so what happens if you cut at the 5th or 6th node?

Right now I'm working with 42W CFLs, with two 4ft 65W t5 bulbs across the top. I totally agree with Ben that they suck (compared to sunlight or hps) but they get the job done. I originally started off trying to do a budget grow, but after buying 16 42W cfls (started with less, but kept wanting more light) I could have easily put all the money into a nice HPS system. But thats what this is all about- making mistakes and learning from them.

I eventually plan on making the switch from CFLs to HPS, but until I have the extra $250 lying around (hopefully i can save that money after this harvest from not having to buy herb :P), I'll be tinkering with these bulbs. I will probably keep my t-5's and 6500k CFLS for vegging, as they seem to do the job just fine, but I know deep down inside that I need to make the switch to HPS for flowering.


Ben thanks again for your insight. Watching the progress of my "accident", I'm seeing much more even progress between the 3 leading branches than any of the other plants I topped, which seem to really promote the growth of the top two leading branches. This might turn into a happy accident, so I look forward to seeing how she grows.

They're the right flouros in anycase.. I'd suggest looking into industrial electrical/lighting places in your phone-book, the places contractors would use if you can cool them.. I used to get 400W setups for like $50-60.. Fancy bulbs/ballasts fon't really mean shit, but they're compatible nontheless..

hey snaks don't let them get you down. cfl's work and are very efficient. get the book buds for less. great read!!! I have used them also to start out and you are doing the right thing. personally i would use t-5's so if one of the big ones burn out it won't cost an arm and leg to replace. I would recommend HTG supply good peeps and talk to tony if you have an issue .... he will fix it. sorry for jacking thread but what strains of plants have you topped and which did it not work so well with??

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hi till I die

By the time it's flowering, it's almost too late regardng plant vigor/health. In its natural setting, cannabis receives less light during flowering than veg. Leave it up to cannabis forums to get it bass ackwards and screw up plants with too much light and not enough N during the flowering response.

Have fun. It's all about the learning experience.

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PLANT MOISTURE STRESS aka leaf edge/tip curling - symptoms and solutions
Note- Due to some technicality, I can not reply to "New visitor messages"

Ben- I see what you mean, about how going from CFL at veg to HPS at flower would be against the natural flow of things. If outdoor light isn't an option, are MH bulbs your suggested light?

supdro- Yeah the CFLs are doing their job right now, but I really do want to switch to HPS to avoid the hassle of light repositioning, and just having to use ONE plug would be such a relief :P. Actually, to be honest, I would most likely continue to use my CFLs in conjunction with an HPS bulb if I had my way (and I think I will in the coming months).

I also have already gone through Tony at HTG for my t5 bulbs and my FoxFarm nutrients. He did me well, yes he did. To answer your other questions, I had 3 northern lights plants, one which had been topped according to Ben's technique. Its conditions were identical to two other plants that had not been topped. The topped plant produced way more bud, and the quality was somehow better- the nugs were denser and sweeter. I'm not sure that has to do with the topping though, it may have just been that specific plant.

Born2kill- that sounds like a sweet deal, but keeping temps down in the summer kept me quite busy already, and I was only using CFLs :P. I don't mind spending the money on a good hps+ballast if it works well and saves me the hassle of constant light bulbs and clippys and pulling my hair out.

MH lights are fine.. I think a mix of MH & HPS used throughout the grow is the best case scenario indoors..
Seriously I'd buy as much cheap HID as you can.. Fuck HTG (unless they can beast industrial wholesale prices like Westburne Electric )
These places usually have great deals on sweet blowers and fans, and carry small HID that will create less total heat than your cfls too..
Basically if you're in a position to actually grow then you can't do wrong with industrial type/sized stuff, but if you're just hoping to sneak out a crop in your closet before your mom puts your laundry away then stick with cfls and pc fans etc..

It really doesn't matter what you use as long as you're growing plenty of foliage and keeping it green, healthy, and abundant until harvest. Some of my best results were using a HPS ONLY from start to finish. There is alot of hype when it comes to light spectrums. I have found in spite of all the ditties on spectrums, professional and otherwise, that the plant just doesn't care. Do the experiment. Grow a garden with only a HPS or MH, see for yourself. They are both full spectrum plants. The manufacturers and their vendors are only in it for the money, so they'll push this and that, conversion ballasts, all kinds of crap, etc. My best and most efficient hood is an old Diamond Lights, SMALL horizontal hood with a gull wing insert which I retrofitted with some very high quality, super shiny, spectral material using a drill and a rivet gun. I also built my own ballast box using parts and a junction box to house them in.

You're buying light so you should consider your light bill and efficiency and of course garden maintenance. I mean, who wants to be a slave to their plants?

Proper placement of side reflecting panels can increase light received by 30%

Who knows, it could have been the plant then again it could have been your culture. Whatever, you got your results and that's what counts.

Have fun,
Tio

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PLANT MOISTURE STRESS aka leaf edge/tip curling - symptoms and solutions
Note- Due to some technicality, I can not reply to "New visitor messages"

I think you got the wrong thread. This one is about topping. Please clean up your act (delete the diatribe).

Thanks,
UB

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PLANT MOISTURE STRESS aka leaf edge/tip curling - symptoms and solutions
Note- Due to some technicality, I can not reply to "New visitor messages"

Good info, guys, thanks again.