First grow room, CFL lighting question

Hey all,
New to the boards, and plan on posting a whole lot here as this site provides a TON of useful information and has many knowledgeable and experienced growers.

Now I am going to begin a grow in my closet, simply 1 or 2 plants just for personal smoke. I just don't have the money any more to keep buying top shit from people.

I have a closet here the grow space is about 3 x 5 x 5. It is one of those make shift metal racks to hang clothes on etc etc. I am going to be using CFL lights because I am worried about heat/power consumption and having it draw attention to me. Here's the lighting question - Should I use many low-watt CFL's or less of higher wattage CFL's.

ie; should I use 6-7 23w cfl's for veg or 4-5 42w cfl's? I assume higher wattage = brighter light = bigger/jucier buds?

Also I plan on having one main CFL light bulb in a ballast a top my plant at all times, and 2 on each side of the plant free floating in some power cords with mogul sockets. Will I get much better results using a ballast or can I just have all my lights hanging there by mogul sockets? The ballast is a little expensive but will definitly get it if it will increase yield/health of plant.

When I gather all the materials I am going to start a grow journal and throw up some pictures, but right now this is all a work in progress. Lights are the first priority and am a little stuck on which ones to go for...I know its 6500k for vegitative and 2700k for flowering (correct?) so its more about wattage/lumens and how many lights I am going to require.

Thanks in advanced guys, happy blazin :eyesmoke:
 

trichlone fiend

New Member
...man, you should invest in (at the minimum) a 250watt HPS if your going to take this serious.....heat shouldn't be an issue if your pulling fresh air into your room.

...In order to get some nice buds you'd have to put that many watts of cfl's anyhow...and it won't cost that much to run.
 
It is all done on your budget. I have 6 6400K 26w for my cabinet its only for my clones and seedlings. But if i were you and your going to stick to cfl in this closet. I would get yourself a small t-5 high output light they sell them in single sticks 2 or 4 ft. Or you could get a 2 foot four bulb light for the tops and hang your cfls 2700K for flowering of course on the sides as you wanted.
 
thanks for the responses I think I am going to check out home depot and decide. was also looking at this 150w sun system on amazon looked decent! also would you use nutrients with an all organic soil mix?
 
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