lighting

I have three plants in flowering for a month or so now. I'm using a MH 250 Watt and a 150 watt compact flouresent. Would it be worth the 70+ bucks to get a 250 watt HPS replacement bulb for these plants, The compact fl is 6500 degrees Kelvin

Med ...

If your plants can stand the heat, spend the extra bucks on a 430 HPS. The difference between a 250 HPS and a 430 HPS is huge.

Vi

Yes, heat would be a huge issue as i'm having all I can do with the setup I have now keeping it under 90 degrees. Would the HPS make that much difference in the 250Watt range or should I just keep my 70+ bucks and apply it to the aero garden I'm gonna do next time? Thanks Vi, as long as we don't argue politics, I guess we'll get along fine. I'm not thick skinned enough for political bull anyway, And since this election is over, Whats the point? Maybe in a couple years, If I'm still breathin, I'll get fired up again.

I would say stick with what you have, if you cannot upgrade to higher wattage. Conversion lamps put out fewer lumens than the one they are replacing.

Med ...

If it were me, I'd go with a 250 HPS all the way through the grow. That's for vegging and flowering. I originally had a 250 watt convertable ballast and used an MH for vegging and a sodium for flowering. For the money, the HPS is the way to go, IMHO. One bulb ... 50% less cost, plus the plants won't know the difference.

Vi