Which light bulb is better for veg also for flowering time??

Bosson26

Active Member

• Aug 9, 2010

• #1

i currently got

2 8FT 75 watts 4500 lumens = 9000 lumens total @ 6500k color temperature...


OR

2 8FT 110 watts 8800 lumens = 17600 lumens total @ 4100K color temperature.


in other words im planning on giving it 24/0 lights for a month then switching over to 12/12 for flowering.

i know the more lumens the better for the plant but does the color temperature matters??

 

HomeGrown&Smoked

Active Member

• Aug 9, 2010

• #2

color temperatures help the plant figure out what season it is. when plants are outdoors, the daylight in the veg stage will have a higher color temperature (meaning the sky is "bluer") because it is spring/summer. Once fall gets closer, the sky will lose some color temperature and get towards the red end of spectrum. When growing indoors this is replicated in the veg and flower stage by switching to an hps during flower. This will trick the plant into thinking that it is competing against its neighbors and time, filling out more to try and complete the life cycle. In short, 6500k will be the best bet for veg, and it is recommened you switch to a lower temp setup for flower, but in all honesty you can keep the same blub through the flower stage. Hope that helps, and good luck with the grow!

 

Bosson26

Active Member

• Aug 9, 2010

• #3

yeah it was recommended to go something near the 2,700 for flowering. i only ask because 4100k is in between the 2700 and 6500k temperature and it produce almost TWICE the amount of lumens

 

rzza

Well-Known Member

• Aug 9, 2010

• #4

i think the 4100 would be more for flowering.

im not sure if there would be such a thing as 'neutral' but if there is it may be that ...

 

HomeGrown&Smoked

Active Member

• Aug 9, 2010

• #5

You make a good point Bosson. 20 gallons of regular gas will take you farther than 10 gallons of premium. Honestly, one of the biggest pains in the ass (if you don't have more than one grow area) is taking that first damn light out and putting the second one in. Color temperature will trick the plant into growing different, but the fact is that you will get higher output when you have more lumens per square foot. Is there a big cost difference between the two?

 

sonar

Well-Known Member

• Aug 9, 2010

• #6

Well, I've used both 4200K fluoros (came with the fixtures) and 6500K fluoros with the same watts in the same fixtures and noticed MUCH better vegetative growth with the 6500K. That being said, you have almost double the lumens with the 4100K. Honestly, if it were me, I'd use the 6500K for the first few weeks. For one, seedlings don't really need to be blasted with light for the first week or two and I feel like my plants stretched less and got bushier with the 6500K.

 

Bosson26

Active Member

• Aug 9, 2010

• #7

TWO 75 watts 4500 lumens 6500k 8 feet fluorescent lamp cost $11.98.

TWO 110 watts 8800 lumens 4100k 8 feet fluorescent lamp cost $13.98.

my ballast accept both of them. im thinking about throwing in 4 8FT fluorescent lamp.

 

Bosson26

Active Member

• Aug 9, 2010

• #8

hmm okay. now what about for flowering..

the 4100K 8800 lumens = 17600 lumens total

or

the 3500k 5900 lumens = 11800 lumens total.

 

HomeGrown&Smoked

Active Member

• Aug 9, 2010

• #9

To save money, you could use the 4100K throughout. If money isnt a huge factor, use the 6500K for veg, and the 4100k for flower.

 

Bosson26

Active Member

• Aug 9, 2010

• #10

TO: Sonar

since you use the 4100k before for veg and notice the 6500k does better even when the 4100k has more lumens.. do you think it goes the same for flowering?? 3500k is only (600) below color temperature compare to 4100-6500 (2400 difference)

 

sonar

Well-Known Member

• Aug 9, 2010

• #11

Not too sure about that one man. I'm an outdoor grower, so I only veg my plants indoors for the first month or so and let mother nature do the rest. Although, I believe the general consesus is that 2700K-3200K is what you are looking for during flowering. I think there is a sticky in the CFL sub-forum that explains all the spectrum stuff in detail. The 6500K bulbs were definitely worth the extra $7 a piece for veg though.