please help me im planning to grow 4 plants in a cupboard with two 3foot floros 30 watts each i have 2 or 3 cfls that i can add aswell but they are only 20 watt but it says they output 100 watts of light thing is when i add them i cant even see the difference would adding these make a difference? and is this enough light for veg? im probably only going to use these lights to veg and get some better ones for flowering but could i use this lighting setup to flower aswell or would i need more? im going to use JOHN INNES SEED COMPOST to start then repot into JOHN INNES No.2 i was wondering if i should add peralite and/or vermiculite if so should i add it when i start with seeds or when i repot and how much any help is much appreciated thanks
There are a lot of variables that you haven't addressed. Are the tubes just regular shop light type fluorescents? Also, what type of CFLs are they? Daylight, Bright White, Soft White...etc. The spectrum of the lights (IMO) is the most important factor. Color temperature is not an accurate indicator of a lamp being suitable for growing plants. You want bulbs that produce light in the blue (400-450 nm) and the red (600-675 nm) spectrum.
thanks OldSkool1010 on the fluorescent it just says white on the cfl it says 230 -240v~ 50-60Hz B22 BC 15000h 1200 lumen 140mA the colour that comes from it looks sort of yellowish probably day light its not white like the floro thats for sure i just found them around the house
thanks SmknVTEC i was planning to germinate them in watter or something then add them to the soil but im not sure if i should use vermiculite and peralite and how much anyone know if the cfl's will be ok?
Germinate them between paper towel like Stylez sticky says. You can go 1/3 soil 1/3 perlite 1/3 vermiculite. Or if soil has good drainage maybe 2/3 soil the other third perlite and vermiculite. Your choice. Get all the CFL bulbs in there that you can.