Good CFL wattage for 2 seedlings?

[wonderwall89]

Hey I'm starting my first grow with GHS White Widows here VERY soon - just as soon as I get the right equipment/gameplan for the early stages.

I already have a 36" x 20" x 62" mylar grow tent, 250w mh/hps cooltube, ballast, and bulbs, a 4" activeair 165cfm inline fan, 2 general hydroponics powergrower eco drip systems w/pumps, hydroton, flora nutes (or should I get some foxfarm instead?) and a timer.

The ducting and 6" to 4" reducers for the cooltube, and 2 airstones for the drip system are on their way.

Anyway, what I'd like to know now is what kind of light I should use for just the 2 seedlings (I'm planning a SCROG so I don't need/can't fit any more plants in my tent). Will just 1 be enough? I don't think I need one of those giant fluorescent sets everyone seems to use for their clones.

Also, what size of rockwool (or other medium?) should I use and for how long until transplanting into the powergrowers? I'm a total 'tard when it comes to seedlings, but maybe you can help me with that..

My main concern here really is wattage, and I don't want to overdo it with the 250w MH bulb on the babies.

Any input on this or general advice on this grow would be greatly appreciated!

 

[wonderwall89]

Anyone?? All I really need to know for right now is what kind of CFL to use on the seedlings.

 

[jondamon]

i have 2 different CFL's for different stages of growth of the seedlings.

Initially i use a small 24w T5HO 6400k for the first 10days

Then i use a 200w ECO CFL 6400k for the rest of my veg cycle.




J

 

[wonderwall89]

The thing is I don't have a T5 fixture, so I'm trying to find a non-fixture, socket-only bulb I can use just for seedlings, since I already have a MH 250w 6500k system for vegging.

Would something cheap and small like this work? Mind you this is just for 2 seedlings..

http://www.amazon.com/30-Watt-Spectrum-Warranty-FE-IIS-30W-64K/dp/B003HNIZAE

Or is a T5 like this preferable/worth it for my situation?

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-GrowBright-2-Foot-Single-Lamp-T5-Light.asp

 

[frmrboi]

if your just starting in small pots so that they are close together then a 23 watter 8600 K (with a reflector !) will do.

 

[wonderwall89]

Awesome guys, thanks. So I'll just start them off with a low-wattage daylight CFL on the seedlings for about 10 days, then move them into the hydro drip system on the 250w MH bulb.
Does that sound about right?

Update - I just ordered this 42 watter daylight bulb. I hope it's the right one for the job.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AZOV9K/ref=oss_product

 

[zippythehippy]

seems ok to me its a 6500k so should be ok for veg

 

[tricka]

The thing is I don't have a T5 fixture, so I'm trying to find a non-fixture, socket-only bulb I can use just for seedlings, since I already have a MH 250w 6500k system for vegging.

Would something cheap and small like this work? Mind you this is just for 2 seedlings..

http://www.amazon.com/30-Watt-Spectrum-Warranty-FE-IIS-30W-64K/dp/B003HNIZAE

there should be around 60-90 total watts on cfl's and is good for seedlings then around 100-100+ ...... you get around 25000 lumens for that particular bulb plants need around 7000-10000lumens...get of them in a 3way socket or just two if ya cheap cos they are for only 2 seedlings, that will get ya thru the this stage, just member to keep about 1.5-2" away from top, then they wont stretch

 

[Canon]

I simply love CFLs for starting and early vegging.
To pop the seeds I just use a heating pad and a little 13 w CFL.
When they get about 2" I'll add one more.
By 4 inches I'll be running 4 23 watters. By now they've had a pot change and been culled down to the better 4-6 (occasionally plants for growing.
When they reach around 6-8" and have training fairly well established, they head for the MH/HPS lighting at a distance and the light moves closer over time (hardening - off?).

Smaller grow. Veggie cab about 19" X 15" & up to 12 at a time but for myself only, 8 is enough.
I've as good a luck with this as most do with higher wattage lighting. I hate wasting electricity ($$$).

 

[mike909]

use 2 24w for now

 

[wonderwall89]

I just got my 42w daylight CFL today. Will that be enough to carry me through the first 10 days before I switch to the 250w MH?

I'm expecting 1.5" and 4" rockwool cubes tomorrow, and will immediately plant my seeds into the 1.5"s as they've been germinating for 48 hours and have popped successfully.

So, my understanding of the order is this (correct me if I'm off and/or missing something):

- I start off with the 1.5" cubes until the roots really start to show, at which point I insert them into the 4" cubes - using the 42w CFL throughout
- Approx. 10 days after the initial insertion into the 1.5" cubes, the seedlings are now ready for transplanting into my hydroton net pot
- At this point I switch to the 250w MH and start up the air pump/nute feed through the powergrower ecos