Stylez C
Member
Question: how are you a stranger with 2 green bars??? tryna learn how this works.
Cfl Proximity To Foliage
- Thread starter Garden Knowm
- Start date
cinandme03
Active Member
I'm working on my 3rd cycle w/ CFL's and I have to say they are cheaper to use, easier to maintain, safer for plants, not as much maintenance, cost cheaper to set up and produce excellent budz and weight! My 1st was a Pitbull and netted over 80 wet grams! My 2nd, I had Blue Dream, Space Bomb and White Widow and harvested over 120 grams {wet} from each respectively. And the quality? Oooh weee! I currently have a Space Bomb, Blue Mystic and a White Widow going into the flowering room in two days as well as a couple Cinderella 99's, Chocolate Chunk, Blue Magoo, Northern Lights, Purple Kush, Mango, Hog's Breath, and many other babies from the first few cycles and ALL are done CFL! I may not a outrageous yield, but I do fine for what it is and the space I'm given. Big up's to those who still do it old school; though I "would" upgrade if given the supplies. I'm not buying shizzz any more. I'd post pics but I don't have any of my lighting config.s and tents yet. 
cinandme03
Active Member
No, just crispy leaves. They usually just singe or cook the tips. If it's burning the whole leaf, it's too close. CFL's can be handled while plugged in. Not that hot to be concerned over.
Dsmwarrior
Member
I have a 250 watt cfl and a 125 watt cfl that I will put a 200 watt bulb for flowering, how far do I want them off the plants, since obviously they are quite a bit hotter than a 23 watt cfl, and right now I'm having a little trouble keeping temps down so I don't want to put them the closest they can be, looking more for the furthest they can be with optimal light penetration, they are in a 3x3x4 box
pinwheel
New Member
Doing my first cfl attempt. Vegging in a 2-1/2 ft x 2 ft closet with four 43w (200w equiv) 6500K's.
I have to say that people generally understate the heat and contact implications of cfl's. I was pretty clumsy with them (as I am, naturally
), and at first I thought I was having soil/fert problems, but it turned out to be leaf burn from the slightest momentary contact with the bulbs. I'm kind of thick-skinned when it comes to handling hot things (years of working in kitchens), but touching the element of a lit 43w is not something I'd recommend. I have set a 4-inch perimeter from the lights, marked by a piece of string hanging from the fixtures.
Maybe the lower wattage cfl's are not as bad as the ones I'm using, just thought I'd mention my own experience.
I have to say that people generally understate the heat and contact implications of cfl's. I was pretty clumsy with them (as I am, naturally
), and at first I thought I was having soil/fert problems, but it turned out to be leaf burn from the slightest momentary contact with the bulbs. I'm kind of thick-skinned when it comes to handling hot things (years of working in kitchens), but touching the element of a lit 43w is not something I'd recommend. I have set a 4-inch perimeter from the lights, marked by a piece of string hanging from the fixtures.Maybe the lower wattage cfl's are not as bad as the ones I'm using, just thought I'd mention my own experience.
pinwheel
New Member
You can try using white poster board, the stuff you used for school projects.
NaturalWorksOrganics
Member
From what i can see in alot of grow threads people are using alot of smaller (23w) bulbs as opposed to using fewer larger (42w) bulbs. Would two 23 watt bulbs not produce more heat than one 42 watt bulb? Heat seems to be a major issue when using CFL's as they are primarily used in smaller spaces where HID lighting is not practical. Trying to figure out the best lighting setup for my space. My space is currently 28" wide and 19" deep with a height of just 23". I may extend the height and width but only have about 3" either way. Was thinking of doing either Blue Mystic(fem) from Nirvana or California Hashplant(fem) from Dinafem with a SCROG setup to keep them short. Any input is welcome.
BeastGrow
Well-Known Member
More Light sources = better light distribution. Not all of the intense rays are getting absorbed by the upper plant parts and thus allows lower branches to grow, and with healthier leaves. 1 inch is ideal but unless you have ideal airflow and temperatures you will probably need to back it off to 2 or 3 inches. 4 inches in some cases.
BeastGrow
Well-Known Member
60w CFL 900 lumens? lol more like 13watt CFL.... you must have an incandescent 12 pack.
Lots of great info in here.
Newbie starting with CFLs mainly to keep the elec bill down and less heat in a small grow-cubby.
I found the best prices so far at this place...
Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Spirals
http://www.conservationmart.com
I will be growing short and topped and trained for a low, wide growth. Will let you know how it goes. I don't smoke it myself so I'll be relying on friends to judge quality/effect, but I'm a green-thumb dude and grow bonsai trees so the topping and training is already familiar to me.
Also would like to verify if pot seedlings can be transplanted deep (up the stems, like tomatoes) which I read in here but confirmation would be helpful.
Thanks
Newbie starting with CFLs mainly to keep the elec bill down and less heat in a small grow-cubby.
I found the best prices so far at this place...
Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Spirals
http://www.conservationmart.com
I will be growing short and topped and trained for a low, wide growth. Will let you know how it goes. I don't smoke it myself so I'll be relying on friends to judge quality/effect, but I'm a green-thumb dude and grow bonsai trees so the topping and training is already familiar to me.
Also would like to verify if pot seedlings can be transplanted deep (up the stems, like tomatoes) which I read in here but confirmation would be helpful.
Thanks
BeastGrow
Well-Known Member
Yes the stem will grow roots out of it kind of like when cloning.
Dontsleeptolong
New Member
Do my plant have to be close to the light if my cab is covered in Mylar? It's already growing 3 feet away from the lights. Day 5 it is 3 inches with two sets of leaves and the third coming in now
HighnessBC951
Member
bottom line of cfl's.... keep them close...
Idontevensmoke
Active Member
If you don't get those close to the light, ASAP, I'm talking about an inch, you're going to be a frustrated individual. From seedling, you either keep it close or they stretch. Stretching CAN be good and used to your advantage to encourage big growth, by intentionally stretching it and then burying it to the first set of leaves once she's toppling under the weight of just two set of leaves. When you do this, move the lights close, and keep the fan on them. The fan will help build vigor so she doesn't topple over again, and make it so you can get another half inch closer with that light, which I can't stress enough how important it is.....
Idontevensmoke
Active Member
CFL grows are completely different than using HID. HIDs you can get away with a single light on the top. CFLs are ideal for small grows in enclosed spaces, where you provide more light from the sides than you do from the top. You'll get entire plants that are a single bud this way. The key is to use as many as you possibly can.
MRJOKERFACE
Member
I just updated my grow with better cfl lighting im pushing a total of 1400 watts now(430 actual Watts) well over 30,000 Lumens my plants loooove it my plant thats well into flower was a runt i didnt think shed make it but she pulled threw and has massive buds for only 30days into flower she was unfortunitly my only female outta that bunch but not i have 6 more that i just started to flower and they all seem to like the cfls there coming along nicely i posted some pics so ya can see these massive cfl bulbs i figured ited be better than running 20 little 1600 lumen cfls. ill keep ya posted on the results i get with these cfls in my grow. if anyone has and suggestions or ideas im all ears as i do like to learn a lil anytime i can thanks for looking.
