compact plants (ww and AK)
AK are 2 nodes per inch tall and WW are about 1 node per inch
i have 6 3gal pots and 2 5gal pots under it and they fit fine. ordering another one soon.
(sunleaves T5 8bulb 48")

I went with CFL's. I'm following "More Buds For Less."