complete beginner. anyone offer any advice on using cfls?

Hey, got some really simple questions that some people may find annoying as they are basic but i cant seem to find the info. i want to grow 3 pineapple express autos, using cfls. basically need to know what power cfls i need

when i was growing cfls i had a wide variety of them hitting my ladies at once. Best one that i found to use was the 65W 4100k. For some reason my ladies love this bulb the best out of the others that i had. So i used about 5 of these 3 on top and 2 on the sides. Then had x2 105 5500k on each side. You have to literally place them 2-3inches away from the plant. I suggest after you get some yield money to switch to a 450hps. You wont be dissapointed.

Ok thanks dude. the only reason im using cfls as i only have a small place under a raised pool table, so i basically have 2.5 ft width 2.5 ft depth 4.5 ft height. but like you said once i earn some money from my yield i'll invest in better lighting. so you think three above and two hanging around half way down the plants? what about while im flowering, would i need to change bulbs?

NewGanjaFarmer86 said:

Ok thanks dude. the only reason im using cfls as i only have a small place under a raised pool table, so i basically have 2.5 ft width 2.5 ft depth 4.5 ft height. but like you said once i earn some money from my yield i'll invest in better lighting. so you think three above and two hanging around half way down the plants? what about while im flowering, would i need to change bulbs?

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Ganja yes, when you go into flower your babies need a different light spectrum so you will need to get cfl bulbs rated at 2700, just check box in store they are all labelled cool or warm light with their number


Hyper......

Not true they don't need a specific bulb for flowering those 4100k 65w cfls should work like a charm. However the 2700k spectrum is more ideal for flowering. But a balanced spectrum throughout the grow is best. So mix up the bulb's color temperatures. Also Homedepot sells a 68w cfl for 14$ that is in the 2700k spectrum. You could go all the way from seed to harvest with 6500k or 7000k bulbs if you wanted.

I use a mixed spectrum of 6500 and 2700k for both vegging and flowering I have a total of 600 watts and I grow 3 plants at a time.

Ok so basically your saying it's best to get a mixture of bulbs and use them throughout the whole period. I'm planning on having three autos in my space, I'm still unsure on how many cfls I will need. Someone told me the watts of a cfl aren't what they r ment to be?

What they meant was that there are two different ratings. Actual wattage and replacement wattage. You need to pay attention to actual wattage. So you could get some 42 watt bulbs and some splitters. Like I said I use about 600 watts for three plants.But because your space is so small I'd use maybe 8 42 watt bulbs 4 6500 and 4 2700.

AndyK said:

Not true they don't need a specific bulb for flowering those 4100k 65w cfls should work like a charm. However the 2700k spectrum is more ideal for flowering. But a balanced spectrum throughout the grow is best. So mix up the bulb's color temperatures. Also Homedepot sells a 68w cfl for 14$ that is in the 2700k spectrum. You could go all the way from seed to harvest with 6500k or 7000k bulbs if you wanted.

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Sorry let me correct what I was saying your plants will prefer 2700k spectrum in growing although not mandatory you can still grow with 4k to 6500k

NewGanjaFarmer86 said:

Hey, got some really simple questions that some people may find annoying as they are basic but i cant seem to find the info. i want to grow 3 pineapple express autos, using cfls. basically need to know what power cfls i need

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youll be watts ahead of the game if you go with hps instead....400 watts of cfl is fine but youll get bigger dencer nug with 400watts of hps...my tent was cooler with hps than equiv t5....and wayy bigger buds....anyway jus sayin......never mind thought u were gonna waste yer time on t-5....im out