cfl watts/color temperature

3:1 ratio 6500k to 2700k for veg and 1:3 for flowering. Since your doing 12/12 to like 3 23w 2700k and 1 23w 6500k.

5000k put off the best spectrum for plants, less yellow and more blue than the 2700k.

i would mix in a 1/2 ratio 6500k 5000k for veg and do 6500k 5000k and 2700k for flower ratio 1 1 1

use as many cfls as u can dude, trust. The more intense the light the more weight or density. Also the higher the kelvins the higher the blue spectrum (veg.) the lower the kelvins the higher the red spectrum (flower). People will debate what is the best spectrum so do what u want and learn from ur experience. I would use 6500k for veg and 2700k for flower. The two weeks of transition from veg to flower when u begin flowering i would keep a veg spectrum to increase the closeness of node spacing for tighter, fuller buds. When u switch straight over to a flower spectrum right when u switch to 12 and 12 lighting to start flowering it creates more of stretch in noding which can result in less tight buds. This also is debatable, so its all about trial and error with spectrum and timing. hope this helps

Ight that sounds good right now I'm using 3 14w cfls and 1 45w cfl but they dont say the color temps on them

thats odd, they should say the spectrum, some do not tho i have also encountered this. I give the numbers 6500 and 2700 only becuz these are generally the 2 extremes being each side of the overall spectrum that cfls offer. So they probably follow along those lines, 14 isnt much tho, that probably puts out like 600 lumens lol (not that lumens is an accurate measurement for light absorbtion to a plant, lumens is a measurement of how bright a light is to the human eye not the plants eye but can help give an estimation) so try and beef it up a bit. Like for example i wouldnormally use a 1000watt HPS for flower that is around 2000-2200k and i would use a 1000watt MH for veg that is 7200k.. both produce around 100,000 plus lumens.. HPS being around 150,000 and MH around 85,000 lumens at least

HID lights cost a lot more to run compared to CFLs. If you don't have the budget for that at least get some 23-26w CFLs and if you can get the 42w CFLs. 23w CFLs typically give off 1500 lumens. I really need to find the link again, but I read that plants need at least 5000-8000 lumens per square feet for optimal growth. If you can afford HID(HPS and MH) lights go for it, your plants will absolutely love you for it.

and even better as everyone can agree, put them outside! haha, good luck dude.

Thanks guys I think im gonna start with some 42w cfls but I was definitely gonna get at least 400w hps/mh system this summer! XD