CFL in 2019

Anybody still use CFL’s?... I decided to make this thread about pure CFL growing whether starting seeds, rooting clones or early vegging I always loved growing with CFL’s cus they are perfect for starting seeds. These little lights are so underrated idk why they hate on em but they have always came thru for me not only do they save power you can also keep em very close almost touching the plant without burning it, keeps nodes tight & close seedlings won’t stretch like with other stronger lights. In my opinion CFL grows better than a t5.. Here’s a few pics of some very nice s1’s that I got goin right now 14 days old All sprouted under 1 single 23w blueCFL they are now currently under 4 mixed spectrum 23w CFL’s

Low wattage LEDs are better than CFLs. More light per watt and it's easily directed towards the plant instead of all around the bulb. If I was trying to replace T5s I'd just use LED strips.

Day1 under single cfl

Psyphish said:

Low wattage LEDs are better than CFLs. More light per watt and it's easily directed towards the plant instead of all around the bulb. If I was trying to replace T5s I'd just use LED strips.

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Yea but how much will those leds cost compared to cheap cfl. I never used led lights before but I’m sure the cfl growth is better than the led when starting seeds

A led bulb with more directional light, more lumens and less wattage than a CFL is cheaper than a CFL bulb in the UK. Roughly £2-3 and cheaper in multi packs. Bought from supermarkets, discount stores etc so easy to come by.
In fact a lot of places here no longer sell CFL, they are dated technology.
I’ve done full grows from seed to harvest with CFL and also led bulbs. Led yields were triple cfl with 2/3 the wattage.

It's not oregano said:

A led bulb with more directional light, more lumens and less wattage than a CFL is cheaper than a CFL bulb in the UK. Roughly £2-3 and cheaper in multi packs. Bought from supermarkets, discount stores etc so easy to come by.
In fact a lot of places here no longer sell CFL, they are dated technology.
I’ve done full grows from seed to harvest with CFL and also led bulbs. Led yields were triple cfl with 2/3 the wattage.

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I never said cfl is better for flowering I’m talking about the beginning stages of growth. And yes they have been outdated tech for the past couple of years you no longer see them at grocery stores or 99cent stores here in the U.S

CFL's are great for starting seeds and for seedlings, they love fluorescent light. I used them for many years before I had my t5's and a lot of other members here did as well. Your plants look good, but In the case of that last picture you posted, you need to have your light closer to the seedlings. There's a couple there that if they stretch any more, they're gonna be "lost in space". Good Luck !!

LemonFuelPinesol said:

I never said cfl is better for flowering I’m talking about the beginning stages of growth. And yes they have been outdated tech for the past couple of years you no longer see them at grocery stores or 99cent stores here in the U.S

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I don't mess with different light sources, I just turn on more LED boards as the plants get bigger. I'd rather not have them stretch for light at any stage of the grow.

Foothills said:

CFL's are great for starting seeds and for seedlings, they love fluorescent light. I used them for many years before I had my t5's and a lot of other members here did as well. Your plants look good, but In the case of that last picture you posted, you need to have your light closer to the seedlings. There's a couple there that if they stretch any more, they're gonna be "lost in space". Good Luck !!

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Thank you, the seedlings are about 1-3 inches away from the lights now they are loving it and they are already beginning to smell I’m getting hints of lemon mango fuel even ashes lol idk if it’s from the CFL’s or just really good genetics.

I still like them when cloning, yet to try led for that.
When they first rolled out the big push for cfl we could buy a 6 pack of 20w for 10p
Now they are £2-4 each. The cheeky bastards

Psyphish said:

I don't mess with different light sources, I just turn on more LED boards as the plants get bigger. I'd rather not have them stretch for light at any stage of the grow.

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Thats true and as long as it works for you that’s all that matters & that’s how I feel about the cfl even tho I switch em out for hps they still do a pretty damn good job for early veg and for cloning. Much respect to the led it has come a long way and is getting better and better as the years go by

coreywebster said:

I still like them when cloning, yet to try led for that.
When they first rolled out the big push for cfl we could buy a 6 pack of 20w for 10p
Now they are £2-4 each. The cheeky bastards

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yes I would see them everywhere in boxes or packs different models different wattage/spectrum would always go to Walmart and look for the brightest bulb the one with the most lumens pack of 10 was like $5

I grew with cfls in the past but have moved on. I'm not gonna tell you not to grow with them but there are better lights around. Just grow what you got with what you got to grow with.

giggywatts said:

I grew with cfls in the past but have moved on. I'm not gonna tell you not to grow with them but there are better lights around. Just grow what you got with what you got to grow with.

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As long as I have these cfl lights I will keep using them for starting seeds, early vegetation, and for cloning anything after that I let my hps handle it with amazing results.

I still use 2-23 watt cfl’s for seedlings, & clones. Sure there’s better lighting out there for this but it’s simple.. I’ve developed a pretty good formula with them, so for now there fine.. I’ve used leds (9-15 watts) but adjusting the height with intensity began to be a challenge... however once these are gone I think I will step my game up

Hempire828 said:

I still use 2-23 watt cfl’s for seedlings, & clones. Sure there’s better lighting out there for this but it’s simple.. I’ve developed a pretty good formula with them, so for now there fine.. I’ve used leds (9-15 watts) but adjusting the height with intensity began to be a challenge... however once these are gone I think I will step my game up

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Right on man glad to hear that. I think CFL is the perfect light for the beginning stages of plants they just grow so nice lush dark green leaves short tight nodes so simple and cheap.. something about that compact fluorescent light plants just love it in veg

LemonFuelPinesol said:

Right on man glad to hear that. I think CFL is the perfect light for the beginning stages of plants they just grow so nice lush dark green leaves short tight nodes so simple and cheap.. something about that compact fluorescent light plants just love it in veg

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I feel you, they do keep nodes tight (6500k)...I can get those close... but when I use 5000k leds.. daylight it doesn’t work right... I can’t get the distances right.. 12, 18 , 24 inches what is it... going just give the flos 2-6 inches and walk away..long as heat is ok.. then once I pulled the globe off the led... glowing too hard, which is good... I just haven’t figured it out....

Hempire828 said:

I feel you, they do keep nodes tight (6500k)...I can get those close... but when I use 5000k leds.. daylight it doesn’t work right... I can’t get the distances right.. 12, 18 , 24 inches what is it... going just give the flos 2-6 inches and walk away..long as heat is ok.. then once I pulled the globe off the led... glowing too hard, which is good... I just haven’t figured it out....

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Exactly I get the same thing when I use a warm cfl the plants prefer the blue spectrum over the rest but once they get a few nodes taller I throw in a warm 2700k in there with the rest being 6500k & they love it

This was a quarter pound of dinafem blue cheese grown with 100w extremely inexpensive dollar store LEDs. I think weve all triesd growing crap with cfls, my first thread 9 years ago was a cfl grow,then budget led, moved on to hps, les/hps, and no running hlg quantum boards and loving it. Regardless you live and learn. Youll need twice as much wattage to get half the penetration that any other light gives off. Also need to keep them extremely close to the plant. Theres really no benefit at all other than the fact you unscrewed it from you lamp in the living room for free (and to be honest thats also up for criticism) . jokes aside, in simple terms, it will grow pot but as you sharpen your sword youll realise the benefits

LemonFuelPinesol said:

Anybody still use CFL’s?... I decided to make this thread about pure CFL growing whether starting seeds, rooting clones or early vegging I always loved growing with CFL’s cus they are perfect for starting seeds. These little lights are so underrated idk why they hate on em but they have always came thru for me not only do they save power you can also keep em very close almost touching the plant without burning it, keeps nodes tight & close seedlings won’t stretch like with other stronger lights. In my opinion CFL grows better than a t5.. Here’s a few pics of some very nice s1’s that I got goin right now 14 days old All sprouted under 1 single 23w blueCFL they are now currently under 4 mixed spectrum 23w CFL’s
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View attachment 4337588

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bro i have seen people out grow cunts with cfls and they paid 300-400 on leds my mate used like 9 cfls and kicked the liven shit out of some led growers