How Many Light Bulbs Should I Buy to Extend Veg Outdoors for 6 Plants?

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newguy41410

Well-Known Member


I have 6 plants in 25-gallon containers. They are fairly small so I want to extend their veg using light bulbs for an hour or two when the sun starts to go down. I am leaning toward getting some LED light bulbs that screw into a standard lamp socket (unless you suggest otherwise). I think they are about 14 watts each. Not sure if i should use 6 separate light bulbs, one for each plant, or if i should use three bulbs?

Would appreciate you guys feedback on this subject as I'm totally new to using lighting outdoors

EDIT: don't mind the wilting plant on the ground, it's a confirmed male I plan to mulch
 
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graying.geek

graying.geek

Well-Known Member
If you're trying to just keep them from going into flower, one of your 14 watt veg bulbs per plant is fine. If you're shooting to extend full sunlight hours and veg growth, you're going to need close to 50 par-watts/sq ft, to say nothing of the PITA it would be to move the lights twice per day. Doubt it would be worth setting up outdoor lighting for just a couple of hours.
 
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newguy41410

Well-Known Member
graying.geek said:
If you're trying to just keep them from going into flower, one of your 14 watt veg bulbs per plant is fine. If you're shooting to extend full sunlight hours and veg growth, you're going to need close to 50 par-watts/sq ft, to say nothing of the PITA it would be to move the lights twice per day. Doubt it would be worth setting up outdoor lighting for just a couple of hours.
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yeah im looking to just keep them from going in to flower so they can stay in veg and get a little bigger before going into flower.

can you expand on the topic of it being a PITA moving the lights twice per day? I was thinking of setting the lights up so that they stay in position all day but only turn on when the timer fires

im not sure i follow your reasoning for having to move lights twice per day?
 
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newguy41410

Well-Known Member
graying.geek said:
Simply that I assume your lights would have to be moved to keep from shading the sunlight during the day.
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i see. but thats only if im using something big like T5 or HID and expect growth right? In my case I just wantt o keep the plants in veg so im thinking a 15watt bulb that fits in standard light sockets.

I'm actually thinking of using three 15w LED bulbs. One bulb between a pair of plants. But I worry that LED lighting doesn't disperse as well as a CFL does and is more directional with its light output.
 
too larry

too larry

Well-Known Member
A string of outdoor led's would do the trick. You may want to think about running them for 2 hours at midnight. It will make the plants think it's two short nights, and they will stay in veg.
 
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newguy41410

Well-Known Member
too larry said:
A string of outdoor led's would do the trick. You may want to think about running them for 2 hours at midnight. It will make the plants think it's two short nights, and they will stay in veg.
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thats Gas Lamp Routine right? What advantage(s) does that have over just turning the light on for two hours when the sun starts to go down?
 
too larry

too larry

Well-Known Member
newguy41410 said:
thats Gas Lamp Routine right? What advantage(s) does that have over just turning the light on for two hours when the sun starts to go down?
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Actually burning lights at midnight might draw attention to your grow. Electricity use would be the same. Only advantage would be if you have really long nights, you could get by with a couple of hours, where it might take more to extend the day.
 
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