Newbie question about CF Lights and seedlings

I will be starting my 1st grow in a few weeks, and am still studying and gathering the things I will need, and some I probably won't . My grow room is a small closet, 4.5' w x 5' h. I am concentrating on the seedling aspect now, although I've read tons of information about everything else.

I will be using rockwool starter cubes, 2" x 1.5" deep. I've wondered if these are too big, and if I should cut one into four blocks for four seedlings. Any suggestions? This was the only size available when I ordered them.

I have read about how to dip the cubes in ph balanced water for 10 seconds. Then, don't squeeze them out but give them a flick with your wrist to get rid of extra water. I also know about putting the seed 1/2" deep and covering the hole the best I can with the rockwool medium, and misting them to keep them moist.

My growing tray has a 2" covered dome, and I have a heated pad underneath with a digital thermostat. I've been testing it the last 24 hrs, and it's staying at the right temp. I selected 77 degrees.

My seeds should arrive from Nirvana next week. Oh, boy!!! The first seeds I will try will probably be Blueberry, but I will study the strains more. I also ordered Snow White and Chrystal.

I have different lights, and am wondering what I should use for the seedlings. I am only going to grow 3 seeds to start, and hope they all sprout! I bought feminized seeds. Hopefully I won't goof up. I've seen plenty of videos and read a lot, so maybe I won't. I was a vegetable gardener for years, but I'm sure sweating this out!

Here are my light choices:

1. 32 watt Agrosun compact fluorescent, 6400k, 1800 lumens (according to the packaging)
2. 125 watt Flurowing w/reflector by Hydrofarm, 6400k (could this be right? The same as the 32 watt bulb?)
3. 120 watt LED, 3 watts per bulb from DormGrow
4. 90 watt LED red BLOOM from DormGrow

Would the 32 watt be sufficient for my three seeds? I have a clamp-on reflector that I plan to hang in place a few inches above the dome. I know I can also use the 125 watt or the LED, but which is really necessary?

Do you think the 120 watt LED will be enough for vegetative growth? I thought I could always add my CF lights if needed. The LED BLOOM light will of course be added when it's blooming time.

Once the seedlings are ready, they're going into a hydroponic unit with hydroton clay media. Will the rockwool kill the plants once the roots are submerged in the water?

Any suggestions, comments? Thanks!

You should use the #1 32 watt until they have good roots coming out of the cubes then once you move em to the hydro unit hit em with the #2 light for a few days until it adjusts fully.

Once it starts boomin hit it with the 3rd one and the forth at the same time.

Id get a 150 watt hps or mh if you can.

Theyre usually in an inclosed hood ready for air cooling and dont get that hot for the amount of light they throw.

Good cheap investment for aobut 75 bucks

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-FLORALUX-150w-HPS-Mini-Grow-Light.asp

Good luck with everything!

you get some plants and what not in your grow room it may raise temps.
just a thought more fans better exhaust?
not saying it will just keep that in mind.

def need more fans good suggestion!

gotta keep that air movin so mold cant settle.

i am on first grow and didnt monitor temps correctly. was getting heat stress.
keep thermometer at canopy height or else its false reading.
more heat you blow of lights closer you can keep your lights.
which means faster growth.

the k, or kelvin is the color temperature of the bulb, not the output of the bulb.

the wattage and lumens are the output.

during veg, we want 5-7k. during flower, we want 2-3k.

for now, i would get one or two of the 32 watt bulbs. if you get two, get one soft white and one cool white.

I didn't think to have a fan going while they're seedlings, but you're right. That's a great idea! Should I have more than one? The fan I'm looking at is 6" and a good brand. Should the air be directed just above the plants enough to make them move a little?

budbro18, thanks for the lighting suggestions. I've been afraid that I don't have enough light. What do you think? Maybe I should have gotten a bigger LED.

Thanks everyone else for your comments, too.

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nah..those little suckers are strong. just point it at your lights, and if theyre the right distance away your plant will get some air movement

VapeItNow said:

I didn't think to have a fan going while they're seedlings, but you're right. That's a great idea! Should I have more than one? The fan I'm looking at is 6" and a good brand. Should the air be directed just above the plants enough to make them move a little?

budbro18, thanks for the lighting suggestions. I've been afraid that I don't have enough light. What do you think? Maybe I should have gotten a bigger LED.

Thanks everyone else for your comments, too.

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No problem!! For seedling/early veg you should be good. You can flower with your setup but you won't get all that much but anything is good for your first grow!

Once you save up a hundred bucks or so I'd upgrade to a small HID light and some more fans.

Then you'll be able to use that as your main flowering light and the others for veg/supplemental light for flowering.

everyones gotta start somewhere! Haha

Yikes! I don't want a small yield on my first grow. How disappointing that would be! Are you not a believer in LED lights? They assured me that the 120w UFO LED would work for two plants. Do you think I could get a good yield that way?

VapeItNow said:

Yikes! I don't want a small yield on my first grow. How disappointing that would be! Are you not a believer in LED lights? They assured me that the 120w UFO LED would work for two plants. Do you think I could get a good yield that way?

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id add some of your floresents to the led, for flowering with leds you want at least 100w per plant. some side lighting will be very benefical

That sounds like a good rule of thumb, 100w per plant for LEDs. It sounds like I should get a 600w LED then, if I want to have 4 or 5 plants. Would you recommend T5 lights for the side lighting? Thanks so much for your input. It is really helpful.

VapeItNow said:

That sounds like a good rule of thumb, 100w per plant for LEDs. It sounds like I should get a 600w LED then, if I want to have 4 or 5 plants. Would you recommend T5 lights for the side lighting? Thanks so much for your input. It is really helpful.

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actualyl a better way would be to have 2 300w or 3 200w or something liek that. its easier to get better coverage with multiple small units then it is to use 1 large unit. this is because the leds are at there msot effective when you are right under neath them, so you basicly want to have a unit for every 2 or 3 plants.

Im using some t5 for sidelighting myself, it will help a lot in flowering as it can light up areas that are being shaded from the led, or are just outside its peak intensity area.. you can definatly do it without side lighting but if you do use them you can reduce the amount of led wattage you need as long as you still have 100w of lights per plant. (this is an opinion based on research results remain to be seen as im on my first grow still) my setup is 2 180w units, plus 2 39w t5's so thats 440 total watts of light for 4 plants. I wont be adding the seond 180w unit until the end of the month, my plants are small enough right now that they are doign fine under the 1 180w unit plus the t5's. its when they start to get bigger and flower that theyll need all the light.

two 200s will suffice for 4 plants

Hey there. I've decided to refuse shipment on the LEDs I ordered, which are coming today. I am seriously considering the 400w LED by California Light Works. They have a very impressive 5 diode per light system that includes a grow/bloom switch and two separate side lights that are 18” T8 UVB tubes with a separate on/off switch. I got a 15% discount code, so I think I'll go for it. I am thinking I will still add the T5 side lighting, but I need to research it more.

Looks powerful but seems expensive. i hope the 5w bulbs are worth the extra cost. they do have better canopy penetration then 3w bulbs so you may not even need side lighting. if you do get it let me know how it goes

edit well i guess with a 15% discount its really not that expensive compared to 3w

VapeItNow said:

Yikes! I don't want a small yield on my first grow. How disappointing that would be! Are you not a believer in LED lights? They assured me that the 120w UFO LED would work for two plants. Do you think I could get a good yield that way?

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Eh LEDs work but only the good expensive ones. The 400 should do you good but the thing I don't like about LEDs are that there are too many shitty fakes out there and too much wiring that could malfunction. And once that shit goes and your warranty is up you've got one expensive lawn ornament. That's what's nice about hid lights. A bulb blows you grab a new one for 25-35 bucks. Your capacitor or igniter blow you grab a new one for 5-10 bucks. And like I said if you have a short in your led light it could take out anywhere from a single row to half the LEDs

for me cost doesn't out way efficiency and potential to malfunction before expected life is up.

i know people who have some of there first copper core ballasts still running from 10+ years ago.

VapeItNow said:

Hey there. I've decided to refuse shipment on the LEDs I ordered, which are coming today. I am seriously considering the 400w LED by California Light Works. They have a very impressive 5 diode per light system that includes a grow/bloom switch and two separate side lights that are 18” T8 UVB tubes with a separate on/off switch. I got a 15% discount code, so I think I'll go for it. I am thinking I will still add the T5 side lighting, but I need to research it more.

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Br careful cause those UVB light will torch some young plants and even old ones if they're too close. I wouldn't turn em on til after the first 2-4 weeks of flowering. Throw some pics up once you get everything.

Appreciate the comments, guys. I will bring up the problem of a diode burning out to the seller, and what they would do about it. The 400w unit I like has two 200w units side by side, with the UVBs at opposite ends. I know that they are only used at the end of flowering. I am not in a big hurry to buy, since the lights I have will be good from seedlings through 2-4 weeks, and I don't even have the seeds yet. I went to Lowe's this morning, and they have T8 lights reasonably priced. I still might consider them for side lighting, realizing that they will need to be very close to the plants to do any good. I can wait and decide on those later. I will be lining my closet with mylar, very carefully and without wrinkles or rips. I have the book "Marijuana Horticulture" by Jorge Cervantes that I'm just absorbing. The main reason I want to go with LEDs is so I won't have a heat problem. I don't own the house, and can't make vents etc. I will keep very good notes and take lots of pictures.

My biggest concern, that I'm in denial about, is that I may need open heart surgery. I will know on Feb 27th when I have another echo cardiogram. That would certainly delay getting started, but an excellent recovery carrot dangling in front of me!

t5's are better then t8s for growing