Tutorial to Growing with Cfl's

nativehwn

Member
Aloha Dr. C,

Your explanation of CFL lighting is awesome. I will be using CFL's for several reasons, first and foremost, I'll be growing my first Bubbleponics crop indoors and the heat that CFL's put out is very minimal. This will help in controlling how much heat I'll need to remove from my grow room. Second is the cost of electricity, living in Hawaii is very expensive and a huge part of my living expenses is the cost of electricity. As you've pointed out, CFL's use less energy and offer similar lighting conditions compared to the other lighting options. I look forward to using your vast knowledge and experience as I start my first bubbleponics crop. Again, thanks for the information regarding CFL lighting and wish me luck ...:peace:
 
Can I just say that I am super sad right now? In all my hours and hours of research, this thread is the first mention I have heard regarding the inefficacy of T12 bulbs. I thought that the numbers indicated a base type, not a glass thickness. I didn't think that that number was even important. Now, I have a 12 sq ft. box with eight t12 40 watt, 6500k bulbs in four ballasts. I put over 60 bucks into this lighting and now I find out it's crap. No wonder my seedlings are growing so slowly.

Can I continue to use the t12's with slowed growth, or do I need to find new lighting? Why is this not something people talk about? People talk about k ratings, wattage, lumens....but not glass thickness.
 
when i first started getting interested in growing i thought you could only use mh or hps.
i'm so glad you posted this useful sticky!!!on my budjet these cfl bulds will be great!
thanks again!
 

music64

Well-Known Member
i am a complete noob at growing weed. i currently have only one plant under 32w 6500k light bulb. it is under the light 18/6. the light is about three inches from the plant. my plant is in a 5 gallon bucket. i keep the miracle grow potting soil moist. is there anything i should change. thanks
 

Wrekstar

Active Member
go buy a 100W+ actual cfl and a e40 hanger
or rig your own lighting with 5+ of them 32w's
eveytin else is good
dnno bout the soil
 

DohioMAN

Member
011.jpg012.jpg009.jpg016.jpg010.jpg015.jpg013.jpg014.jpgNEW 200 watt CFL grow PROS wanted for advice an help !!!! HOWS IT LOOK

i have a closet set up rite now jus 4 6500k an 2 2700k my grow space is 7' high 4' wide an 3' depth IM WNDERING IF IT LOOKS OK TO U THE PROS????? I HAVE THEM IN MOSTIURE CONTROL MG AN USING EXPERT NUTES 15-30-15 WITH JUS A LIL SUPERTHRIVE!!! I KEEP THE TEMP IN AROUND 70-78!!!! LIGHTS R A 12-12 CYCLE AN R ROUGHLY 1/2 TO 1 1/2 IN AWAY FRM PLANT.... THEY R 2 WEEKS AN 1 WEEK OLD PLANTS!!! JUS TRYN TO GET ALL INFO I CAN TO EVERYONE!!!
SO PLZ LEAVE UR 2 CENTS CUZ I VALUE EVERY PENNY??? AN AS SOON AS I FIGURE THIS PICTURE THING DOWN I WILL HAVE PLENTY OF PHOTOS!!!! AN LAST MY 2WEEK OLDS HAVE THESE LIL LEAFS CUMING UP IS THT NORMAL??
 

WeedChip

Active Member
I have a question about CFL's (which I think I have answered myself)

Is it best to remove the 6400k during budding or just leave it in?

I removed it and added a low watt 2700k and it seemed to improve my plants flowering.

But was it the best move?
 

Mr.Boom

Member
hello, so i was thinking about coloring my lights blue during veg. do you think that will help emit the blue specturm more will it just ruin the bulb?
 

Clease

Member
Well break it down for a noobie: what cfl do I need for let's say 2 plants from start to finish?? I want to do a trial and ereror try at a cheap grow.
 

DohioMAN

Member
ok man 2 plants id say 10 lights if u want sum nice dense buds start with maybe 4 at first then graduate them up as u feel the need they r ready i run mine in a series if u need know youtube it lol sorry but u can use pie pans from the store big one u can fit 3 to 4 in one so one on each plant wen they need alll tht an the ones left dangle on lower side of them so bottom flowers still get light but start with the 4 6500k till they ready an then add 6 2700k thts all, i got thoo man 10 lights would b 28$ an sockets wil b bout 2 to 3.50 a peace pie pans an wire is random cost depending were u go ur lookn at bout 60 75 bucs bro (CLEASE)
 

Xaselm

Well-Known Member
Well break it down for a noobie: what cfl do I need for let's say 2 plants from start to finish?? I want to do a trial and ereror try at a cheap grow.
I'd say at least six 26w 6500k (or a few less 42w, but the more watts the better [other than the heat output]) for veg and an equal amount 2700k for flower. From what I've seen, you can still get at least a decent harvest from 100 watts for one plant, so probably 160+ for two. Once I get things in order, I'm gonna shoot for a 4x 42w single plant CFL grow.
 
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