Doja@night
Well-Known Member
im using cfls. i was wonndering if once the plant is in 12/12 will the branches still grow new shoots? or will it just stretch?
cfl flowering.
- Thread starter Doja@night
- Start date
ExileOnMainStreet
Well-Known Member
This is my setup, and I'm still adding more light. So far I've got 10 @ 1600 lumens each but I'm going to split the cabinet top and bottom with each compartment having a dozen lights. I'm only three weeks in, but the new growth slowed right down once it started to flower.
socomplicated
Well-Known Member
how many 150 watt eq. cfl bulbs would you recommend per plant???
Sgt.Sly
Well-Known Member
Hey dude I've had killer experience with CFL grows. AND that picture up there is a kinda BAD example of CFL light efficency.
I'll go over somethings with you.
You question first.
150 w equivelent needs to be in 6500k colour temp for veg to be effective, and 2700k for flowering. DO NOT GET THE 4100k Which are common on those 48watt CFL's found in hardware stores. They are about as effective asmoon light.
You must set up in such a way that you can keep the bulbs 1-3 inches away from the plants. The lumens are most effective in this range. CFL's do not dispurse light in a liniar pattern making focusing the light difficult. Keeping close will help eliminate this problem. You'll have to move your lights every day to every other to keep the plant from growing into them.
You need good reflective shades, and I'd recomend the 42 watt CFL's they're a little easier to find in those said color temp spectrums. 'Y' splitters and one of each color per plant is good for quite while into the grow, if you LST even longer.
I'm gunna dig up some more info for ya I'm tired of typing about this topic today. LOL gimmie a few min.
inhaleindica
Well-Known Member
I would reccomend using 3 -42watt cfls per plant. I see you have 3 just like me I am using 8 right now. 2700 lumens each is better for flowering while you use 6500 lumens for growth and veggie. Hope this helps.
Sgt.Sly
Well-Known Member
Here's something cool i learned. Remember what i said about CFL's light diffusial pattern? Well same goes for the big 125W Actual Watt CFL's fromthe hydro store.
It's a nice light , problem is:
1. One physical light makes coverage difficult.
2. Cost to replace.
3. Lumen's per watt. 42-65 Actual watt CFL's give you the MOST Lumens per Watt Ratio. Means you get a little more out of your power costs.
Plus with MORE of these great smaller bulbs you can obtain greater coverage.
You're likely to get much better results from 125 watts broken up over multiple bulbs than in just one.
The minimum For good CFL grow, is 3000 lumens per sq.ft.
1-42W 2700 or 6500K CFL = 2600-2800 lumens.
You can use this as a rough guide and put 1 bulb per sq.foot you want to cover. Get good reflectors or make em, it helps HUGE. Some use pop cans, slice em open long way and open up like barn doors, light goes inside. Genius.
It's a nice light , problem is:
1. One physical light makes coverage difficult.
2. Cost to replace.
3. Lumen's per watt. 42-65 Actual watt CFL's give you the MOST Lumens per Watt Ratio. Means you get a little more out of your power costs.
Plus with MORE of these great smaller bulbs you can obtain greater coverage.
You're likely to get much better results from 125 watts broken up over multiple bulbs than in just one.
The minimum For good CFL grow, is 3000 lumens per sq.ft.
1-42W 2700 or 6500K CFL = 2600-2800 lumens.
You can use this as a rough guide and put 1 bulb per sq.foot you want to cover. Get good reflectors or make em, it helps HUGE. Some use pop cans, slice em open long way and open up like barn doors, light goes inside. Genius.
Sgt.Sly
Well-Known Member
NO No no. those numbers refer to the color of the spectrum produced by the bulb.
2700k redder spectrum, 6500k Bluer.
Lumens are a mesure of light intencity at a given distence.
You are right about 6500 for veging,and 2700 for flower.
I prefer both all the time.
Foolieo
Active Member
the problem i always come to is placement of the lights. i find it incredibly hard to find away to get a cfl where i want it. i can hang them from the ceiling but then i would have 100's of holes up there by the time im done with 1 grow. I also try the clamp method but still most cases u can not clamp right onto the pot your plant is in. so now you need to make or have some kinda fictures that u can move around your plants to clamp to... that takes up space... u can get a storage shelf from home depot but then again thats taken up alot more space. anyone got ideas for how to place cfls that u can easily move around with out causing massive dmg to ceilings or walls.. I Have also built a massive frame that i hung from the ceiling and i was able to clamp all the lights onto. but then i came accross the problem of height. with my bulbs that kinda forced them to all be at the same level. where with cfls u want to be able to move them to any part of the plant as needed
Sgt.Sly
Well-Known Member
I have seen automotive trouble lights used with Y adapters.
The 10 foot cord they come with makes them very easy to place.
They best way is to use a pole (a la closet grow) and tie it over the top, simply loosen or tighten to increase or decrease height. You can jerry rig something to secure them above your plants if necessary.
This method is really only good for small grows, anything large and you just can't beat an appropriately sized MH and HPS light.
Hope this helps make your life easier.
The 10 foot cord they come with makes them very easy to place.
They best way is to use a pole (a la closet grow) and tie it over the top, simply loosen or tighten to increase or decrease height. You can jerry rig something to secure them above your plants if necessary.
This method is really only good for small grows, anything large and you just can't beat an appropriately sized MH and HPS light.
Hope this helps make your life easier.