Lighting Question

TatickX

TatickX

Well-Known Member
I am using ONLY CFL lights to grow my plants with and I was wondering would using less light slwo down the groing rate compared to using a high amount of light?

example -

5 plants under 2 13w (60w imatation)
5 Plants under 2 42w (150w imatation)

would the plants with the lower amount of ligt grow slower then the higher amount of light or will they grow at the same rate?

and I don't want any of the you should use diffrent lights or any of that crap I just want to know would using lower amount of light going to make my plants grow slower?

PS - They are on 24/0 lighting
 
W

wbd

Well-Known Member
Yes, less light = less food = less growth when compared to same plant in identical grow environment and more lighting.
 
TatickX

TatickX

Well-Known Member
wbd said:
Yes, less light = less food = less growth when compared to same plant in identical grow environment and more lighting.
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ok would turning off mt 42w CFL harm my plant even if I leave the 13w running?
 
W

wbd

Well-Known Member
Are you saying you'd be growing 1 plant under only one 13W CFL?

If so, the plant will stretch severely and take forever to mature and yield will be extremely low, if you are lucky to even get to that point.
 
smokingbot

smokingbot

Well-Known Member
Even if you used all 4, it still wouldn't be enough for 5 quality plants. Maybe I'm wrong but thats my 2 cents.
 
W

wbd

Well-Known Member
smokingbot said:
Even if you used all 4, it still wouldn't be enough for 5 quality plants. Maybe I'm wrong but thats my 2 cents.
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You are definitely right. All 4 lights would be 110W, still not enough for a single plant according to my standards, but it would suffice.
 
TatickX

TatickX

Well-Known Member
wbd said:
Are you saying you'd be growing 1 plant under only one 13W CFL?

If so, the plant will stretch severely and take forever to mature and yield will be extremely low, if you are lucky to even get to that point.
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right now I have 5 plants under a 42w CFL (150w imatation) and a 13w CFL (60w imatation) and I was taking about when I go to sleep would turning off the 42 and having the 13 for them harm them? the light is able to get the tops of all my 5 plants
 
TatickX

TatickX

Well-Known Member
3 lights will use 39w in all but will imatate 180w in all compared to the 42w that imatates a 150w bulb and each 13w puts out 900 lumes so 3 13w bulbs would be pushing out around 2,700 lumes
 
TatickX

TatickX

Well-Known Member
ace1059 said:
your gona want about 350-400 watts
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watts as in watts usage or watts imatation?
and why does it say that a 13w CFL imatates a 60w light bulb like what does that imatate stand for in growing and does it have any benifits?
 
ace1059

ace1059

Well-Known Member
oh ok, how much do u have now? whatever it is put it really close (like 2-3 inches) and if theres any windows where sunlight gets in put it by there to help it out! natural light is always good. g2g:leaf::leaf::leaf::leaf::leaf::leaf:
 
W

wbd

Well-Known Member
Dude, forget about what the box says about wattage equivilency. Those numbers are meaningless.

Your question is like asking if 2 ants can move a car faster than 1. Sure, you can argue that 2 would be better, but either way that car ain't goin' nowhere. Get it?

Again, you need a total of AT LEAST 100 REAL WATTS of CFL lighting per plant. You have 39W-42W of real CFL wattage for 5 plants.

You are short by at least 458 watts!!!

This is not an exact calculation by any means, but I hope you get my drift. Even if you left just 1 plant in that grow area, that plant is still gonna be stretchy and take forever to grow, and yield will be low.

I don't know what your intentions are with this grow -- maybe you're just having fun -- but I want to make sure you completely understand this.
 
TatickX

TatickX

Well-Known Member
wbd said:
Dude, forget about what the box says about wattage equivilency. Those numbers are meaningless.

Your question is like asking if 2 ants can move a car faster than 1. Sure, you can argue that 2 would be better, but either way that car ain't goin' nowhere. Get it?

Again, you need a total of AT LEAST 100 REAL WATTS of CFL lighting per plant. You have 39W-42W of real CFL wattage for 5 plants.

You are short by at least 458 watts!!!

This is not an exact calculation by any means, but I hope you get my drift. Even if you left just 1 plant in that grow area, that plant is still gonna be stretchy and take forever to grow, and yield will be low.

I don't know what your intentions are with this grow -- maybe you're just having fun -- but I want to make sure you completely understand this.
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I have 55w of power usage in all right now and I am a beginer btw and I wanted to know if using 13w be better because 1 I can adjust the 3 more lights to hit the plants more and 2 3 13w CFl lights put out 2,700 lumes and the 42w puts out the same amount of lumes but uses 3 more wats, is it better to go with the 3 13w CFL so that I can move them around to get light where I need it more and closer to the plants or stay with the 42w ?
 
W

wbd

Well-Known Member
TatickX said:
I have 55w of power usage in all right now and I am a beginer btw and I wanted to know if using 13w be better because 1 I can adjust the 3 more lights to hit the plants more and 2 3 13w CFl lights put out 2,700 lumes and the 42w puts out the same amount of lumes but uses 3 more wats, is it better to go with the 3 13w CFL so that I can move them around to get light where I need it more and closer to the plants or stay with the 42w ?
Click to expand...
Yes, the 3 13W would be more versatile in terms of arranging around the plants.
 
W

wbd

Well-Known Member
No problem.

Just tell confirm you understand what I was telling you about not having enough lights, and I'll be happy. :)
 
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