will these lights work ?

phyzix

Well-Known Member
You cannot (practically) grow with those. Technically you could throw 100 of them in a room and grow a plant, but that wouldn't make much sense.
 

meetzu

Well-Known Member
You cannot (practically) grow with those. Technically you could throw 100 of them in a room and grow a plant, but that wouldn't make much sense.
Phyzix is right. Incandescent bulbs are near useless. They get very hot and promote stretching. You can pick up CFL lights for very cheap at local hardware stores or places like walmart. Generally 'cool white' are used for veg and 'soft white' are used for bloom if you were to use CFLs the whole way through your grow. Good luck
 

TalonToker

Well-Known Member
Those lights will put out waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much heat. You will have to place them about 18 inches away from the plants because of this heat and they just don't put out anywhere near enough lumin to be effective at that distance. STAY AWAY FROM INCANDESCENTS for growing. If your even thinking about lights like that, you must be looking for something cheap. Look into cfls. Read the first post in this https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/107992-tutorial-growing-cfls.html.
 

Kroniq

Member
i see. is natural sunlight the best for growing, or do these plants grow better, faster, stronger with the bulbs u mentioned. can someone list the pros/cons of using sunlight for me please?
 

meetzu

Well-Known Member
Natural sunlight is as follows:
120,000 lux Brightest sunlight 110,000 lux Bright sunlight 20,000 lux Shade illuminated by entire clear blue sky, midday 10,000 - 25,000 lux Typical overcast day, middayGenerally with starting any plant inside earlier than you intend to put them outside garden centers will recommend a couple CFLs saying that at this time of the year the light from a window wont be enough and will cause stretching. As I said before, you can get a 6 pack of 23 watt CFLs for like $15-$20. Home Depot carries up to 100w bulbs that are inexpensive as well (the wattage I refer to is the actual bulb amount and not the incandescent equivalent). That is probably the cheapest start-up costs you can get.
You should check out this thread: Things to know about lighting
 

phyzix

Well-Known Member
You can get a 400 watt HPS for around 80 - 120$ if you look around, good for ~56,000 lumens. Great for 3x3 or 4x4 with supplemental CFLs. Mine is in the mail ;)
 

Islander5000

Active Member
The sun is free!! As long as you have a secure location and a minimum of 3 hour direct sunlight you're good; 5-6 hours i great and 8 or more is excellent. Being outside also produces stronger/sturdier plants because the plants have to build up wind resistance. I will say that artificial lighting is more consistent and more easily controlled eventhough they can burn your plants. Plus there's less potential to attract bugs, slugs etc. The indoor vs. outdoor debate could go 4ever but I know that the sun requires no maintainance or extra attention.
 
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