Hi, as it looks like were going to have a shitty summer here in the UK, I think my only option now is to grow using lights. I'm looking towards using CFL lights as it looks cheaper and requires less specialist equipment. Do regular supermarkets or highstreet shops sell CFL lights? I dont really like buying stuff online. Are most "energy saving" lightbulbs CFL's? What watt lights should I be looking for growing 1-2 plants and how many? Will I need certain lights for seedlings and certain lights for flowering plants?
Why does it look like a shitty sumer? how could you predict the environment? CFLs might seem initially cheaper, but with the cost of 400w HPS systems being so low these days, you'll get more bang for your buck this way in the long run. Notice by the time you get all your CFL's rigged up and ready, you could drop over $50... that's over a quarter of the cost of a HPS system...
It's predicted that Britain is going to have a pretty wet and grey summer. I know they can be wrong but from how the weather looks now, getting close to summer, it looks like the prediction is correct. So I think it's best to just do an indoor grow this year.
hope is on the money, your 400w is a lot more cost efficient then cfls and will produce better product then cfls
Look for yourselves. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOJ9GUoxcfQ]Cfl - YouTube[/ame] If I say "OK" one more time.... someone SHOOT me!!!
he is useing 125w cfls not ur wallmart cfls and the cfl is at the same time as the sodi. room if u get a good look at the plant u can tell his hid room will provide much beater crop. the pro growers will use cfls for veg and hps for flower. the bud in the hid room are much biger then the cfls this right here proves that hid light will provide a better heaver harvest.watt for watt hid is beater.
Safeduck: yes "energy saving bulbs" are CFL's. They're usually spiral shaped, with a plastic base, and will list actual watts used and the watts of an equivalent incandescent bulb (this number is to be totally ignored, don't even look at it!). They're everywhere. Hydro shops will probably carry the big ones, but be careful about them as some of them are actually less efficient than their smaller counterparts which totally defeats the purpose. Budsbefree: Ok, that's a pretty cool comparision you've got there. The HPS buds do look a little bigger, ok, but you could probably use more lights in that CFL box for those big girls. The bottoms don't look too well lit, ok? ............OK!
KRL why should there be light from the bottom? AFAIK only the top side of leaves may photosynthesize...
CFL's have a very short range of effectiveness, no matter the wattage. 6 inches into that canopy is about all that's getting any real useful light. Getting good results with CFL's is tricky, especially with big plants like that. You don't really wanna light from below, you wanna light from WITHIN. This is where LST becomes your best friend.
CFL's don't kick ass.. waste of money and electricity. IMO that comparison wasn't too scientific. You're taking two plants. saying they are similar. OK, then you have many other variables that are not similar. Nute strength, the one under HPS looks like it has nitrogen burn. Temperatures would be different. and the distance between bulbs and your plants is too far. IMO there's no fuckin way CFL's will ever compare to HID. thanks for posting any way.... Nice garden!
I didn't say they are better. Where the hell would I put a HID in that cupboard? Nutes, same, temp, same. cloned off same plant. NOT scientific but just a comparison.
Op, if ur only growing a plant or 2 I would go get like 4x40 wtt cfls. They will stay coooool,and veg ur one lil plant perfect. U can put them 1 inch away. Or closer. Then when flowering, add 2 more 4watts. U will have a nice lil plant with some good bud after. If u ever start growing more plants, u will want a HPS for flower. I use 100 watts right now over 16 plants for veg, then move them to 600 watt for flower.