CFLs vs MH for Vegetating

I have read a lot about HPS (High Pressure Sodium) lights being better for the flowering stage, and am pretty much convinced that is the way to go. There is evidence from growers on here (RIU) that CFLs (Compact Florescent Lights) can produce some nice plants and decent yields for the entire grow cycle. Okay, with that said, it seems that many experienced growers that swear by HPS for flowering use CFLs for vegetating their plants. Are CFLs (6500k spectrum) better than MH (Metal Halide) for vegetating, or is it just personal preference???

I am asking because I plan to buy a HID lamp and was wondering if it would be worth the extra money to get one that is switchable (uses HPS and MH bulbs) Thanks

Oops, that 2700k should have read 6500k, I know better than that.

Well, CFLs should do you just fine, but MH will definitely speed the process up for you.

I use MH/HPS. Each has their own ballast and hood and whatnot, but if you got a lumatek digital ballast and nice hood, you can save alot of dough by just switching bulbs when the time comes for flowering.

I would assume that better than CFL would be the T5 fluorescent lights. And I would also assume they are good for control purposes in that since the growth rate is (from what I am told) slower, then you can have better control of your rotation, if you are in a recurrent cycle.

Just my 2cents.

chck this out https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/412794-diy-cfl-light-8-x.html#post5381036

this light goes just as fast if not faster the MH in my opinion, its all about reflecting the wasted light with cfl's, when done right they work great!

I only use cfl(250w and maybe a 150w plug and grow) for my veg and switch to a 600watter hps for flower,,,I wont use cfls for flower again after first with cfls was kicked hands down by the 2nd grow crop under the hps. it is crazy how much of a diff i have seen,,,thats my exp with both cfl's and hps so far.. cfl just dont seem to supercharge the buds like a hps dose...

take it easy,,,

MsBBB said:

. Are CFLs (2700k spectrum) better than MH (Metal Halide) for vegetating

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probably unless you have a 6500 K MH bulb, then it will blow the CFLs away.
Most people just have a standard MH (4000 K) a very poor grow light.

I use T5 & MH & here's why. The T5 is ideal for seedlings because u can have them literally right on top of the pots until sprouted & then always under 2 inches from the tops. At this stage they r ideal to keep stems short & prevent stretch. As well, MH is a strong light & ur tender seedlings really don't need all that & u will have more stretch as u can't get them as close. And even though I successfully use my T5 54 watt one bulb system through week #3, vegging longer requires more lumens/light so that's when & why I switch to the MH until flower & then go to HPS.


BTW: my nice little T5 system is from Hydrofarm, got it off Amazon for $50 shipped, & I love it. You can fit 10 party cups underneath it comfortably. I run a 400 watt interchangeable nextgen ballast with MH/HPS bulbs respectively after the first 3 weeks.

frmrboi said:

probably unless you have a 6500 K MH bulb, then it will blow the CFLs away.
Most people just have a standard MH (4000 K) a very poor grow light.

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you should be vegging with 6500k cfl, its not on the chart!

solarguy said:

you should be vegging with 6500k cfl, its not on the chart!

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it's an old chart, nobody used cfls back then.The OP question was a 2700 K over standard MH.