Hello I started some seeds like a week ago and they kindof stretched becus they arent getting enough light becus the weather outside has been pretty bad its been raining and lots of clouds and its realy cold so I cant put them outside at this time ther only on my window, what I am wondering is if I can put them under cfls at night while the weather is bad and put them outside whenever its good? or would this cause them too much stress? they are femenized seeds btw
Lightning for seedlings?
- Thread starter Galice
- Start date
KolorBlind
Well-Known Member
I would not use sunlight at all until the night time temp outside stays above 60-65 for a few days solid. Just use some CFL bulbs, preferably 23w or higher to veg them for about a month.
Then you can transplant them outside if that is what you are wanting to do. If you want to flower them inside you would need some different bulbs, like soft whites or anything with about a 2700K rating on it.
The lights will not flower your plants though unless they are getting 12 hours of darkness on a regular basis. This makes the plants think that its fall and that its time to start budding. Just keep the CFLs on them 24 hours a day, or 20 hours on 4 hours off if you want to buy a timer. That will make them plenty healthy to transplant outdoors I think. Also make sure you keep the CFLs within 4 inches or so of the plants because the light they put out is not very effective at distances greater than like 10 inches.
Hope that helped
KB
Then you can transplant them outside if that is what you are wanting to do. If you want to flower them inside you would need some different bulbs, like soft whites or anything with about a 2700K rating on it.
The lights will not flower your plants though unless they are getting 12 hours of darkness on a regular basis. This makes the plants think that its fall and that its time to start budding. Just keep the CFLs on them 24 hours a day, or 20 hours on 4 hours off if you want to buy a timer. That will make them plenty healthy to transplant outdoors I think. Also make sure you keep the CFLs within 4 inches or so of the plants because the light they put out is not very effective at distances greater than like 10 inches.
Hope that helped
KB
KolorBlind
Well-Known Member
Well like I said, if you give the plant an even mix of light and dark hours, like 12 on then 12 off, it will start to flower. If you do this too early you will get very small popcorn buds with lower potency.
If you can manage to let the plants get as much sunlight as possible during the day PLUS some light from the CFLs afterward it could work. But the minimum amount I would suggest giving them is 16 hours of total light, 18+ would be ideal. Otherwise you risk flowering early or stunting the plants.
How many plants are you growing at the moment? If its only a few you could get away with 1-2 CFL bulbs from walmart and buy/find/make a stealth growbox to veg them in. That way the light could be on for 20+ hours a day which would make them nice & healthy for transplanting.
Good Luck!!
KB
If you can manage to let the plants get as much sunlight as possible during the day PLUS some light from the CFLs afterward it could work. But the minimum amount I would suggest giving them is 16 hours of total light, 18+ would be ideal. Otherwise you risk flowering early or stunting the plants.
How many plants are you growing at the moment? If its only a few you could get away with 1-2 CFL bulbs from walmart and buy/find/make a stealth growbox to veg them in. That way the light could be on for 20+ hours a day which would make them nice & healthy for transplanting.
Good Luck!!
KB
SunKissedBuds
Well-Known Member
dude they need at least 18 hours on and 6 off... otherwise your just gonna be flowering them from the get go and the plants wont have anytime to mature!
Wit flouro's:
Seedling Stage -
20 on/4 off
24 on/
Veg Stage -
20 on/4 off
18 on/6 off
Flower Stage -
12 on/12 off
if you cannot use these light cycles inside then wait till its much warmer out and grow them outdoors.