How many CFL's for 9 plants?

So I have 9 plants flowering under eleven
26 watt 2700K CFL's. Actually 2 of the 11 CFLs are 6500K for some blue in there. So about 300 watts total. I am using "Expert" nutrient potting soil from wal-mart. Also using Expert All purpose food. its like eh 35-10-18 or something close to that. I only feed nutes about every week if that. And also I barely mix half a tablespoon with a gallon, "past history of nute burn". Back to the question, how much CFL wattage should I aim for growing 9 plants?

jockhorror87 said:

So I have 9 plants flowering under eleven
26 watt 2700K CFL's. Actually 2 of the 11 CFLs are 6500K for some blue in there. So about 300 watts total. I am using "Expert" nutrient potting soil from wal-mart. Also using Expert All purpose food. its like eh 35-10-18 or something close to that. I only feed nutes about every week if that. And also I barely mix half a tablespoon with a gallon, "past history of nute burn". Back to the question, how much CFL wattage should I aim for growing 9 plants?

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honestly you possibly could get away with it but with cfls the more the better for exmple i use 8 cfls in and a ufo in my homebox xs which is 2x2x4 very small but getting as many is good i would say if you could get 2 cfls for each that would be a safe bet but 3 would be reall nice for some extra penetration to the plants bottom but remember these plants are very funny and react all sorts of crazy ways no one has heard only thing is the less lights the longer it will take to finish more lights equals quicker so why not

legendarybc said:

honestly you possibly could get away with it but with cfls the more the better for exmple i use 8 cfls in and a ufo in my homebox xs which is 2x2x4 very small but getting as many is good i would say if you could get 2 cfls for each that would be a safe bet but 3 would be reall nice for some extra penetration to the plants bottom but remember these plants are very funny and react all sorts of crazy ways no one has heard only thing is the less lights the longer it will take to finish more lights equals quicker so why not

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I should have put the dimensions up as well, I think its around 2x3x6, I am going to add some 42 watt CFL's to the mix so i dont have to add any more fixtures. and appreciate the input. mainly trying to keep this a cheap grow.

You have to get more.And bigger, if you can.You want to surround those puppies.I'd say each plant could probably take six or eight of those little 26 watt lights a piece and still want more.Here are some bigger bulbs as an example...they do get expensive.http://www.1000bulbs.com/65-Watt-Compact-Fluorescents/39147/I found some like it at the local hardware store, I'm sure lowes might have them if you don't want to order online.Get some of these and you won't have to buy 800 little bulbs.Or, you could just get an actual HID grow light if your budget allows.Keep in mind that you'll have to cool it.http://www.htgsupply.com/growlightsubcategories.asp?categoryID=1

jockhorror87 said:

So I have 9 plants flowering under eleven
26 watt 2700K CFL's. Actually 2 of the 11 CFLs are 6500K for some blue in there. So about 300 watts total. I am using "Expert" nutrient potting soil from wal-mart. Also using Expert All purpose food. its like eh 35-10-18 or something close to that. I only feed nutes about every week if that. And also I barely mix half a tablespoon with a gallon, "past history of nute burn". Back to the question, how much CFL wattage should I aim for growing 9 plants?

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Stoney McFried said:

You have to get more.And bigger, if you can.You want to surround those puppies.I'd say each plant could probably take six or eight of those little 26 watt lights a piece and still want more.Here are some bigger bulbs as an example...they do get expensive.http://www.1000bulbs.com/65-Watt-Compact-Fluorescents/39147/I found some like it at the local hardware store, I'm sure lowes might have them if you don't want to order online.Get some of these and you won't have to buy 800 little bulbs.Or, you could just get an actual HID grow light if your budget allows.Keep in mind that you'll have to cool it.http://www.htgsupply.com/growlightsubcategories.asp?categoryID=1

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you will soon see that keeping cheap is fine but eventually your going to want to invest more for better yields an ease of convience i love growing now and i dont even look at it as wasting cash i mean think about your friends when you show them taht shit there going to be so fucking jealous and think your mad smart haha its great id say keep rocking cfls less heat equal no serious ventilation system and what not which is where the real money starts coming into play

legendarybc said:

you will soon see that keeping cheap is fine but eventually your going to want to invest more for better yields an ease of convience i love growing now and i dont even look at it as wasting cash i mean think about your friends when you show them taht shit there going to be so fucking jealous and think your mad smart haha its great id say keep rocking cfls less heat equal no serious ventilation system and what not which is where the real money starts coming into play

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you have a good point. I was actually looking into getting maybe a 150 watt HPS to put overhead for canopy lighting and place all the cfls in the dark spots

i would at least replace every 23 watt with a 42 watt cfl 23=1200 lumens 42=2600 lumens . that would help. i had the same problem but changed all my 23 watt cfls to 42 watters and got allmost dubble the yeild the next time . just a thought

the best result you will have with 400watt sylvania HPS gro-lux!!! it has 55.000 lumen and you can put all 9plants under! big buds!!! and electro bill is 5$/month! very cheep!!!!

TONYJEJO said:

the best result you will have with 400watt sylvania HPS gro-lux!!! it has 55.000 lumen and you can put all 9plants under! big buds!!! and electro bill is 5$/month! very cheep!!!!

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I am using 12 23w CFL's for 6 plants in veg but I will flower with a 400 HPS

Rippey

I agree, cfl's are a cheap way to go.I personally have noticed that with enough CFL's, at least in my grow area,it can get pretty darn warm.

legendarybc said:

you will soon see that keeping cheap is fine but eventually your going to want to invest more for better yields an ease of convience i love growing now and i dont even look at it as wasting cash i mean think about your friends when you show them taht shit there going to be so fucking jealous and think your mad smart haha its great id say keep rocking cfls less heat equal no serious ventilation system and what not which is where the real money starts coming into play

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9 plants grown under CFL'S? This is a joke right??

OK, let me set it straight (from my experience). I have 20 23W CFL's that cost me $.50 each! With all of them on, my grow area (4'x3'x5'-6") reaches 93 degrees F tops. With 1 small oscillating fan on @ medium, the temps get down to 76 degrees F during light. I ONLY used 2700K, my grow is BEAUTIFUL. I have made my own reflectors out of pans from the dolla stoe as well as a couple made from sap sheet metal. My next grow will be veg w/CFL and flower w/HPS. Only because I got such a great deal on the HPS, though! If there are ANY more CFL questions, I have studied EXHAUSTIVELY, so please feel free to ask!

SOorganic said:

9 plants grown under CFL'S? This is a joke right??

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Why? Look @ my grow, thats 8 right there. Where's the joke?!?