How many watts should I use?

I have 7 plants, about one week old, and I don't know how many watts should I put on them. I used to have 4 CFLS, two of 20 watts and two of 18watts. In the middle, one fl tube with 18 watts. The plants are in a small box (13in x 13in). One friend of mine who used to grow for 3 years, told me it is way too much and told me to use the 18watt tube only. Plus, the lights are about 1,2 inch from the plants. He told me I should hang the tube about 7,5in from them.

Which of these lamps should I use and how close should they be?

Hope you can help me! Thank you.

It doesn't really matter to be honest, I have 6 plants growing under a 400 watt MH and have a 400 watt HPS bulb, doing fine as of now. this is my 4th harvest and I've used the same bulbs each time. id recommend using 400 or higher.

I have one 400watt HPS waiting but isn't it too early for them? Only now they are grow their second set of leaves. In that case, how many inches should the HPS stay above them?

Pictures would really help, I've never used the cfls but my light is always 20-21 inchs away from the tops of the plant.....I'd guess that when using cfls they have to be a little lower than 21 inchs becuase they arent as powerful....FYI one MH bulb or 1 HPS bulb does the work of about 8-10 cfls and using less electricity.....might want to consider switching over, and 1 MH bulb is about the same price as the amount of CFLs that you already bought, and works a lot better with better results.

PS. If you dont want to spend more money on a MH, HPS, and a housing for them (because they have different sockets and ballests) I'd suggest just buying a HPS and the house which would cost you about 200 total, nut i'd highly recommend switching to MH/HPS (google the 2 of them compaired to cfls and watch what the differences and final product looks like)

**but I'd highly recommend switching


and here's my set up and plants that are vegging right now.

http://yfrog.com/49img00040201008042124j

Yeah but I already had two of the fls, bought another two and the tube was lent to me by that friend of mine. I took this pic right now. It shows the most advanced plant, the tube and the 18watts fls. One of them is turned off because since I got the tube, I have no place to connect it. In my friend's opinion, I should use only this tube, about 7,5 in from them. What about the HPS? Too early, right?

forgot the pic

Well you see, there's a lot of people that suggest using MH and HPS bulbs, but they also say if you dont feel like spending all the money your better off just using one HPS for the entire cycle of the plant growth, there's a hole forum or sticky on using just an HPS for the people that don't want to buy both. I've never done it before but a lot of people I've spoke to have. They basically go thru the veg stage, and flowering stage just using an HPS so they don't have to buy 2 bulbs, switch the MH and HPS, change the timer etc etc. Look into it if your interested, but again....I'd highly recommend spending the extra money on an MH, HPS, and a housing rather then using CFL'S, the plant growth,healthiness, and yield is a huge huge difference when using MH, HPS compared to using CFLS. It's up to you thou, I still don't even know your set up, or anything....but regardless MH, and HPS are the recommended bulbs used for growing becuase they produce more heat, give off the colors of spring/summer, and fall lighting, and are more efficient the buds come out so much better and to its full potential.

give each plant at least 200 watts is my motto somtimes i give them there own thousand ....

I bought a 400watt HPS for the entire cycle but I just don't know when to put it on.

Anyone could tell me if it is too soon to move them under the HPS? If it isn't, how many inches should it stay above the plants?

Ehhh everyone's different, I feel that 1000 watts is too much, unless you have like 10+ plants, regardless just do whatever you feel is right. I suggest 400 watt though.

I have 400watts, not 1000! I'm just asking if it is too soon to use it or if I should use it now!

id wait till there a little older maybe a week or so and keep the bulb as high as u can so they dont get burnt also if u dont already have a fan get one test the heat that comes off the bulb at the top of the plant if it feels to hot put the fan closer every so often check the heat as the plant grows this comment is for the hps bulb

i just looked back at the photo wait till its about 6 inches tall and move the cfls closer to about 6 inches away if there already not if you want ur plants as bushy as possible still watch the heat

The cfls are much closer than that actually. Maybe 3 or 4 inches away from the plants. Should I give it a little bit more distance?

Yes, I have a fan that I turn on regularly to freshen up the air.

I'm telling you meng just go with the MH the difference is all in the lights.