First time grow... Is it all about the Lumens?

nourdmrolnmt1

Active Member
Hey guys, I was talking with an experienced grower last night and had a few questions...

Well we have started the plants, they are probably 4" high each and we have a total of 5 going... We currently have 3 under an aerogarden hood (sending the aerogarden back as i dont want it, but we are using the hood to cover the 3 plants... The other two plants are under 2 23w 5600k CFLs...

Now, i believe that it is all about amount of lumens within the room. I have a 150w econolight remote ballast and wanted to put it in for the veg part, however the other person in on it says not to as he feels it will stretch the plants.

My reasoning is that the extra lumens will help, and having it as a general light is a very good use of resources... however he feels that the temp of the light is way off and will cause problems...

Do you guys suggest Lumens of low temp light combined with some high temp lighting, or should we just stick with the high temp lighting until flowering?
 

potpimp

Sector 5 Moderator
The CFL's are going to give you a lot more stretch than the HID's. High temps in general are not good for your plants. Granted, seedlings enjoy a more warm environment but that still should not be over 80 F.
 

nourdmrolnmt1

Active Member
i guess i should say that by Temp i dont mean heat... the room temp is about 75F around the plants. I was referring to Color temp not heat temp. my bad.
 

leggoeggo

Well-Known Member
I assume you mean 65k (daylight CLFs?)

I have the same e-cono HPS about 5-8" away and 5 65Ks CFLs about 2" away... works great, the HPS adds extra lumens, and the CFLs stay close to prevent reaching add give the blue color they need

I first has 'soft white' CFLs and wasnt doing much... had a long growth delay, it took the daylight CFLs to make it explode
 

earnie

Well-Known Member
Hey guys, I was talking with an experienced grower last night and had a few questions...

Well we have started the plants, they are probably 4" high each and we have a total of 5 going... We currently have 3 under an aerogarden hood (sending the aerogarden back as i dont want it, but we are using the hood to cover the 3 plants... The other two plants are under 2 23w 5600k CFLs...

Now, i believe that it is all about amount of lumens within the room. I have a 150w econolight remote ballast and wanted to put it in for the veg part, however the other person in on it says not to as he feels it will stretch the plants.

My reasoning is that the extra lumens will help, and having it as a general light is a very good use of resources... however he feels that the temp of the light is way off and will cause problems...

Do you guys suggest Lumens of low temp light combined with some high temp lighting, or should we just stick with the high temp lighting until flowering?
Get those plants under the bigger light its simple more light = more plant=more bud. although HPS isnt the best for vegging its better than 2 x 23w cfl's and tell ur pard that its low lumens too far away from the plant that causes stretching. your 2 x23w cfls are only putting out around 1700 lumens while the 150w hps will deliver 15,000.
 

leggoeggo

Well-Known Member
MHs are for sure better for veg... but I think if you can only buy one bulb, make it a HPS... more versatile and the daylight CFLs make for good supplements to add blue
 

Smot360

Well-Known Member
LOL......Well if you already have the High pressure sodium it will grow veg but not as good as a metal halide would.....HPS is intended for flowering.....But if you already have one and money is an issue you should be ok..
 

earnie

Well-Known Member
I should look for a money tree too...
Here's ur money solution this is the cheapest MH u can buy with ballast, bulb and fixture. and by the way your pard doesnt sound like an experienced grower to me.

E-LB2M40Q
16-inch 400-watt MH Low Bay with quad-tap ballast. Lamp included.

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nourdmrolnmt1

Active Member
no, my part is not an experienced. The grower i talked to had some photos like this...



which had been put into flower twice and back to veg... he has experience lol..

my part and I are not experienced we have both only read about the subject.
 

Smot360

Well-Known Member
LOL That room looks disgusting.....A healthy work environment always promotes healthy, vigorous growing plants, disease free, and pests free. You should try to clean up any dead leaves, sweep frequently and clean the walls. When you do you reservoir change you should also clean all your trays and reservoirs as well as any equipment....(pumps,hoses...etc.)
 

nourdmrolnmt1

Active Member
LOL That room looks disgusting.....A healthy work environment always promotes healthy, vigorous growing plants, disease free, and pests free. You should try to clean up any dead leaves, sweep frequently and clean the walls. When you do you reservoir change you should also clean all your trays and reservoirs as well as any equipment....(pumps,hoses...etc.)
thats not my room, and i believe that plant was pulled out of the main room. i have seen other pics that i chose not to post but it was a very good setup that was passed down...

but We are going to relocate the room to a better location, and get the HPS up. I am still trying to figure out how best to mount the HPS with a reflector. I bought an aluminum vent pipe from HD and hope to turn it into a reflector, and then after that i dont know for sure lol... but we have the mylar, the rope, the buckets, the soil, the lights (to an extent) but we still have to figure out how best to setup the new room.
 

leggoeggo

Well-Known Member
BXKE has a greak thread for the e-cono HPS

https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/120470-my-20-150w-hps-econolight.html

Goes through all the rewiring to do... think he goes into reflector... I made mine with a small sheet of alluminum from the Home Depot (heating/cooling), made two bends for the sides, and hung it with chain and brackets, stupid simple. You can also paint the inside with a flat white heat-resistant paint for better reflection than the metal, I just never got around to it :-/ shame on me I know
 

nourdmrolnmt1

Active Member
i already have it wired for remote balast, the only thing im making up right now in my mind is how to mount it... and the other CFLs I have.
 

InsaneMJ

Well-Known Member
you can always do a ebb flood those work good, and they are soil less so you dont have to buy soil for each plant/ crop you can use hydroton you can reuse them again and again for years ive heard. just make sure you know what your getting into if your ganna use a flood instead of soil.
 

InsaneMJ

Well-Known Member
also i agree with smot that room looks like someone didnt know how to take care of their grow area... but you said thats not the actual room itself, but either way he should have a clean environment at all times. less chance of bugs and insects ect.
 
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