Hardware Light Bulb Advice

Hi all -- My grow light is in the mail, but will take a month or so to reach me, so I'm looking to jerry rig a light set-up for the time being (Plants at 4 weeks). Bulb selection in Fiji is extremely limited, so I'm sure I won't find a perfect answer, but anything to keep my plants growing will do. I've managed to find 12W 6000K LED bulbs, so my plan was to create a 4x4 bulb set-up. 6000k for veg, then search for lights in the red spectrum for flower. First time grower, so any guidance on hardware bulbs would be greatly appreciated!

You might try to find a 150 or 250 watt metal halide or sodium vapor outdoor yard/ security light.

I remember someone doing a way bigger one with plywood or cement board and mounting a ton of ceiling light sockets to it and wiring up (if your handy or know an electrician) maybe someone else has the link to it I can’t find.

if you can’t my next pick would be just a standard high pressure sodium security light.(don’t get low pressure) or cmh. I imagine electric is expensive so led if at all possible.

MaggieL88 said:

Hi all -- My grow light is in the mail, but will take a month or so to reach me, so I'm looking to jerry rig a light set-up for the time being (Plants at 4 weeks). Bulb selection in Fiji is extremely limited, so I'm sure I won't find a perfect answer, but anything to keep my plants growing will do. I've managed to find 12W 6000K LED bulbs, so my plan was to create a 4x4 bulb set-up. 6000k for veg, then search for lights in the red spectrum for flower. First time grower, so any guidance on hardware bulbs would be greatly appreciated!

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Wait until you can buy real equipment... Waste of money those hardware bulbs ain't cheap either. Than the fixtures. Your just digging a deeper hole. You got to take the plunge and skip this foo foo nonsense

Dude Fiji. You know how hard it is to get stuff in islands.

Coalcat said:

Dude Fiji. You know how hard it is to get stuff in islands.

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He has a light on the way so if OP doesn't mind spending the money than get the hardware bulbs otherwise I say wait..

If I lived in Fiji I would be growing outdoor plots of mushrooms. Fiji is the best spot for that shit climate wise.

MaggieL88 said:

Hi all -- My grow light is in the mail, but will take a month or so to reach me, so I'm looking to jerry rig a light set-up for the time being (Plants at 4 weeks). Bulb selection in Fiji is extremely limited, so I'm sure I won't find a perfect answer, but anything to keep my plants growing will do. I've managed to find 12W 6000K LED bulbs, so my plan was to create a 4x4 bulb set-up. 6000k for veg, then search for lights in the red spectrum for flower. First time grower, so any guidance on hardware bulbs would be greatly appreciated!

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Don't let the naysayers discourage you as it's possible to grow with LED and/or CFL bulbs, it's just a lot of effort for a small harvest.

The 6000K LED bulbs will work for veg, but as you stated red spectrum bulbs (CFL ~2700K to 3000K) will be best for flower.
I have not seen any LED lower than 5000K, but they would still work okay.

Keep your bulbs close (about 1 to 2 inches) to the plants and try to have bulbs on top and around the plants

I think a 4x4 foot grow room is a bit too large for your situation, I would consider making it smaller

Just for the fun of it, I've been using CFL/LED bulbs for a solo-cup challenge....they won't produce much but it's still fun to watch them grow.

If possible, it will help if you give them a few hours of sunshine a day....also run your light 24/0 during veg, as they will do better with the continuous light when using low wattage bulbs.

There is a "CFL/Fluorescent Lighting" subsection under "Indoor Growing" that should provide you with lots of info & ideas

Welcome to RIU

cheers
ISK

ISK said:

Don't let the naysayers discourage you as it's possible to grow with LED and/or CFL bulbs, it's just a lot of effort for a small harvest.

The 6000K LED bulbs will work for veg, but as you stated red spectrum bulbs (CFL ~2700K to 3000K) will be best for flower.
I have not seen any LED lower than 5000K, but they would still work okay.

Keep your bulbs close (about 1 to 2 inches) to the plants and try to have bulbs on top and around the plants

I think a 4x4 foot grow room is a bit too large for your situation, I would consider making it smaller

Just for the fun of it, I've been using CFL/LED bulbs for a solo-cup challenge....they won't produce much but it's still fun to watch them grow.

If possible, it will help if you give them a few hours of sunshine a day....also run your light 24/0 during veg, as they will do better with the continuous light when using low wattage bulbs.

There is a "CFL/Fluorescent Lighting" subsection under "Indoor Growing" that should provide you with lots of info & ideas

Welcome to RIU

cheers
ISK

View attachment 4748075

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Nobody is a naysayer. But people offered better lighting that fits a typical light socket such as a 100w HPS. It would also be cheaper and you don't need a ballast ...

Your plants look unhealthy btw

MintyDreadlocks said:

Wait until you can buy real equipment... Waste of money those hardware bulbs ain't cheap either. Than the fixtures. Your just digging a deeper hole. You got to take the plunge and skip this foo foo nonsense

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I would consider this post as "naysayer feedback", or just plain old trolling, which you seem to do a lot

I know my plants are unhealthy, and I don't really care as this is not a serious grow using solo cups and LED bulbs

ISK said:

I would consider this post as "naysayer feedback", or just plain old trolling, which you seem to do a lot

I know my plants are unhealthy, and I don't really care as this is not a serious grow using solo cups and LED bulbs

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You can make your own truths and have your own opinion. Though I don't think everyone is going to side with that thinking.

I've done it buddy so you can take your naysayer shit and shuv it. People are offering better hardware solutions than your tin foil cfl shit show. Which is what the OP was inquiring about. He already has bulbs he wants to find out better hardware bulbs for flower.

ISK said:

Don't let the naysayers discourage you as it's possible to grow with LED and/or CFL bulbs, it's just a lot of effort for a small harvest.

The 6000K LED bulbs will work for veg, but as you stated red spectrum bulbs (CFL ~2700K to 3000K) will be best for flower.
I have not seen any LED lower than 5000K, but they would still work okay.

Keep your bulbs close (about 1 to 2 inches) to the plants and try to have bulbs on top and around the plants

I think a 4x4 foot grow room is a bit too large for your situation, I would consider making it smaller

Just for the fun of it, I've been using CFL/LED bulbs for a solo-cup challenge....they won't produce much but it's still fun to watch them grow.

If possible, it will help if you give them a few hours of sunshine a day....also run your light 24/0 during veg, as they will do better with the continuous light when using low wattage bulbs.

There is a "CFL/Fluorescent Lighting" subsection under "Indoor Growing" that should provide you with lots of info & ideas

Welcome to RIU

cheers
ISK

View attachment 4748075

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Couple things.

1) Yes, they make A19s in warm, which is usually 3000K. The daylight bulbs are the ones that come in 5 or 6000K. 3000K bulbs are literally all over the place at any hardware store.

2) Please don't suggest people go to the CFL subsection of this site. CFL is the least efficient grow light tech available. Speaking of which, you would get much better performance if you ditched those CFLs you're running and replace them with 100 watt equivalent A19s with the diffusers removed.

MintyDreadlocks said:

You can make your own truths and have your own opinion. Though I don't think everyone is going to side with that thinking.

I've done it buddy so you can take your naysayer shit and shuv it. People are offering better hardware solutions than your tin foil cfl shit show. Which is what the OP was inquiring about.

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The issue is that the OP is in Fiji. They can't get what we can get here in the United States.

xtsho said:

The issue is that the OP is in Fiji. They can't get what we can get here in the United States.

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I didn't even pick up on that during my initial read. That must be hell. Oh wait . . . it's Fiji.

xtsho said:

The issue is that the OP is in Fiji. They can't get what we can get here in the United States.

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If they could get those led bulbs for veg they should be able to get a simple non ballast hps bulb. I would imagine at least. That was a solid recommendation by one of the earlier posters. And until OP says it's not available that is the best option imo. If he needs something before his light arrives

Nice sized plants for some light bulbs and solo cups...

Johnny Lawrence said:

Couple things.

1) Yes, they make A19s in warm, which is usually 3000K. The daylight bulbs are the ones that come in 5 or 6000K. 3000K bulbs are literally all over the place at any hardware store.

2) Please don't suggest people go to the CFL subsection of this site. CFL is the least efficient grow light tech available. Speaking of which, you would get much better performance if you ditched those CFLs you're running and replace them with 100 watt equivalent A19s with the diffusers removed.

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I have a 315 CMH and a 600 watt HPS....as stated this grow is just for a solo cup challenge, I don't really want to set up the tent and CMH or HPS for a few solo cups.

I wouldn't recommend using CFL/LED bulbs....but as you now realize, the guy lives in Fiji and is just trying to do the best with what he can get

xtsho said:

The issue is that the OP is in Fiji. They can't get what we can get here in the United States.

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Yea well. I cant go to fiji from the United States now so we're even imo.

Wizzlebiz said:

Yea well. I cant go to fiji from the United States now so we're even imo.

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lmao. Lockdown 2.0

Wow, thanks for all the comments -- I didn't have email notifications on, so I apologize for not responding! I ended up throwing together a 3x3 set-up (All LED, 1x30W/6500K, 3x12W/600K, and 5x15W/6500K)...Jerry rigged, but workable. The plant responded wonderfully after two days of light, BUT, I think I landed a ruderalis...I took it from a pack that got me thoroughly stoned - which is strange given the apparent low THC yield in ruderalis strains - so it should do the job. From what I've read on other newbie sativa/indica message strains, I certainly am not dealing w/ a sensitive gal (Moved around, 5-6 hrs daylight in seedling stage, loose/woody soil, etc.). Seems more like hearty Fijian bushweed, but I'm committed. This is fun and why pay when you can grow?

And regarding the growing outdoor comments...OF COURSE I could, but I'd rather not have to constantly grease Fijian police when the neighbors call the cops...Perfect climate, suboptimal legal framework.

Also, yes, I have a grow light coming in the mail (Cheapish China brand -- suspected 1.5 month turnaround...geeze), so I'll have to figure out veg lighting when the time comes...I'm not confident Fiji has red spectrum LEDs, but I'll keep searching. Given COVID logistics disruptions, closed airports (Yep, I'm stuck here), and slow cargo terminal traffic, it's been a bender to find workable gear.

Check-out the photos and let me know what y'all think

Photos..