Need a real inexpensive grow light. Please advise

My friend really needs to grow indoors for the first month, then move outdoor. Is there any kind of inexpensive bulb he can buy that generates enough of the necessary light to grow plants for four weeks?

He's strapped for cash.

I told him they'll only likely get to around six inches anyway so that if he finds a light that works it should be easy enough to grow them indoors for a month.

He's only talking about starting 3 plants so the indoor space needed would be small. I think he's just hoping to find a bulb he can hang over the plants for 18 hours a day.

Thanks.

I start all my seedlings till they are 6 weeks under some very cheap CFL's. Got them at walmart. 5600k 1750 lumen 26 watt daylight bulbs. Blue spectrum of course. They cam 3 to a box at 7.97 a box. I use 14 of them. 2 at least per seedling. Hope that helps.

Thanks ratford. The cost on that is great. Is a separate lamp or fixture needed for each bulb or is there another way to set it up so that I wouldn't have one electric chord per bulb?

Thanks.

You can get a Y adapter and run 2 bulbs in every socket. A little creative wiring and you can daisy chain 2-3 sockets onto 1 wire. Just make sure you use heavy enough wire. Also make sure your don't have to many things plugged into 1 circuit breaker otherwise your gonna keep popping breakers and have no light ANYWHERE. haha

Well I was talking about connecting together the sockets to run more than 1 CFL on 1 power cord.

I actually get a lamp replacement cord, and 3 y connectors. This allows for 4 bulbs per cord. Plus, it makes for a configuration that balances itself with all bulbs facing same way.

Believe me, you wont find a cheaper lighting solution!

So I'm having a little trouble, I think.

I couldn't find any kind of fixture that lets me put multiple bulbs in and focus the light on the subject so I'm using small lamps similar to the one in the link. I put one above and one to the side(only have one plant right now). I will add another lamp tomorrow so that's 3 100 watt daylight CFLs.

Because of the lamp shades or hood I'm not able to get the lights real close to the plant. So, do these bulbs help even if they are a couple inches from the plant?

I'm using a fan also for cooling.

Here is a link of the type lamp I'm using. Any suggestions would be appreciated:
Desk Lamp - Purple Shade : Target

Also, what is the difference between 6500k and 2700k? I have a 42W bulb that gives 2700 lumens but have not tried it yet because it's only 2700k.

Thanks.

Id definatly use the 42 watter, with its higher intensity it might even be better thatn the blue 26 watters.

6500k blue spectrum - veg
2700k red spectrum - flowering

Sexyfattops69 said:

Id definatly use the 42 watter, with its higher intensity it might even be better thatn the blue 26 watters.

6500k blue spectrum - veg
2700k red spectrum - flowering

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Ahh, now I see the difference. I'm in the early veg stage. Even though this 42W bulb is a more powerful light source it's not giving off the spectrum I need. So it probably wouldn't help, right?

I wish I could find some strong "screw in" 6500ks.

personally i go for intensity over spectrum. I havnt noticed a big diffrence in spectrums.

What we did is we went down to target and found tall floor lamps for $10 it is one that holds 5 bulbs. We reconstructed them to hange. Our lovely (white Russin) loves it.

VirginHarvester said:

Thanks ratford. The cost on that is great. Is a separate lamp or fixture needed for each bulb or is there another way to set it up so that I wouldn't have one electric chord per bulb?

Thanks.

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I just wanted to bump this back and ask a question.

I've searched Walmart, Target, Home Depot and Lowes and the strongest daylight CFL bulb I can find is 26 watt, 6500k. Is that the right kelvin and wattage- assuming I use enough of them.

Check this link out..
International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums - converting a home security light into a remote ballast grow light (the OG FAQ)


I've not seen anyone on here that has tried it, but it should work.
peace.

You're better off buying a real light though..

What? they got 120W cfl's at Home Depot. Love HD!

Just looked at that link Arrid, way over my head.

Joker52 said:

What? they got 120W cfl's at Home Depot. Love HD!

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I have not found any CFLs at HD, Walmart, Target, Lowes that are 120W 6500k or 2700k.... wait, maybe I did see a 100W or so 2700k for flowering but nothing I have found for vegging is above 26W that says 6500k on the box.