My new seedling cfl cab!!!

Ok so I have ran into a problem with my outdoor grow and it's been cold n rainy so I had too act fast and figure out a way too have them inside......well I made it happen too the best of my abilities. Only cost me 15 bucks too put together I just need a idea for a cheap fan too move air around the cupboard cause the cfls I have give off just enough too make the cab nice and warm and no too hot. I'm running 4 cfls for right now, 2x 23 watt 6500k and 2x 13 watt not sure what the kelvin rating is on them cause it don't say (just had them laying around) it's not the most extravagant my any means but get the job done. I have 3x auto Frisian dew seedlings going in those 3 gal pots and those little red cups are my others that have been in dirt going on 2 days. This is strictly just for seedlings. If anyone would like too give me some advice or input on anything just post. I'm thinking I may need atleast 2 more bulbs

I like that electrical fixture, as you can adjust the angle...never seen these before, where did you get it

Looks like an outdoor security light fixture w motion sensor. Did you have to wire it?

Its a outside flood\security motion detection light. U can pick one up at Lowes or any place like that for prob under 20 bucks. I found this one on a shelf in my house lol. At first I tryed too use it with the motion sensor but wasn't any good lol would a put my seedlings into a seizure lmao. So I just by passed it too a plug from a old TV too plug into the wall. And the hood is made out of one of those hefty cooking pans u can get at Walmart. I put the light fixture together for free from stuff laying around my house. Only thing. I spent money on was 2 bulbs.....need 2 bigger ones too make it a good seedling\short veg period cab. Only reason I needed it was cause the weather got below 35 deg and we had a frost warning

I would get some Cree LED bulbs instead of the cfl, how big is that space total? You don't need much for seedlings at all, but the heat is okay and so is a little higher humidity with the babies

vitamin_green_inc said:

I would get some Cree LED bulbs instead of the cfl, how big is that space total? You don't need much for seedlings at all, but the heat is okay and so is a little higher humidity with the babies

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This is honestly just a temp thing till I can put them back outside (had frost warnin lastnight) so I'll only have them in their for 3-4 days and only the autos in after it gets dark till the morning possible just too have light on them 24/7. The seeds that I have in those small cups are my reg photo plants and will only be under those lights for maybe the first few days of their life. And as long as I have enough watts and stuff too keep my girls from stretching they will be in there with lights on 18/6 till they have full first leaves and next set starting too form. Will this work fine and not let them stretch?

If you took them from outdoors, and have been stretching outdoors then you bet your ass they will stretch by the day! Lol the best thing for now would be MH/LED/6500kCFL's alot

Could be a good time to do topping while you have em inside

innerG said:

Could be a good time to do topping while you have em inside

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Lol there a lil small for that still and there autos
Would need the worlds smallest pair of scissors and a microscope too top them lol

Aaaaaanndd nvmd lol. Didnt think it was just a seedling.

Lol yeah, you're good dude, if you didn't already realize. I use like 3 of the 9w cree LED for my 1.5sq foot seedling cabs and that's plenty, just make sure they are close enough, but you are good from what I can tell from the pics. Just keep doing what you are doing, but tbh, why don't you keep that space for clones/seed starters, and get another space the same dang size of you can't make any room, and have that for veg, then flower wherever?
That was why it used to be so hard to grow anything back in the day, and I'm mostly thinking about colonial-time tobacco cultivating, as it would take 35-40 acres worth of growing outside to equal 5 acres of finished material...because they couldn't start their seeds indoors or veg indoors...24/0 for seedlings/clones, 18/6 for veg 16/8 for outside adjustment-then veg outside for the remaining month or so and flower=profit

I would do exactly that but I didn't wana have these inside at all to begin with. I'm only using this too start seeds n then move them back outside tomorrow or something when I know its not gunna be cold and rainy. Thanks for the idea though man!!!!

I would guess the other two bulbs are 4000K or 2700K as they appear much warmer then the other ones. My seedlings went fine under just two 6300K 36W fluorescent tubes, very compact growth and nice leaf coloring. I tend to keep the distance to the plants a little bit closer, like 2 cm or something like that.

manti said:

I would guess the other two bulbs are 4000K or 2700K as they appear much warmer then the other ones. My seedlings went fine under just two 6300K 36W fluorescent tubes, very compact growth and nice leaf coloring. I tend to keep the distance to the plants a little bit closer, like 2 cm or something like that.

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I'm thinking they are 4000k too 5000k cause I have one that's 3000k and they are more blue than that one but not as blue as my 2x 6500k bulbs....but the autos doubled leaf size over night and the straggler is catching up fast. And my reg photo plants have their seed heads starting too break soil so soon I'll have more too add too my journal

TheDabWiz said:

I'm thinking they are 4000k too 5000k cause I have one that's 3000k and they are more blue than that one but not as blue as my 2x 6500k bulbs....but the autos doubled leaf size over night and the straggler is catching up fast. And my reg photo plants have their seed heads starting too break soil so soon I'll have more too add too my journal

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Good to hear

In my experience it isn't necessary to have a load of bulbs for seedlings or small clones, as I said, two 36W are absolutely sufficient for that purpose in my opinion. At the beginning I even keep them under one 36W 120cm tube, approximately 2cm away from the lightsource. I am switching on additional tubes when the leafs arn't completely bathed in light anymore.

Regarding your different light colors, it could be beneficial to mix the 6500K with the 3000K by the factor 2:1 during veg. I have read no scientific literature on that so far, but it makes sense to provide a broader spectrum of light.

manti said:

Good to hear

In my experience it isn't necessary to have a load of bulbs for seedlings or small clones, as I said, two 36W are absolutely sufficient for that purpose in my opinion. At the beginning I even keep them under one 36W 120cm tube, approximately 2cm away from the lightsource. I am switching on additional tubes when the leafs arn't completely bathed in light anymore.

Regarding your different light colors, it could be beneficial to mix the 6500K with the 3000K by the factor 2:1 during veg. I have read no scientific literature on that so far, but it makes sense to provide a broader spectrum of light.

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Good call man and thanks for the tips. I'm gunna switch out one of the smaller 13 watt unknown spectrum for the one 23 watt 3000k bulb right now but either way my autos have doubled in size in just 1 night and all my photo plants are breaking the soil so its obviously working just fine lol. I have too get a small fan too put in the cab too move air around but over all the heat has been no higher than 80 deg lights on and about 65ish prob more when lights are off (been on 24\7 though) soon as my photo plants are up for about 3 days IMA start too drop light too get them outside. Start with 18\6 and work down too 16\8 hour by hour every other day before I move them outdoors for good

manti said:

Good to hear

In my experience it isn't necessary to have a load of bulbs for seedlings or small clones, as I said, two 36W are absolutely sufficient for that purpose in my opinion. At the beginning I even keep them under one 36W 120cm tube, approximately 2cm away from the lightsource. I am switching on additional tubes when the leafs arn't completely bathed in light anymore.

Regarding your different light colors, it could be beneficial to mix the 6500K with the 3000K by the factor 2:1 during veg. I have read no scientific literature on that so far, but it makes sense to provide a broader spectrum of light.

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Thank you for not telling him he needs more light! 6500k over the top and 2700k as side lighting/lower branch when needed

TheDabWiz said:

Good call man and thanks for the tips. I'm gunna switch out one of the smaller 13 watt unknown spectrum for the one 23 watt 3000k bulb right now but either way my autos have doubled in size in just 1 night and all my photo plants are breaking the soil so its obviously working just fine lol. I have too get a small fan too put in the cab too move air around but over all the heat has been no higher than 80 deg lights on and about 65ish prob more when lights are off (been on 24\7 though) soon as my photo plants are up for about 3 days IMA start too drop light too get them outside. Start with 18\6 and work down too 16\8 hour by hour every other day before I move them outdoors for good

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I don't use any ventilation before I switch on the 3rd 36W tube as the temperatures have always been between 25°C and 30°C up to that point. Most of the time bringing them outdoors is the best option, would love to have that opportunity as well...
Well good luck with your grow and have a productive season...

Thanks for all the help everyone! Its finally nice enough out tonight too put them back out and will stay nice now till the end of summer. Right now only my autos didn't get put back in the cab just cause I really shouldn't have them inside lol. I have all my other red cups with reg photos in them in the cab till tomorrow morning then back outside and left out for good. And also all 3 Frisian dew seeds sprouted and are above soil and 3 out of 4 white widow x big bud sprouted and are up as well so it worked out pretty damn good I'd say cause I only have 6 smart pots lol