First Time Grower Using CFL's

Hello Everyone,

I finally have my set up going and would like any advice I can get. Right now I have five seedlings planted about 3 days ago I didn't germinate or anything AI believe in just leaving them in the soil and they will work there way out. Temperature stays at a steady 75 degrees and I have a humidifier running that makes it about almost 60 % humidity. Right now I have them under 24 hours of lighting with a standard shoplight with 2 40 watt residential bulbs. Now I am going with the CFL growing and thats it I don't want hps lights and anything like that I'm not going big for my first grow and that is why i'm in the CFL section posting this. Right now I have 10 23 watts blubs with 1700k each. Now I'm wondering what the best way to hook up all these lights will be I plan on getting more lights for sure. I liked how Humboldt had his lights set up but I'm wondering what if there is a better solution I see alot of people use y adapters and different things so I'm wondering if you could supply me with some ideas and I will see what I can do. As soon as these seedlings break the surface I want to get my new lighting hooked up and in place for them. I will provide pictures as this is where I plan on positing all through my grow. So right now I'm just for any advice on how I should hook up all my lighting and I do want to expand with more lights just keep that in mind. Thank you for all the help that I know I will get soon enough.

Basic set up...Go to Home depot lowes, etc...get a 3 fixture bathroom vanity light...HD has them for $5, 3 y adapters 2.50 each at HD...cheap extension cord..$2..cut the end of the cord, wire it to the fixture, screw in Y's, plug it in and voila 6 cfl's. Multply this as you need...Also, you say your lights are 1700K, I believe you mean Lumens, K rating is the temperature of the light...cool or Daylight (6500K) for Veg, Soft white 2300K for Flower...more lights during flower...Just a basic rundown, if anyone sees anything wrong, please correct, as I am a noob myself

Alright yeah my lights right now say that they are bright white will the be ok? But then you say I should switch my lights when I start flowering? Also I had a quick question about the vanity light I will in deed go and pick one of those up I'm going to see if they have one with 5 light fixtures when when I wire it I'm very basic when it come to wiring and was wondering are all the sockets wired together to 2 wires that I would then wire my extension cord to? Also can it be a two prong extension cord?

Ya, two wire cord will work. The only reason I went with the three light fixture is cause they're $5 not $25, wire two together 6 sockets more light.

(1)so if i got 2 of the 3 socket lamps and put y's in all of them would 12 lights be enough? I'm only planning on growing like 4 plants and I have 3.5 feet long x 2 feet wide grow area. I also wanted to ask instead of wiring the vanity lights together would it be safer to just use two plugs? Only renting and don't want anything to happen

(2)Also the wood I plan on attaching the vanity light sockets to should I cover it with mylar or can I use like a board for a shelf that is white?

(3)I wanted to get everyone's opinion on this to as for me this is the hardest part trying to get down about growing. NUTRIENTS! When should I start giving them and what should I give as to the content numbers and I've heard give 1/2 or 1/4 of what the directions say? Which is better to do 1/2 or 1/4? Also should I give nutrients everytime I water them obviously this will be after they broke the surface and have lived for however long they needed to, to start giving the nutrients. Sorry I'm totally confused about the nutrients and this in fact will be the hardest part for me to figure out.

(4)I was wondering if anyone else has just done the method of not germinating and just stuck the seeds in the soil and put on 24/7 lights. Was wondering about the average time for them to finally break the surface. It's been 3 days so far for me and I know that it hasn't been that long but about how long should I wait until I get worried that they may not work?

I am going to hook some small CFls up for flowering, But I have ATM 4' flours from walmart. They are 40 watts eash they are plant lights and says on the box more blue and red .They were 5$ compaired to the $2.50 6500K. for veg.. My questions is should I be ok using my plant light for veg or would it be better for flowering. Because next i want to buy CFLs for flowering at 2700K and I will buy the $2.50 6500K

If my plant light with reds and blues and no sign of the kelvin I am stuck wondering if I should use it for flowering or veg?

haxxor19 said:

(1)so if i got 2 of the 3 socket lamps and put y's in all of them would 12 lights be enough? I'm only planning on growing like 4 plants and I have 3.5 feet long x 2 feet wide grow area. I also wanted to ask instead of wiring the vanity lights together would it be safer to just use two plugs? Only renting and don't want anything to happen

(2)Also the wood I plan on attaching the vanity light sockets to should I cover it with mylar or can I use like a board for a shelf that is white?

(3)I wanted to get everyone's opinion on this to as for me this is the hardest part trying to get down about growing. NUTRIENTS! When should I start giving them and what should I give as to the content numbers and I've heard give 1/2 or 1/4 of what the directions say? Which is better to do 1/2 or 1/4? Also should I give nutrients everytime I water them obviously this will be after they broke the surface and have lived for however long they needed to, to start giving the nutrients. Sorry I'm totally confused about the nutrients and this in fact will be the hardest part for me to figure out.

(4)I was wondering if anyone else has just done the method of not germinating and just stuck the seeds in the soil and put on 24/7 lights. Was wondering about the average time for them to finally break the surface. It's been 3 days so far for me and I know that it hasn't been that long but about how long should I wait until I get worried that they may not work?

Click to expand...

Not to sound like a jerk but it sounds like you need to do a little homework.
I suggest going to the growFAQ link at the top left of the page. Read up some, It will take for ever to gather up all the info you'll need from one thread.
If you are serious About the success of your growroom the least you can do is read as much as you can (dont make US do it for you)

I think you'll find people are more willing to help if you have a specific question, not just HELP TEACH ME GROWING!!!111

again im only trying to help you, help yourself. keep it blazin

I'd get a 3 prong extension cord to wire to the vanity lights.

I made the mistake of getting a 2 and didn't have a way to connect the ground wire.

So I cut a cord off of a surge protector and used that one instead.

check my grow link, you can see how i set up my CFLs all from wally world (walmart). Its real easy, get the light set up, the Y hook ups and your good.

Hey get some Cool white 6500K from walmart because you need them for Veg. Here is a simple light setup..