Another Help wanted thread

Ok, so i've got a closet set up, its almost 6 square feet (2 by 3) and i've been practically going insane reading all the posts on here, and on like abunch of other sites on which lights i should use. I don't mean which to use because i didn't know, but in terms of what would work best for me, i was considering buying a 250w HPS, one of the self ballast ones, but it's pretty expensive, and i don't have a very good way to vent the heat in the closet, atleast not good enough for an HPS.

So i decided on CFL's, heres my question, how many plants do you think i could fit in a closet that is 2 by 3 feet, i figured just 2, but i'm curious to hear what you think.

Also, i went to home depot and they have these gigantic 68 watt CFLs in the 2700k range that give out 4200 lumens, so i was planning on buying like 4 of them, and using splitters on those generic silverlamp things that you see people have in autoshops and what not. If i put them directly above the plants would that be enough? or should i get like 1-2 more and position them all around the plants.


I've read a shit load of other posts and threads too, i'm just looking for some helpful advice and input. Thanks.

why not get 150 watt HPS? it's $70 on HTG http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=53025


If I can recall from memory those 68 watt bulbs are $15 each, so thats $60 for 4 bulbs + the price of light sockets.

you'll get around the same total lumens, but 4x68watts = 272 watts which will generate a lot more heat then a single 150 watt light.

Generally if you can afford it HPS is always better, but most of us in the CFL forum either have extremely limited grow space or limited up-front money that can be spent.

Well, i just read around, and now i'm wondering if the lights i was planning on buying was actually over kill, i don't want to spend a crap load of money, and i don't really want to buy a light from online. would it be better if i got maybe, 1-2 of those 68 watt ones for over head, and then some smaller 44watt or 23 watt ones for the side?

I always thought that hps was a lot hotter than cfl.. but anyways if you do decide to go with cfls youll need 5500k or 6500k for veg

A 150 watt HPS light will generate less heat overall then 150 watts of CFL lights, because they are more efficient. Less energy is going into the production of heat, and instead it is used to produce photons.

The reason people think an HPS bulb is hotter, is because all the heat is concentrated in one small area, where the sodium is heated to a vapor. A CFL on the other hand spreads it's heat among the entire surface area of the twisty glass.

With any MH or HPS light it will need to be further away from the plants because the concentrated heat source is much hotter and can burn the plants if too close. On the other hand, since CFL's are comparatively cool they can be close right up to the plant. Also, most HPS lights come with a reflector which reflects both light and heat, where as CFLs emit light and heat omnidirectionally, unless someone makes DIY reflector.

When talking about the overall air temperature of your entire grow box or grow room, your input wattge is the major factor that determines heat generated. Even a highly efficient HPS bulb rated at 150 watts may still generate 130 watts of heat, where the other 20 watts go into making visible light. If you know the volume of your grow room/grow box and air temperature you can calculate how many joules of heat energy you'll be creating from your lights and therefore the circulation you'll need to keep your area cool.

So would that be good enough for like 2-3 plants?

compactfluorescentusa.com Platinum 42w 2700k 3000 lumen 170w replacement $4.97ea.

They work very well doubled up in 12" brooder reflectors hanging from chains. I have several and they ship quick. With the room you have, you could hang 3 of these reflectors and grow 3 bushy plants. I like to hang 26w bulbs in the canopy also. Contrary to popular belief, 2700k works well for veg also I've found. Especially when growing in cramped areas. Plus it eliminates the need for the extra expenditure on multi spectrum.

Good luck.

Ive found that to be true as well my plant only had one 23w 2700k cfl for the first 3 or so weeks of life and got to 9"height, know its about 4 weeks sitting at 11 1/2".... Ive bought two more 5500k 27w cfls just to have full spectrum in there.. I dont know how much of a difference it makes but seemed to be doing well with just 2700k

heres a pic of it hope its a female cause its my only plant.(crosses fingers)if not fem i think ill be a little more than dissapointed

Originally Posted by Aperson

Ok, so i've got a closet set up, its almost 6 square feet (2 by 3) and i've been practically going insane reading all the posts on here, and on like abunch of other sites on which lights i should use. I don't mean which to use because i didn't know, but in terms of what would work best for me, i was considering buying a 250w HPS, one of the self ballast ones, but it's pretty expensive, and i don't have a very good way to vent the heat in the closet, atleast not good enough for an HPS.

So i decided on CFL's, heres my question, how many plants do you think i could fit in a closet that is 2 by 3 feet, i figured just 2, but i'm curious to hear what you think.

Also, i went to home depot and they have these gigantic 68 watt CFLs in the 2700k range that give out 4200 lumens, so i was planning on buying like 4 of them, and using splitters on those generic silverlamp things that you see people have in autoshops and what not. If i put them directly above the plants would that be enough? or should i get like 1-2 more and position them all around the plants.


I've read a shit load of other posts and threads too, i'm just looking for some helpful advice and input. Thanks.

My grow is in a 2x3x3' closet area with 3x68w and 8x23w. Currently I have 6 mature plants in there and 4 smaller ones about to take their place. I think the number of plants all depends on how you want to grow them - I prefer flowering early and keeping the plants small but having many of them (this is more of a hobby to me than means of getting pot and I just personally think it's more interesting with more plants/strains). If you can go tall and provide bottom lighting go with a buncha plants. If you want just top lighting do like two plants and scrog em. Hope this helps and feel free to check out my grow - might help.