What kind of lights to veg for a few weeks?

Im planning on starting my plants in april when my freind goes away and allows me to use his shed im vegging about 20 plants for about a month and a bit what kind of lights do you guys suggest i use??

id say get a 1000 watt metal halide mabye 400 watt if its a small shed

well it all depends on how tall the plants will be.. you could use floros if they arn't massive.. an you could put 4 plants per 4' stip of floros.. then you need 5 sets of 2 light fixtures and it will cost less to run then the 1000watt and aalso produce alot less heat..

What about cfls? Im looking to spend as little money as possible but will that be enough for the plants when theyre bigger after vegging for about a month?

well the 4" floro's would be enough then buy 6 fixtures so they will have enough space to grow.. the cfl's will cost more then the floro tubes will because you would need soo many of them.. i've tried that.. plus you need alot of fixtures and alot of cfl's to veg 20 plants for a month.. just spring for 5-6 floro fixtures with the bulbs.. i personally think it will be cheeper for you in the long run..

yeah that makes sense thanks!

no prob happy to help.. good luck

Assuming you're transplanting.... If you start them in 16 oz cups for the first month you can get away with packing 20 under two 42w(actualy) CFLs get the model that says Daylight on the package.

While you're at the hardware store, pick up some more materials so you can build yourself one of these to hang them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs_QRorECvo

$30 for 5600 lumens & fixture. Not bad.

hahahaha wtf now im confused i dont know what to do

I agree with Highwayman, fluoro shop lights are cheap and easy and good enough for a month of veg. Use 6500 k tubes, the more lumens the better. Look for HO tubes if you can find them cheap.

i guess itll come down to how much money im willing to spend

yeah why try to sqeeze all you plants under a couple of cfl's when you have the choice to give them more space to grow.. the way i look at growing is the same as a good friend if you take care of them 1st they will always take care of you when you need them..

Because he's only looking at one month?

24 plants under four 26w CFLs = 104 watts(1 bulb/6 plants). Under two 42 watt CFLs = 84 watts(one for every 12). Both work. Seen it myself. After 6" tall though(which should be hit around a month) is right where you'd want to get more light(like outdoors).

The thing about fluoros is they grow bushy plants with tight nodes. HPS would stretch them. MH(and HPS) would just be wasting electricity.

yeah exactly just keep them right on top of the plant..

i'm a huge noob, but when you veg for the first months with those cfl's you leave them on 24/7 right?

yeah or you could leave them on 18/6 but you'll get more growth with 24/0 (kept on all the time) for what differance a few cfl's makes to you light bill it's not very much for a few more hours..

i gt 3 clones under a 45 w an a 25 w 6500 cfl..... i keep them on 24/7.....