500wt CFL GROW

Here are some pics of my most recent CFL Grow. Skunk #11 5 weeks into veg. Under 2/250wt 6500K cool spectrum on 14 on and 10 off. I will let them veg for two more weeks then put them under 2/250wt 2700K warm spectrum for on 12/12 to flower. Any comments are welcome.

Thats a nice set up man, how long you plan on vegging for?

I always veg for 8 weeks. Longer veg = more branches = more buds. I never go past 8 because at that point they usually will start auto flowering even without cutting/changing the lights. I usually average about 50 grms a plant.

Another week in and i thought i would put up some more pics. I will put the lights to 12/12 and start dflowering on the 27th of this month.

Nice looking cfl setup.

But what I've always wondered from setups like these is why run 500w of cfl when 400w of hps would yield alot more and use less electricity?

I understand vegging using them. I had a mother box that utilised a 200w cfl along with a 24w T5.

Is it simply the heat output that keeps you using cfl?


J

also im going to toss a blueberry gum

Why 14/10? Wondering

I have used 1000wt HPS and MH also used 400wt HPS. I get the same qty of buds using the CFL's as i do using the 400wt HPS and keep the cost down because no heat from the CFL's so no cooler needed. Saves me about $200.00 a month in electric.

jondamon said:

Nice looking cfl setup.

But what I've always wondered from setups like these is why run 500w of cfl when 400w of hps would yield alot more and use less electricity?

I understand vegging using them. I had a mother box that utilised a 200w cfl along with a 24w T5.

Is it simply the heat output that keeps you using cfl?


J

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About the same light schedule as outside and has always worked for me. I know some people say more light but your plants grow during lights off and they seem to grow faster with 10 hours of dark. Just my way but it works for me and again keeps the electric bill down. I average about 40 Grams per plant and i am happy with that.

Grandmah said:

Why 14/10? Wondering

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More pics in a few days. They have doubled in size and are monsters now.

wkarma said:

Just my way but it works for me and again keeps the electric bill down. I average about 40 Grams per plant and i am happy with that.

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what i see here is coils in the 250/w fighting one another before reaching plant matter. you're right a 400/w would do the same but they are a drag if you know what i mean. true the extra heat may make it a poor alternative. do what you're happy with.

Here they are 6 weeks of veg and i decided to change the lights and put them on 12/12. I usually let them veg 8 weeks but any more and the will be too tall for my box. They are all female and i hope to have them finished by 18 April. Comments welcome

As of this morning all showing white hairs.

Loooking good! So, i take it you have done this grow before? how do the lower buds end up? My experience is cfls have poor penetration... do you add supplemental side light?

10 Days into flower and about 6 weeks left i guess. Sorry about quality of the pics, the wife is out with the good camera. Comments Welcome.

Nice grow bro. Im a 100% cfl grower also. Mind if I add.ya up bro

Astral Zoom said:

Loooking good! So, i take it you have done this grow before? how do the lower buds end up? My experience is cfls have poor penetration... do you add supplemental side light?

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Lower bud sites look just fine. Just keep the fan leaves pulled down or trim them. I have used HPS and get about the same outcome, with a much higher electric bill due to cooling. Look at the new pics and you tell me how the lower branches look.

Yes cfls are very versitile and can be used in the smallests spots n be effective. I even learned a trick with layin a 26watf cfl(1750 lumen) right on the pog rim surrounded by foil I shaped to reflect light and prevent heat damage. I have fems showing bud formation all the way at the 2nd internodes.

wkarma said:

I have used 1000wt HPS and MH also used 400wt HPS. I get the same qty of buds using the CFL's as i do using the 400wt HPS and keep the cost down because no heat from the CFL's so no cooler needed. Saves me about $200.00 a month in electric.

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So you're saying you get between 350-500g using the cfl's?

That's what I get using 400w.

I just don't see how you can pull that amount with only 10" of penetration from those cfls.

I use a 3x3 area with 4 plants.



J

jondamon said:

So you're saying you get between 350-500g using the cfl's?

That's what I get using 400w.

I just don't see how you can pull that amount with only 10" of penetration from those cfls.

I use a 3x3 area with 4 plants.



J

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No i dont get 350 - 500 grams in a 3 foot area but my last haul using the same set up in the same about 3.5 x 3.5 foot area with 4 plants (all that will fit) was about 320 grams, which is enough for me because it is all for me and i dont sell. I do two grows a year and thats 600 or so grams and that is plenty. I know i may be able to get that much with one grow using a 1000wt hps/mh but i enjoy the grow process also so twice a year is a nice hobby for me. Its not about getting more than 10" of penitration if you try to keep all the bud sites the same height. It is also about picking indica strains that branch out well and stay the same height.