Ok Im on my first grow and had a couple questions. I have 4 plants and am using a 105 watt cfl. I have a 42 watt cfl sittin around so do you think I should put that in there to? Will it make that much of a difference? And my second question, about how many weeks in is it good to top? Does this increase yield? Thanks for all the help once again!
First thing you should do is get a lot more light. 105w cfl is not even really enough for one small plant let alone 4. You'll need to get more light if you ever want your plants to live long enough to top. And yes topping, will increase your yield, if the plant has the right conditions to live.
I read once that with 2000 lumens a plant ill be able to grow. The 105 watt cfl puts out 6900 lumens and the 42 watter puts out 2700 lumens. If I was working and not collecting unemployment I would probably buy an hps light. These lights will just have to work for now.
Why did you even ask the question about lighting, if you are set on using the 2 cfls? You could find a small HPS light for under a hundred bucks, or at least go out and by some more cfls.
It sounds like those are high wattage CFLs you're talking about, quoting true watts. That 105w is a little skimpy for 4 plants (for example a 250w MH would be good for 4 plants and outputs about 20,000 lumens) so I would definitely add the 42w. Fatbob, I believe you are thinking that the 105w is equivalent watts, which would be only about 25-30 true watts, but in this case Bong's 105w light would be OK for 1-2 plants.
I see what you're saying toasty, my first post was worded poorly I guess. The point was still clear I thought. I was just suggesting bong get a small HPS light instead of the CFL. That was it. As for the wattage and lumen output though, do you really trust the manufacturers ratings on those things? They say 6,900 lumens, from everything I've read about them just now it is highly unlikely you could get 6,900 lumens from the light to your plants. Even if that number isn't exagerated you would still have to have an efficient setup to make the most out of the light it does produce. (i.e. Reflector on light, size and reflectivity of the grow area.) None of this was stated in the original post. If those factors are not taken into consideration in this dilema, then the grow could easily be losing 10-30% of the light being emitted. Bong take all this info into consideration when you read this, as well as this next part....... Do not ever send me another harrasing/ disrespectful PM on this forum again. You asked for an opinion, and I tried to help you, as many people have helped me so far. If you don't want my opinion, don't ask for it in the first place, and also keep in mind that I have fowarded your message to the proper people, instead of sending you an equally low message in return.......