CFL lighting question

I have looked around and found conflicting answers so I am going to just ask ....

I have about 3 plants a week into growing. I had been using the wrong lights. I have now changed to CFL's.

So my question is this ... for 3 plants (bagseed) is one 42W cool white CFL & two 23W daylight bulbs enough for growing?

I plan on adding a 150W HPS during flowering in addition to the CFL's. Is that okay?

if ur planning on adding it to flower u may as well add it now. more light the better.

and what u got is enough for a little bit but when the plants get bigger you should get another 42w or a couple more 23w.

I've seen two plants in a computer case with one 23 Watt CFL, and they grew.
But, bottom line, the more CFLS, the better!

JGroove said:

I have looked around and found conflicting answers so I am going to just ask ....

I have about 3 plants a week into growing. I had been using the wrong lights. I have now changed to CFL's.

So my question is this ... for 3 plants (bagseed) is one 42W cool white CFL & two 23W daylight bulbs enough for growing?

I plan on adding a 150W HPS during flowering in addition to the CFL's. Is that okay?

Click to expand...

Its enough for growing 1 plant, I would up the wattage to 6x42watters or add the HPS. Make sure you keep temps under control. They will grow Ok with the setup you have, but very quickly will outgrow that amount of light and will need more to stay healthy.

Thanks for all the advice.

I will up the CFL's to 3 of the 42W & go ahead and order the HPS.

At Lowes or Walmart or Home Depot, you can buy a Y Spliter. It is shaped like a Y and holds two bulbs. You screw the Y spliter into the socket that you normally screw the bulb into. That way, you can use two 42 watt bulbs in a small tight space with only one reflector.

Roseman said:

At Lowes or Walmart or Home Depot, you can buy a Y Spliter. It is shaped like a Y and holds two bulbs. You screw the Y spliter into the socket that you normally screw the bulb into. That way, you can use two 42 watt bulbs in a small tight space with only one reflector.

Click to expand...

how much are splitters?

Roseman said:

At Lowes or Walmart or Home Depot, you can buy a Y Spliter. It is shaped like a Y and holds two bulbs. You screw the Y spliter into the socket that you normally screw the bulb into. That way, you can use two 42 watt bulbs in a small tight space with only one reflector.

Click to expand...

i screwed a Y splitter into the light socket...then i plugged 2 Y splitters into that one Y splitter...so now i run 4 bulbs on one socket!! holla at ya boy

splitters are like $2.50-$3.50...but i had some already


smoke sum bitch

dumb question alert....

I'm trying to wrap my brain around the lighting thing, as I can see I'm going to have to move my outdoor getup indoors.

I've read up on everything I can regarding CFLs. I've finally figured out what bulbs I need, my question is, what kind of lamp can you use? Does it have to be a special kind of light socket, or would any old household lamp, with the right bulb in it, work?

if one goes out and buys all these fancy CFLs, are they also going to have to buy special lamps to put them in? That's one of the only things I haven't found explained on these forums.

CFL's just plug into any standard screw type or bayonet type socket. They are made for todays lighting anywhere you would use a regular incandescent bulb.

Sweet, thanks. That definitely makes me feel better.

Yeah Home Depot did not have the Y-Socket. Going to Lowe's to get two of them. I have one 42W soft white, 2x27 daylight going now on a 2x2 area. I am going to add 2 more 42W and 2 more 27W. Once I start flowering (hoping for females) I will be updating to all 42W's.

Look for a REFLECTOR for $9 to $10 eachat Lowes, Walmart or Home Depot.

where can i buy these from on there own? ive looked at places i would of though would do them but cant find anything!

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you can find everything u need at walmart and its less expensive.. for the type of light fixture u have pictured you will need to buy 2 piece and put it together very simple...you need the cord part with a plug on the end.. annd then the socket itself and then a y splitter if u like. for all 3 its only about 4 dollars hope that helps!

make sure that during veg you get the 6500K color spectrum lights. Most 42watters are in the 2700K spectrum(good for flowering but not so good at veg). Get about 3 or 4 23w 6500K bulbs/plant and you should be better than fine!

GL with ur grow!!!!

{Kottonmouth.King} said:

make sure that during veg you get the 6500K color spectrum lights. Most 42watters are in the 2700K spectrum(good for flowering but not so good at veg). Get about 3 or 4 23w 6500K bulbs/plant and you should be better than fine!

GL with ur grow!!!!

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Yeah the 42Watters are 2700K. the 27Watter daylights are higher in the spectrum (I believe 5600K). Thanks for the info man. Keep on keepin' on ....

JGroove said:

Yeah Home Depot did not have the Y-Socket. Going to Lowe's to get two of them. I have one 42W soft white, 2x27 daylight going now on a 2x2 area. I am going to add 2 more 42W and 2 more 27W. Once I start flowering (hoping for females) I will be updating to all 42W's.

Click to expand...

walmart has these Y sockets too. $1 each here. I have at least a dozen by now.