first CFL grow

AutumnsRedTears · Jan 30, 2009

started them today. i used bagseeds from different high grade batches, germinated them and picked three. threw them in some cups, about 6 inches tall and 3 inches wide (don't have money for pots until about 5 or 6 days from now), i had them sitting by a window for the past 5 or so days, 2 of the three popped up through the soil.
tonight i got some clamp lights but i only had money for 2 clamps and 2 lights, they are 23 watts each, but i can not remember what K they are (oops). i have the lights hanging about 3 inches above all three plants, and they are no longer by the window.
the soil is some bag soil that i found.

any pointers, suggestions, or help would be awesome.

also, i have a budget of only 20 - 25 bucks a week.

AutumnsRedTears · Jan 30, 2009

also, i think the bulbs are 1200 lumens.

the420 apprentice · Jan 30, 2009

wow that some budget growing. ok i have a few ideas i would find me a box of some kind a cardboard one or anything else. maybe a fish aquarium some thing u can get free or cheap. about 3 feetsq is good now with a cardboard box u can line it with foil or buy an emergency blanket and use that. now u need more lights add them when u can get a small fan to put in the box now get some root starter for early growth and some shultz 10-16-10 and a timer and something for temp and humidty. cheap and it will smoke good. stress more lights more more. oh and cut holes in box for moving air out. and get ph tester for water and soil there cheap.

Purp... · Jan 30, 2009

Are the lights an orange/reddish color, or are a they a bright white? If it's orange/reddish its the 2700k lights, and you'd want the bright white (6500k) lights for vegging. You should be okay with two bulbs for now but after about another week or two you'll prob want at least 4 or more so they won't stretch too much.

AutumnsRedTears · Jan 31, 2009

Purp... said:
Are the lights an orange/reddish color, or are a they a bright white? If it's orange/reddish its the 2700k lights, and you'd want the bright white (6500k) lights for vegging. You should be okay with two bulbs for now but after about another week or two you'll prob want at least 4 or more so they won't stretch too much.

the lights are definently a bright white color., so i assume they are 4000 k plus

i figure in about 5 to 10 days i can get 3 y splitters, another clamp and add four more lights, sound good? all of the light will be 23's mostly because they are very cheap and from what i have read, they are good enough.

i'll get pictures next weekend hopefully.

the lights should be on 24/7 right? and that isn't dangerous as far electrical stuff goes, right?

AutumnsRedTears · Jan 31, 2009

the420 apprentice said:
wow that some budget growing. ok i have a few ideas i would find me a box of some kind a cardboard one or anything else. maybe a fish aquarium some thing u can get free or cheap. about 3 feetsq is good now with a cardboard box u can line it with foil or buy an emergency blanket and use that. now u need more lights add them when u can get a small fan to put in the box now get some root starter for early growth and some shultz 10-16-10 and a timer and something for temp and humidty. cheap and it will smoke good. stress more lights more more. oh and cut holes in box for moving air out. and get ph tester for water and soil there cheap.

i've heard aluminum foil can cause burns though?

Purp... · Jan 31, 2009

Don't use aluminum foil. It creates hot spots, and also does not reflect light that well. Either paint your walls white, get mylar, or you could use christmas wrapping paper (the white side or if you can get the shiny silver wrap). Hopefully your lights are the 6500k bulbs, bc I've heard that plants can't really use light from the 4000k-5500k spectrum bulbs. I've got 12 23 watt bulbs on my 2 girls at the moment, but 4 should suffice for you right now.

Those sockets shouldn't be dangerous if hooked up correctly.

Also about the 24/7 light cycle, some people do that and it works, but IMO 18/6 is more ideal since the sun isn't really up 24/7. I've also experimented and found that my girls in 6 hours of dark grew faster than my girls with no dark period.

AutumnsRedTears · Feb 1, 2009

Purp... said:
Don't use aluminum foil. It creates hot spots, and also does not reflect light that well. Either paint your walls white, get mylar, or you could use christmas wrapping paper (the white side or if you can get the shiny silver wrap). Hopefully your lights are the 6500k bulbs, bc I've heard that plants can't really use light from the 4000k-5500k spectrum bulbs. I've got 12 23 watt bulbs on my 2 girls at the moment, but 4 should suffice for you right now.

Those sockets shouldn't be dangerous if hooked up correctly.

Also about the 24/7 light cycle, some people do that and it works, but IMO 18/6 is more ideal since the sun isn't really up 24/7. I've also experimented and found that my girls in 6 hours of dark grew faster than my girls with no dark period.

yeah, the bulbs are 6500 i found the package they came in.

i don't know what myler is, or where to get it (i also haven't googled it yet either though.) but i read were somebody mentioned emergency blankets for light reflecting? for 2 or 3 dollars? any info on that?

i have a timer, but it will be 3 or 4 days before i can plug it up to change it to 18/6, they will be fine until then, right?

jo0810 · Feb 1, 2009

AutumnsRedTears said:
yeah, the bulbs are 6500 i found the package they came in.

i don't know what myler is, or where to get it (i also haven't googled it yet either though.) but i read were somebody mentioned emergency blankets for light reflecting? for 2 or 3 dollars? any info on that?

i have a timer, but it will be 3 or 4 days before i can plug it up to change it to 18/6, they will be fine until then, right?

Myler, you dont need it for now.in time and money .white paint is free ask a friend or a family member for white paint.a pint is good for a small grow 3x3 or smaller.Save YOUR MONEY FOR MORE LIGHTS AND NUTS. 6500k is great for vegging and 2700k is good for flwring. keep them about 1 to 2" from the plant .put your hand on your baby if the lite warms your hand its to close.move the lite up a bit. light on for 18 on 6 off.0 lite for those 6hrs.do this 3 to 4 weeks or til your baby is 6 to 11 inchs. :-o

the420 apprentice · Feb 1, 2009

ok yes white paint will work great and no i dont think foil creates hot spots unless u dont have air moving around. you never did mention what ur growing in. my list was for something cheap until u could improve in time.it worked for me in the early stages of growth and emergencey blanket is made of mylar the reflective ones u can find them at sporting good stores.

AutumnsRedTears · Feb 2, 2009

the420 apprentice said:
ok yes white paint will work great and no i dont think foil creates hot spots unless u dont have air moving around. you never did mention what ur growing in. my list was for something cheap until u could improve in time.it worked for me in the early stages of growth and emergencey blanket is made of mylar the reflective ones u can find them at sporting good stores.

it's an attic, but kind of a weird attic, sort of like a side attic with a slanted ceiling that goes from 1 foot tall to 5 feet. the shorter part (1 - 3 feet) is about 8 feet long and 3 feet wide, the taller part is about 5 feet long and 3 feet wide.

i've been thinking from what you guys have told me and other threads i read, because for the price it seems like my best option: to get the BIG uhaul boxes that are like 4ft tall and 3 x 3. paint the insides white (i think i have about half a gallon somewhere.), and use computer fans ( http://www.xoxide.com/yate-loon-highspeed-120.html there are ones that are 99cents around here) that can be plugged up by cutting cords from old phone chargers, put 4, 2 on opposite sides of the box for good airflow, this would work good, yes?

the420 apprentice · Feb 2, 2009

great idea going to use those fans myself thanks

first CFL grow

AutumnsRedTears

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AutumnsRedTears

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the420 apprentice

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Purp...

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AutumnsRedTears

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AutumnsRedTears

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Purp...

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AutumnsRedTears

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jo0810

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the420 apprentice

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