Can I flower with 5000K lights ?

I have two 85w CFL bulbs full spectrum 5000k. I know the recommended bulbs are warm white and should be 2700-3200 around there, but is it possible and worthwhile for me to try flower em with these bulbs? Im on a tight budget. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

thats funny i just signed in to ask the same exact question, as I am on a tight budget as well. i have 10 bucks right now! anyways, i only have 2 23w 5000k bulbs, which i have used for vegetative growth so far. i know i will need prolly 3 times the power while flowering. but i think 2 bulbs would work for the first week or so.

anyone? will 5000k daylight bulbs be fine for flowering? atleast for a little while?

i have an 85 w 6500 k on a 3 week old and i also use it to flower my super silver haze in week 3 of flowering and its looking good so far. i would think if u got 85 w use that 10 bucks to supplement with a couple small warm whites up close

I have seen it done. You'll get all kinds of different answers about this. Some people like to mix it up some do the 5500-6500 veg and 2700k for flower. Or some people just get lucky and do it all wrong and it still works out. Just remember you are trying to recreate mother nature indoors. And the color spectrum of the sunlight changes through the season. SO whatever you chose good luck!

GrassMan357 said:

I have seen it done. You'll get all kinds of different answers about this. Some people like to mix it up some do the 5500-6500 veg and 2700k for flower. Or some people just get lucky and do it all wrong and it still works out. Just remember you are trying to recreate mother nature indoors. And the color spectrum of the sunlight changes through the season. SO whatever you chose good luck!

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You technically can but if you only use 5000-6700k you won't get much of a return. Your buds will be pretty airy and not very large at all. 2700k is what you need, I would assume that you would still need a majority of 2700k in a setup that had 5000-6700k being used also.

You could definitely get away with using them the first week to 2 weeks, but as soon as the tops bunch up & spew hairs you definitely would want to have 2700k lights also. Also minimal lumen's you want per sq ft is 3k, 5k would be ideal. Also remember a sq ft is a larger space than people think, its actually 144sq inches. But CFL does not penetrate the canopy so just figure base width of whats directly under or beside your lights.

Cool thanks for your info and reply man. I have 2 85w 4000k CFL bulbs. If I add a 85w warm white into the mix would this be sufficient light for flowering? My plant is not very big , I know CFLs can only do small plants effectively.. I'l put some pics up of my setup soon... Cheers

I wouldn't use 4000k or 5000k bulbs for veg, and especially not for flowering. About 90% of the light and electricity used by those bulbs will be wasted, because it's not the spectrum of light the plants needs. Overall, you'll just be running up your electric bill for the most MINIMAL results from your plants.

On the other hand, if you are that strapped for cash, and have no other means of lighting your plants up, use them. It'd still be better than nothing. But if you DO have the option, get the right bulbs, especially for flowering.

Last couple plants were done under them and they came out pretty damn juicy

I used 4 85w 5000k spirallies to move around under my 2-T5s that had 2700k 4 foot bulbs seem to work ok. 2700k is best for the majority of bulbs during flowering. Just do your best and learn from each experience. I use a journal to note things from each grow.