I've tried looking up this question..I'm sure it may have just slipped me and it's right in front of my face but it's a good question none the less for small grower. How much light do you actually need for a 1-2 plant grow? I have read 250 is perfectly acceptable, could I go lower and if there are some links handy for a light that would be acceptable (the lowest possible with enough to get some buds).
Thanks guys, this site is excellent always love to read. Have a great night!

If you have the loot, go for 400watt!

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If you wind up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest or some guy on TV telling you how to do your shit, then YOU DESERVE IT.
~ Frank Zappa ~

Liberty means responsibility, that is why most men dread it.
~George Bernard Shaw~

haha, believe me i'd LOVE to..but my paranoia gets the best of me. I'm not as young and carefree as I use to be unfortunately That's why i'm looking for the least amount of light that is still 'useable' ;D but believe me, i'd be poppin a 400 if I wasn't such a pansy.

*lol*
Well I guess it comes down to your definition of "useable"....
From an efficiency standpoint, and most "bang for buck" etc....
IMO, minimum usability would be a 400w....try and figure a way to control the light and additional heat, given it is feasible for your chosen area! You will be one happy camper, grab the ring and go for the gusto!
Sorry the above sounds like the spouting of a snobby jackass, I've been drinking!!!

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If you wind up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest or some guy on TV telling you how to do your shit, then YOU DESERVE IT.
~ Frank Zappa ~

Liberty means responsibility, that is why most men dread it.
~George Bernard Shaw~

no problem, didn't even think of it like that! I just hope someone with semi-good results using small lights will throw some advice down. =)

I grew 5 pretty big plants under a 400w hps a couple of years ago, I'm setting it up again this week. I'm sure you could do pretty well with a 250. You could go even smaller and use flouros, which I'm using now. But to get ahead of the game, I'm putting that hps back up.

Good call on that bleorg, I may have to look into that!

u'll be ok using 2 or 3 42 watt cfl's for 1 or 2 plants for veg, but when it comes time for flowering ur gunna need a hps to get the bud u want

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CaPeR

ahh! See, that's what i'm saying. I'm honestly not worried about the amount of bud that comes off the plants, i'll just reveg when i'm done. So what would you guy suggest for the least amount you could use with results during flowering? (Like I said, not worried about the amount that comes off the plant personally...weird I know )

if you really arent worried, use 1 low watt cfl. your buds will feel like feathers. except maybe the very top, good luck on that re vegging, as it takes longer than starting a seed if you even succeed.

if you REALLY dont care.....

if electrical usage is your worry.. 1 400w hps will not get you noticed.