CFL bulbs

S

smokeh

Well-Known Member
still kind of new to lighting. ive been told i need 2x150W 6400k bulbs for growing and 2x150W 2700k for flowering. i got the calculation as well so i understand that side.

things i dont understand is which bulbs do i actually need. ppl have talked about using environlite bulbs, but are there any cheaper ones? i found this site in the UK where their CFL bulbs are about £10 compared to environlite bulbs which are £20 - £30.

link: Fluorescent Light Bulbs Fluorescent Lighting Tubes Circular Tube

can any1 recommend any of them?

if im going wrong somewhere please let me know as i shall be buyin all the equipment for my 1st grow soon and i dont want to get it wrong - or at least understand where i went wrong.

thanks

EDIT: just realised their not the right bulbs myself. kind of know what im looking for now. why do i need red or blue spectrum's though?
 
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mreverything

mreverything

Well-Known Member
Blue spectrum is for vegitative(Growth) and the red spectrum is for flowering(Budding). Also you should buy the cfl bulbs that have the blue part of the spectrum because of that it is for growth, i got mine at home depot. They were 7 bux each i think? and were blue spectrum 100w, i bought 2 of them and they worked great actually but its not enough light, you must have them close to the plant. I would say ideal is like..1 light on each plant for seedling, theni suggest you get something bigger if your not on a budget. You can go through veg with enough cfl's but i reccoment get something bigger for flowering like a hps lamp.
 
S

smokeh

Well-Known Member
i dont have enough space for anything other than CFL's. plus i need it stealth.

also, i should be ok with 2x125watt lights about 3 inches from the plant. just need to change the lights for budding.
 
hothousemary

hothousemary

Well-Known Member
I am using a ton of cfl in my present grow... Pretty easy to keep stealthy and the plants seem to love em... Next grow Im going to go with mh but the cfl has been great for me.. .check my journal and see for yourself. good luck mate,
 
S

smokeh

Well-Known Member
i dont know how to check journals. do i just search u in the journal forum?

where did u get ur lights from? im even more confused now, looking into halogen but its really boggling my mind.
 
hothousemary

hothousemary

Well-Known Member
you can follow the link in my signature at the bottom of my post... Finding the cfl was pretty easy, home depot and like carry em all.... in my journal GRNMAN gives a good explanation of the spectrum and so on... good luck!
 
Twistyman

Twistyman

Well-Known Member
smokeh said:
i dont have enough space for anything other than CFL's. plus i need it stealth.

also, i should be ok with 2x125watt lights about 3 inches from the plant. just need to change the lights for budding.
Click to expand...
t5's..t8's are small (about 24" long) thin (1.5" wide), low heat output and don't look like lasers shooting out of every crack in your cupboard...I'm getting 2 - t5's blue spectrum @ $ 45. each and 2 t5's red spectrum @ $ 19. each.........
I saw them at a fellow RIU'ers place and they're perfect for me......No space.
 
Twistyman

Twistyman

Well-Known Member
smokeh said:
i dont know how to check journals. do i just search u in the journal forum?

where did u get ur lights from? im even more confused now, looking into halogen but its really boggling my mind.
Click to expand...
Go to FAQ at top of page......good advice there.
 
Dfunk

Dfunk

Well-Known Member
If you want to stick with CFLs they do work. Many people on this site have done their entire grow with CFLs. The key is to remember is more is almost always better. Start off with 3 in the blue spectrum(one bulb over the plant & one on each side). When you flower double the amount of lights if possible & make sure they are mostly in the red spectrum w/ a blue or two. Surround the plant as best you can with these lights so that every part gets equal light as CFL light penetration is not the best.
 
Dfunk

Dfunk

Well-Known Member
Envirolites are a little more expensive to my knowledge no matter where you get them. Here is a picture of my plant at a month & a half old. Grow using a combo of CFL & tube furo. You can kinda see in the pictures the surrounding technique - lights above & all around the sides. I spent only about $75 on my lights.
 

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hothousemary

hothousemary

Well-Known Member
smokeh said:
still kind of new to lighting. ive been told i need 2x150W 6400k bulbs for growing and 2x150W 2700k for flowering. i got the calculation as well so i understand that side.

things i dont understand is which bulbs do i actually need. ppl have talked about using environlite bulbs, but are there any cheaper ones? i found this site in the UK where their CFL bulbs are about £10 compared to environlite bulbs which are £20 - £30.

link: Fluorescent Light Bulbs Fluorescent Lighting Tubes Circular Tube

can any1 recommend any of them?

if im going wrong somewhere please let me know as i shall be buyin all the equipment for my 1st grow soon and i dont want to get it wrong - or at least understand where i went wrong.

thanks

EDIT: just realised their not the right bulbs myself. kind of know what im looking for now. why do i need red or blue spectrum's though?
Click to expand...
ya need the blue spectrum for veg, the plants prefer it.. I cant tell ya specifically why but I know someone on here can...
I found the bulbs you do need in the same site you posted earlier.
8000 Hour 25W Bayonet Low Energy Compact Spiral Bulb
 
Dfunk

Dfunk

Well-Known Member
Plants prefer the blue spectrum during vegatative growth because this is the light spectrum that the foliage needs for vigorous growth. During the flowering stage the plants uses the red spectrum more efficiently because of the rapid growth of flowers it produces. A great example of this is the trusty common household lightbulb(incadesent). Ever try to grow a plant with one? If you have then you know how it stretches seedlings. This is because they emit much of their light in the red spectrum hence rapid growth. A plant will grow under any light at any point in it's life like people do. The difference is the quality of life they get from different lights - just like us they desire the finer things in life so if you give them what they want then they will be happier & more productive like us - ironic isn't it?
 
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