what's best for 3 plants?

ibsippin

Active Member
What's up dudes,

I was just curious, I have 3 baby plants on 4 6500k 13w cfls. Now I'm told that's not enough watts. What's best for 3 plants?
 

Hugo Phurst

Well-Known Member
Rule of thumb for CFL's - At least, 100W (real) for 1 plant, and an additional (minimum) 50W for every extra plant. 3plants = (min) 200W. I use(d) a mixed spectrum of light, at a 3 to 1 ratio of 6500k / 3000k for veg and the other way round for flower.

I found CFL's quite good for veg, but the buds turned out a bit light compared to HPS.

Oh, use good soil, something that says something like "professional growing substrate".
Water, you need good water. I'm a recent convert to reverse osmosis water, fixed all my problems, so no more tap water for my girls.

Have fun
 

lilroach

Well-Known Member
Baby plants do not need a ton of light. You could grow a plant up to 12" with just one CFL if you wanted. What'll happen is that you'll end up burning your plant if you put a bunch of CFL's over a baby plant.

If you have the funds, get yourself a 4-bulb 2' T5HO for about $100. Home Depot has 'em online and has free delivery (comes with the right veg bulbs to boot). The plants love this light as I've vegged probably 100 plants over 2 years under one.
 

ibsippin

Active Member
Baby plants do not need a ton of light. You could grow a plant up to 12" with just one CFL if you wanted. What'll happen is that you'll end up burning your plant if you put a bunch of CFL's over a baby plant.

If you have the funds, get yourself a 4-bulb 2' T5HO for about $100. Home Depot has 'em online and has free delivery (comes with the right veg bulbs to boot). The plants love this light as I've vegged probably 100 plants over 2 years under one.
You're a badass dude... thanks a lot !!
 

ibsippin

Active Member
Rule of thumb for CFL's - At least, 100W (real) for 1 plant, and an additional (minimum) 50W for every extra plant. 3plants = (min) 200W. I use(d) a mixed spectrum of light, at a 3 to 1 ratio of 6500k / 3000k for veg and the other way round for flower.

I found CFL's quite good for veg, but the buds turned out a bit light compared to HPS.

Oh, use good soil, something that says something like "professional growing substrate".
Water, you need good water. I'm a recent convert to reverse osmosis water, fixed all my problems, so no more tap water for my girls.

Have fun
Yo, thank a lot dude... with the info you and lilroach gave me I think I'm set.I got some organic soil... and 6-6-6 fertilizer, I heard that's cool with some growers for both veg and flowering. Im going to look into the 100w cfl like you said and let another 3 50w.... this is my first crop, once I get the hang of it and my green house comes in I'll be able to plant more and then I'll invest into the T5 like lilroach advised... thanks guys
 
Top