Advice on setup and possible pest problem...

Here are some pics of what I've got going on now. 4 23w 6500K CFL, 1 42w 3000K, homemade CO2 canister, and a small fan for some vent. This is my first grow and I'd appreciate some feedback. I'm trying to keep the plants as short as possible due to a limited grow space (apt. living). I'll switch to all red spectrum CFL's for flowering. These pics are about 2.5 weeks into it. I just added all these lights today. I previously had three. Also, just bought high N liquid nutes today. Thinking about switching to some organic mix when I transplant to something bigger, and using the LST method to make most of my space (approx. 3.5x2x3.5, I guess.) Any comments?

well those lights wont do much for ya but you may want to just buy a floro shop light or 2 from walmart for 8-10 bucks each.That will get you through veg stage.If you wanna keep them short you can crop the top known as topping when the plants get to be about 6-8 inches tall.This will stall the height (the height will about double when switched to 12/12 light) so they will be about a foot to 16 inches but should bush out and yeild 2 colas which is what you will want for your short plants.Careful with the nitrogen use a ph meter and ppm tester if your mixing it for watering.bigger pots will help stop root binding also.A main thing to remember for a succesful grow is you get what you give.No lights equals no buds.Bad soil equals bad bud, No care equals no bud.If you spend 25 bucks you ll get 5 bucks worth of bud.

I've heard and seen several posts with all CFL and many times have seen where CFL's are more efficient than standard tube floros. How many more CFL's do I need? I can't use HIDs due to space restraints. Also, any recommendation of acquiting multiple sockets for the bulbs? Hate having to but 8 dollar shop lights every time I wanna put it in a new light. Does anyone make a string of sockets that can't plus into the wall?

You can buy a bathroom light fixture that holds from 3 - 5 bulbs in a straight line. Available at Home Depot or Lowes. No more than $20. Check it out. You can also get a "Y" socket for $3 at HD or lowes to put 2 bulbs in one fixture.

SleepyBuds said:

Here are some pics of what I've got going on now. 4 23w 6500K CFL, 1 42w 3000K, homemade CO2 canister, and a small fan for some vent. This is my first grow and I'd appreciate some feedback. I'm trying to keep the plants as short as possible due to a limited grow space (apt. living). I'll switch to all red spectrum CFL's for flowering. These pics are about 2.5 weeks into it. I just added all these lights today. I previously had three. Also, just bought high N liquid nutes today. Thinking about switching to some organic mix when I transplant to something bigger, and using the LST method to make most of my space (approx. 3.5x2x3.5, I guess.) Any comments?

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You've made a decent start, now you must pay close attention to the lumen outputs of your lights and the water and nutrients you're feeding your plants. You can achieve something with the resources you have, and your most limiting one will be the height restriction. So make up for what you lack in resources by growing cleverly, and that means getting as much information as you can.

You're right to be concerned about your height, as that will be your biggest problem. Here's what I suggest.

Your cfl's are fine, they're in the right colour temperature for tight internodes, but ditch the 432w 3000 one for the moment - it's putting out too much light in the red end of the spectrum and too much infra-red - it'll make the plant stretch, which you don't want - you want them nice and compact and small. Also come up with a better arrangement than the spotlights you're using - you're losing an awful amountof those precious lumens.

Your 4 x 23w clf's will output something in the region of 60 lumens per watt and about 70-80% of the light will be in the PAR range plants use. So that's 4 x 23w = 92w x 60 =5,520 lumens x 80% = 4,416 lumens per sq foot at 1 foot distance. That's enough lumens for vegetative growth, as the plant only needs about 2,500 lumens per sq foot for healthy vegetative growth, but you must maximise those lumens, at the moment you're not in those spot lights.

I suggest you make up a horizontal row of them spaced about 8 inches apart, using bulb holders and wiring from a DIY store. You can also make up a horizontal reflector to sit above them out of some matt white board. That should be fine for vegeative growth.

We can deal with flowering nearer the time, but with 3.5ft in height, you're going to have to flower them at about 8-10 inches tall, because they can double and triple in height in flowering.

Appreciate the help. I bought a thermometer and saw my temps were hovering around 90 during the afternoons. I know thats a bit high, but I heard this would be fine with CO2. I turned off the 42w and removed the metal reflectors to cut down on heat. I'm up in the air if this was a smart decision or not. You mentioned positioning them horizontally. Does this maximize the lumen output? I would guess so since more surface area of the bulb would be closer to the plant. Haha, I'v been ghetto rigging my lights with clothes hangers and tape. I'll try to see what kind of horizontally setup I can rig up. Thanks for the help, and anyone, any more suggestions? More pics out up from today. I took the babies to the park to get them some good sunlight. It was about 80 degrees, I live in the south. Also, I added perlite to the mix to hep with aeration and preventing compact mix.

Check out the new pic...instead of doubling lumen output, i decreased space by about 1/2. How does this set up look to everybody? Would it be more efficient if I were to have the lights face each other rather than all going in the same direction....