I went to the hardware store today, and the maximum cfl bulb i could find was only 23w, and it was 27k.. I germinated a seed several days ago and i am certain it will die if i dont get it in some soil soon. Im gonna stick it in the soil soon so but i guess i cant expect much on that light?
the recommended color for seedlings is blue light. Look for 4100k+ CFL's prefereably 6500k, minimum 23 watts.. 27 watt CFL's are much better and the minimum IMO you can ask the hardware store to order it ask them for 140w 6500k cfl if possible. If you can get some t8 tubes that's a start. Tubes can also be used to sprout all kinds of plants, many of which cost next to free and can accelerate your grow to higher success than you could other wise. T-5's are better, keeping in mind a 4' 4 tube t8 fixture can cost over $60 and the 4' 4 tube T-5's cost around 90. The high output t-5's are a great economic advantage, esecially compared to high output t-8's. home depot sometimes has sales on 2 tube t-8 fixtures, they are around $11
I agree with you about the color. I use 100w (5000k) cfl's for seedlings and then when they are the size I want them (usually about 4 weeks), then I pot em' and put them under 2700k on an 18-6 until budding time. When dealing with CFL's I have found that you have to get high lumens for a good grow.
i know, i looked all around the store and there was no fixtures for fluroscent lights at all so unless i know about cutting wires and shit thats not an option. This is a firt grow so im just gonna stick with cfl's for now, My only question is can i start of my eedlings on the puny light that ive got or should i order these and wait for them to arive: http://www.ebay.ie/itm/200635592974?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
Everything I own for my grow came from Home-depot. I found my lights there too. Depending how many plants you are growing will determine how many lumens you will need. Since I'm doing three, on two of them I'm using about 15,000 lumens. I found my 200w (these are 2700k) (x2) at Wal-mart and Picked up the 150w (also 2700k) at Home-depot. Spent roughly $40 on it all.
The lumen count on the pic with the two plants are roughly around 10,000+ and the other one is around 8000 lumens. I have 3 100w (5000k) one the one plant and 2 200w (3500k) under the hood and 2 150w (3500k) on each side in shop lights (the clip kind). The 200w bulbs I found at wal-mart and Home-depot had the 150w for around $10 for a two pack. the 200w cost me about $17 each. But I'm going back to Home-depot for the 300w bulbs the carry for around $20 each.
Sorry i made an error. The bulbs that I'm running are 2700k and the lumen count for these bulbs is over 25,000 lumens.
Okay, i found this near me Elektrox Dual CFL bulb Time is of the esscence here since ill be moving out of my house at the end of may. So what do you think of that one, id rather get the 125w since its the cheapest but will it finish my 2 plants in time?
get the 200 -250. You will have get your lumens up high. The higher the better. When I was researching the how-to's, once thing became very clear. There is no such thing as too many lumens. But personally I would go for the 250. The 250's is was looking at was around 20,000 lumens.
i know theres no such thing as to much light, but money is an issue here. higher watt means higher start and running costs. The only way id get it is if it was the only way to finish on time. Please someone reply soon, i want to get the bus in the next two hours!
Sorry about the mix up. With what I'm running in lights I'm spending about $35 extra in electric. That is why I'm staying with CFL's. But if you can get a couple of the 200-250 that should be plenty.
The correct watts for the cfl's that I'm running are 55w (200w equivalent) x2, and 43w (150w equivalent) x2.
thanks for the help devildog, i got that 125w bulb, but you wouldnt believe the trouble i had getting a fitting for it, took me two full days searching around town asking in every electrical shop i saw, finally an electrical suppliers i never heard of on the outskirts of the city had a fitting, plug, and cable. I had to wire it myself but it wasnt too bad. But now i have only 65days to get these from start to finish, I started germinating two two days ago but they havent popped out of their shells preoperly yet, i placed them in the pots anyway but im guessing there no point in light until they pot their head from the soil?
No they will sprout when they want to and when they do keep them on an 18-6 cycle for about 7-12 week and then switch to a 12/12. They are going to grow like crazy. Please be sure to post some pics.
they are autoflowers so 24h all the way! but i have to wait for them to sprout? Shit i could have done that while i was waiting for this light!...