Hey, started my first grow using info on here and it has helped me out alot.

My question is in reference to a lighting situation. Right now I have had two plants that have made it from seed to seedling(out of 9 bagseed). They are a little over a week old and I've been using a 250w MH light on a 24 hour light cycle.

They seem to be doing alrite. I've got a bit of conflicting advice on whether I should start them on CFL's or HID. But as for right now how far away would you keep the HID light from the plants? I've got them at about 15-16 inchs from the tip to the hood and it seems to be doing ok.

Do I need to water any differently? I do it about once a day since the soil dries out pretty quick under the big light.

Thanks

the metal halide is fine for now. i personally would put on 18/6 or even 16/8 the youngsters need some dark time for root development . mine are going outside and i have them on 13/11 . goodluck!!

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not only do the plants like some dark time, the ballast is not meant to run 24/7 most manufacturers recomend at least 2 hrs a day to cool off

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Where are we going & what am I doing in a handbasket?

Who evere has told you that a flouresent or cfl will give you better results than a h.i.d wants there bumps feeling [plonkers].The light that you are useing is well suited to two plants i would not grow any more under a 250 though sometimes less is more.You want the lights has close has possible so that the internodes will grow close togeather this is where most growers go wrong.You want the light no higher than a foot away from the top of the plants.Have a fan blowing across the top of the plants and get hold of another fan there not that exspensive to buy have this blowing on the hood of the light this will cool the hood down makeing it easyer to have the light has close has possible.Put your hand under the light on top of the plants if it feels just warm not too warm though you will be fine.But by haveing the fans in the way i have just said can make the differance between ounces and harfs.If you are new to growing and you can get you grow room keyed so that you can have the lights close you will always have dence nugs and not the fluffy weightless buds that you sometimes see.I can tell if a plant has had the lights in the right place just by feeling the buds.You want the buds to be rock hard dude and this can only be gained by haveing the lights close.

The main reason for using flourecents for starting plants are heat and light intensity from large hid's along with the fact that flourecents are inexpensive (both to buy and to run)

Since you are using a real small mh light it looks like heat and light intensity aren't a problem. Youir already have the light so cost isn't a consideration. Sounds like your doing fine to me.

Good luck.

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"If you wanna win, CHEAT! If you lose, start a FIGHT!" - very wise man