Minimum Wattage to Keep Mother Alive?

Building a motherbox. All walls white (2'x2'x2.5'). What is the minimum number of CFL's and watts needed to keep a mother alive? Will one 6500k 100 watt equivalent be enough? Plan is to throw it under a HID for a couple of weeks when need to stimulate growth for clones.

Appreciate any advice.

20-40 watts for a bonsai mom. "equivalent watts" are useless numbers.

UserFriendly said:

20-40 watts for a bonsai mom. "equivalent watts" are useless numbers.

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i agree. i use one 23w per mom, and over a foot away (18'' before pruning back). keeping the light back induces stretching, making for better slips (cloning one inch slips with four nodes is a pain)

Thanks User and Kind. Rep to both of you.

While we're on the subject, can anyone suggest how to install a computer fan and cut vent holes while keeping the box light proof? I was thinking of connecting flexible ducting (diameter will be whatever size computer fan I go with) and connecting them to intake and exhaust holes. If both of the exhaust and intake ducts make one loop (3 feet or so), will that effectively prevent light leaks? I'm thinking two passive intake lines, both the diameter of the computer fan each making a loop. The computer fan will be mounted on the inside and push the air out of the exhaust duct, which will also make a loop.

Will this work? Only issue I can see is too much strain on the computer fan.

it'll work fine. if you run up against anything duct tape can't fix you can go with a pair of dark pantyhose. case fans are too inexpensive to worry about straining them.

Thank you again, User.