Confused

I just bought one CFL for like six bux and it says "100 watts: Replacement bulb using only 23 watts". I have read a couple times that 42w CFL's were a good choice but I wasn't sure/am too stoned to figure out which number is which in both cases. . .?

it's the color rating that matters bro. high output is favored too. try to find something above 5000K rating. if the light looks yellow that is no bueno.

I don't think it says the color rating on the packaging (its Western Family. . .) but it says the light output is 1500 lumens. I have another lamp that is about 1000. Are these two enough to grow one plant for now do you think? I'm looking into getting like a 50w HPS light soon. Also, both of my lights look kinda bluish but definitely not yellow.

joeblowthatsmoke said:

I don't think it says the color rating on the packaging (its Western Family. . .) but it says the light output is 1500 lumens. I have another lamp that is about 1000. Are these two enough to grow one plant for now do you think? I'm looking into getting like a 50w HPS light soon. Also, both of my lights look kinda bluish but definitely not yellow.

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Go higher on the HPS 150W. They still run fairly cool. THe 50 is good, but once the plant gets bigger and bushier, the light is going to have trouble getting to the lower part of the plant.

As for the color of the CFLs, look for a 'K' number like 5000K or 6500K etc. that is basically the 'color' of the bulb.

Where would you recommend getting a HPS light cheapest?

def. get them off the internet, ebay is the best if you have an account. also, you can sometimes find ppl selling used stuff that's still pretty new. just look at their feedback and make sure they have a high rating. often these ppl want to stop growing or dont want to pay for high elect. bills. the color rating should be on the package like the guy above said.

figure on 50-75w per plant or about 2-3000 lumens per square foot for the minimum, you can never have too much light, just watch the heat output.

Thats funny cause I just ordered a 100w HPS light/ballast off of Ebay. Only 28 bux. Hope it works. The feedback score was 100% and all that like you were saying. Check it out:
100 watt HPS Ballast Bulb & socket kit 100w Grow light - eBay (item 200213766165 end time Apr-12-08 06:15:35 PDT)

nice little buy man, good luck with ur grow.