200 w cfl grow, by DANfour20

I'm not sure dank lol.

What can I do next time to get larger tops? Other than HPs, I was thinking of not having 24 tops and having 4 instead...? I'm gna need to do at least one more grow with this light before I get a HPs.

I don't know brother, I would just say you're on a learning curve. There are a lot more factors than just if its lights. Could be genetics, nutes,yes lights, and or environment . I think people give lights and nutes too much credit. But then what do I know. I'm an amateur. If it's any consolation, the they're beautiful frosty plants. I'm sure they'll be great smoke. Imo it's just best to let your trichromes let you know when to pull. Check out other grow journals with the same strain and phenotype. Other than that good luck

DankTankerous said:

I don't know brother, I would just say you're on a learning curve. There are a lot more factors than just if its lights. Could be genetics, nutes,yes lights, and or environment . I think people give lights and nutes too much credit. But then what do I know. I'm an amateur. If it's any consolation, the they're beautiful frosty plants. I'm sure they'll be great smoke. Imo it's just best to let your trichromes let you know when to pull. Check out other grow journals with the same strain and phenotype. Other than that good luck

Click to expand...

I'll just leave em going until 420, unless over half my triches turn amber then I'll chop. At what percentage amber do they start to degrade in THC content?

Cfl will just never give you big dense nugs. I started growing with cfl and when I switched to led the difference was wonderful. I understand micro grows and cfl versatility as well as cost efficiency but if you can expand to a larger grow with hps or led it will greatly increase your yield. Youve already shown you can grow a very healthy plant.

Mean Gene said:

Cfl will just never give you big dense nugs. I started growing with cfl and when I switched to led the difference was wonderful. I understand micro grows and cfl versatility as well as cost efficiency but if you can expand to a larger grow with hps or led it will greatly increase your yield. Youve already shown you can grow a very healthy plant.

Click to expand...

But I'm worried gene as I've seen huge nugs from CFL, my plant just isn't on par, there must be something I'm doing wrong... I'm guessing it's either the fact I have one 200w bulb rather than 10x23 w spread out more, or I'm thinking it could be my medium as it is a bit of a mutant now lol it started with Westlands multi purpose soil 60 litres, then I added another 20 litres of acidic blueberry soil, some perlite and finally added some bonemeal and fish blood and bone into it.

Im going to be running 3 clones of this strain im currently growing and one clone of (I'm not sure, friend gave me it and he doesn't know if it's critical, caramel or speedy chilli) next grow.

My temps are great, humidity not so I got it down to 50 percent a few weeks ago but now it stays around 70 percent even 80 when I turn the lights off. Could be dodgy metre I'll get another.

Loaned a 400 w HPs off of a friend, hopefully it will help add some mass in these last 3 weeks.

I've got the light as far away as I can right now, I'll bring it closer day by day.

They could be so small because the plants are just very small. Looks like they were hardly vegged. Went to flower very quickly. It could also be a weak pheno as well.

I have seen some great cfl harvests also but they are few in number compared to other lights. You have done a great job and i think if you wouldve put a scrog screen about 12" above the plants and filled it in some or just let them get bigger even with the cfl you wouldve seen some of the results you're after.

At the end of the day though this is an excellent looking plant and you will learn from it so next round i expect even better

DANfour20 said:

I'm guessing it's either the fact I have one 200w bulb rather than 10x23 w spread out more,

Click to expand...

^This would be my guess. I have a small 8x23w closet box for projects and backup, and it does really well with proper training and decent plants. I have 6x bagseed clones in there ATM, they got really sick so they don't look great here, but the box is pretty nice lol








The issue with CFLs is penetration, you really need decent canopy coverage and side lighting would make a big difference. Some people go so far as to say they want a bulb within 4" of every leaf for maximum efficiency. Also, I've read multiple places that CFLs peak range is 1-4", and a space of over 6" from the light can greatly reduce PAR at the leaf.

Since you already have the big bulb, and if you can handle more heat, you could look at adding 4-8 23w CFLs as side/supplemental lighting, or maybe a T5 or 2?

I agree that the pictures of the last plant you posted look really nice, you should be proud you made it to the finish line with a nice smokable result

Mean Gene said:

They could be so small because the plants are just very small. Looks like they were hardly vegged. Went to flower very quickly. It could also be a weak pheno as well.

I have seen some great cfl harvests also but they are few in number compared to other lights. You have done a great job and i think if you wouldve put a scrog screen about 12" above the plants and filled it in some or just let them get bigger even with the cfl you wouldve seen some of the results you're after.

At the end of the day though this is an excellent looking plant and you will learn from it so next round i expect even better

Click to expand...

Lol gene, I vegged them for 2 months before I put them into flower.

Brought the light a bit closer today.


Temps are an issue.

Damn these HPs are heavy on the electric, it's supposedly only twice the power of my CFL yet it uses almost 3 times as much electric? Where's the sense in that? May have to slip another tenner a fortnight on the leccy to run this.

With there been only 3 weeks, possibly 2 before I finish, is it worth me using the HPs now or is it a little late for it to have a positive effect? I could go back to my CFL and use the HPs for my next grow in flower.

DANfour20 said:

With there been only 3 weeks, possibly 2 before I finish, is it worth me using the HPs now or is it a little late for it to have a positive effect? I could go back to my CFL and use the HPs for my next grow in flower.

Click to expand...

It is worth it, imo. You will produce much more than cfl. The elec. used kinda sucks. That's why I like LED.

yeatster said:

It is worth it, imo. You will produce much more than cfl. The elec. used kinda sucks. That's why I like LED.

Click to expand...

How many watts of light are you using, and for how many plants? What kind of yields per plant and how much is the light to buy?

The HPs I have now is only loaned to me, I am going to be buying another light at some point.

Thinking of a 200 - 250 w HPs as the electric costs and also my tiny space is to hot with the 400w.

I'm scared of led as it is another energy saving source and I haven't faired to well with that , also aren't they really expensive to buy.

DANfour20 said:

How many watts of light are you using, and for how many plants? What kind of yields per plant and how much is the light to buy?

The HPs I have now is only loaned to me, I am going to be buying another light at some point.

Thinking of a 200 - 250 w HPs as the electric costs and also my tiny space is to hot with the 400w.

I'm scared of led as it is another energy saving source and I haven't faired to well with that , also aren't they really expensive to buy.

Click to expand...

Yes, they are pricey. The good ones anyway. I paid $800 for a 300w Pacific Lights Concept, CX300. It is in a 4x4 tent but I have it off centered to cover 3x3, most effectively.
This is my first grow. I started with a 3x3x4 DIY box and a Platinum Series p150 (100w, really). I won a few grand playing poker so I upgraded.

I have 2 @ 67 days, 2 @ 40 days, and 2 seedlings @ 10 days off to the side. I am doing a perpetual. I start my seedlings in my box under a 4 bulb t5.

I made a few mistakes with the older ones but the next 2 are doing great. I am super impressed with this LED.

I just made a thread under indoor growing cfl lighting called "CFL light loss by distance" showing how cfls just cant push light very far with my lux meter. Worth looking at if you want to see what happens in just a few inches of room.

DANfour20 said:

Damn these HPs are heavy on the electric, it's supposedly only twice the power of my CFL yet it uses almost 3 times as much electric? Where's the sense in that? May have to slip another tenner a fortnight on the leccy to run this.

Click to expand...

how much do you think it'd cost you in 30 days?

DankTankerous said:

how much do you think it'd cost you in 30 days?

Click to expand...

I'd say about 50 pence per day as the kWh is 13.6p. So 15 pounds a month??