Help first time grower using cfls

thestonerlad

Well-Known Member
Ok I'm starting a new grow but I'm not sure about the lights :s

I have 2- 23w 2700k lights and 2- 11w 6400k and another 23w 6400k light they are all cfl's

My grow box is 20inches tall 20 inches long and 9 inches wide all reflective insulating material inside and the lights are on chain and hook so they can be lowered or raised to the plant but I mainly need to know if this is enough light and all that good stuff
 

robnarley1111

Active Member
"Enough light" all depends on what your setup looks like. What are you trying to accomplish your grow; are you trying to just get a "decent" harvest to smoke, or do you want "top-notch" quality weed that looks like a "High Times" ad? The more info you can give the better.

Right now you're working with 91 watts.
The minimum recommended wattage for the vegetation phase is 100 watts.

Flowering will require significantly more wattage than veg. But it's hard to tell what will be best for you without knowing more specifics, such as if you have a reflector, the shape of it, the distance from your plants, etc.

Not sure how much lumens, but I'd guess you have 8,000 lumens or so at the moment. The more the better.

If you can post a pic of your light and plants, we can help you better!
 

ColoradoDreams

Active Member
"Enough light" all depends on what your setup looks like. What are you trying to accomplish your grow; are you trying to just get a "decent" harvest to smoke, or do you want "top-notch" quality weed that looks like a "High Times" ad? The more info you can give the better.
Right now you're working with 91 watts. The minimum recommended wattage for the vegetation phase is 100 watts.

Flowering will require significantly more wattage than veg. But it's hard to tell what will be best for you without knowing more specifics, such as if you have a reflector, the shape of it, the distance from your plants, etc.

Not sure how much lumens, but I'd guess you have 8,000 lumens or so at the moment. The more the better.

If you can post a pic of your light and plants, we can help you better!
I conquer! pics of grow room maybe?
 

thestonerlad

Well-Known Member
Well I got 2 more 2700k 25 w cfls today but I think I can only have about 5 plugged in at a time unless I get more fixtures they give out 1350 lumens each now I have 2 23w 2700k at 1450 lms each 2 11w 6500k at 650lms each 2 25w 2700k at 1350lms each a 23w 6500k I don't know the lumens for that and I have another 11w incandescent 11w 2700k bulb



And now that I am here can anyone help on how to wire these up and by looking at the box tell me if it's a good set up ?
 

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ColoradoDreams

Active Member
Good start man. Lights will be enough for ya... Great setup up. Remember ventelation, I see holes, but it a tight space, even cfls will get your grow room hot... other than that, keep it up and keep us updated frequently please... I want to see the end result... :)
 

thestonerlad

Well-Known Member
Ok thanks for the quick replys :) yeah once she's all wired up them holes will be covered with like 90mm fans and all but I was wondering in a room with a closed door if the fans are still going is the air that's going into the box still going to be good enough also I was wondering I have a shed outside with plenty of room for the box but I know there is spiders out in the shed but if the box is all closed up and sealed would they affect the plant ?
 

thestonerlad

Well-Known Member
Should I use all lights at the start or add more for flowering ? Can u tell me what set of lights I should do for what stages all the list of lights is above so can u tell me please :D thanks for all the help. Is the box big enough to pull a Decent harvest of good smoke ?
 
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Merlin34

Well-Known Member
Generally 6500k for veg. Then I like a 2:1 ratio of 2700:6500 in flower. You can get y splitters at the hardware store so you can run 2 bulbs per socket if you're limited by plugs. Hope that helps ya.

Sent from Northern Colorado.
 

thestonerlad

Well-Known Member
That looks really good :o but I know of it's single lights you mount them sideways for more light ? What's the story with these y splitters ? Do I have to mount them a certain way ? My lights are b22 bayonets
 

thestonerlad

Well-Known Member
just an update I have everything wired but I need to know is it enough I've 2 23w 2700 k 1450lumen bulbs 1 11w 6400k 860 lumen and I've a 23w 6400k I think it 1600 lumens and then another 2 23w 1250 lumens bulbs is this enough ? Or should I get more before I start I'm using ultraviolet fem auto
 

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Anibud

Member
Hey bro judging by your name I'm guessing you're and English grower just like me :)
Anyway the first couple of grows I did have been with cfls and from experience the first or second time might not be too great, cfls are great and there are growers out there that grow monsters with them but it takes practice just like most things in life. The first grow I did I got about 7 grams dry of each so if this happens to you don't get discouraged, it will get better.
Your setup looks good but I would put maybe a few more lights on the side, this'll increase your yield as the smaller buds on the side that won't usually get much light will increase in size. Any problems drop me a message, I'm not a veteran grower but I'd be happy to share what ever I know.
 

Chris Cures

Member
The more lights the better. Should be sufficient for now but as they get bigger you will need the light to reach all parts of the plant. Also you need cfl's to be as "close" as possible for full benefits. Good start though way better than my grow spot right (also first time and using cfl's).
 
like prince said, becarefull with that wiring it can be a fire hazard if not wired up right. I had my wires showing everywhere on my first cfl grow and so I re did everything to make it safe. More light the better esp with cfl and keep your lights close as you can to the plant with out burning it. once you start your grow pay attention to temps and how much heat the cfls are putting out. I didn't realize how hot they actually get and my grow box got to 110 at one point so I had to put it in a better ventilated room. now my temps stay pretty much between 72 and 80. Good luck with the grow man!
 
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