Fluorescent or HPS for veg

I have a friend who says that fluorescent lights are better for vegging than hps. I would be using a 400watt hps compared to a few 40watt fluorescent tubes. He says it has to do with the light spectrum but I'm not too sure if I believe him. It would seem like the extra lumens from the hps would better.

Can someone please clear this up?

Use the fluoros for the first 2-3 weeks. You can veg under a HPS, but your nodes will stretch more than when using fluoros.

I used cfls for the first couple of weeks. I'm now vegging with the 400 hps as a test and it's working out just fine. I would use hps over cfls any day. The Pineapple Express is short and real bushy and the Confidential Cheese is taller with a slight stretch. The stretch isn't really a problem because I'm doing a scrog.

I have done many CFL grows and they work pretty good. But like I said, hps over cfls any day.

If you are concerned about the power usage, use cfls in veg.

If your a tight arse when it comes to the Electric then use CFL's otherwise HPS are one of the best you can use at any stage of growing
Good luck & Happy Growing...

Thanks for the information. One last question though, when it comes to a hps light how far should it be kept from the plants? I read that fluorescent lights should be around 2inchs from the top but didnt see much for that on hps.

Use the hand method. Hold your hand at the plant tops for 60 seconds. if it gets uncomfortble for you, it'll be uncomfortable for the plants. Really, when they're young, use the fluoros. Move to HPS later for vegging if you must.

Good luck!

my last grow I was running 2 400w but I only had one mh bulb for veg so I ran a hps in the other lamp but I didn't notice a difference between the 2 they both grew great

As smokinrav said hold the Back of your hand about 12" to 18" away from the bulb (Depending on what size Bulb you get). I've just started an AK47 and a Pineapple Chunk in a Heated Propagator using just 1 20Watt CFL for 2 weeks then moved them under a Duel Spectrum 600 Watt HPS. The AK47 was fine at about 14" away but the Pineapple Chunk Cooked itself and died in about 45Min. Start High then Lower the lights Down Bit by Bit till you get the Right Height
Good luck & Happy Growing