What's the minimum wattage I can use to veg a motherplant? I was hoping I wouldn't have to buy another hps bulb and a ballast. (ballast is like $60+) and I'm on a budget. Could I get by on a few cfls plugged into the wall?
I discovered a small HPS light on the outside of my garage. After some research, I learned these little light setups are quite common. I removed it ( it has its own ballast) and the bypassed the photo sensor and that little sucker really puts out some lumens. i mounted it in the closet with a little mylar on the side walls and I am going to be putting my mother in there. You can buy these light setups at all home improvement stores. usually they are sold as security lighting or exterior lighting. Cheap and bright!
You got a hps with its own ballast? How strong is it? I'm intrigued... Been wanting to get a hps set up
Vegging a mother I would recommend T-5 fluorescent with cfls on the sides. Keeps heat very low and in my experience grows the best as well because the lights are so close to the plant without any adverse effect that HPS would inflict. Edit: the fluoros also use a lot less energy.
here's an old mother of mine with just 2x 20watt CFLs, I had her for a couple years, I never had any problems from using 40watts on her
[quote name='"jetski"']here's an old mother of mine with just 2x 20watt CFLs, I had her for a couple years, I never had any problems from using 40watts on her [/quote] Impressive, did you ever flower her?
yes I did, I'll have a look for a photo, I did a ScrOG with her... she was part of a ongoing breeding project of mine that stood out. she is descended from AK47, northern lights, skunk #1, and bubblegum. the bud was truly amazing. I don't have a name as I have so many more traits to lock down I believe that it was on 24/0
[quote name='"jetski"']I got 3 oz from her from just a single 125w CFL. I was very happy with that [/quote] That's quite impressive from such a small watt. Gives me some hope for my little apartment How big is that grow box?
the mother plant box is 1 x 1ft and 3 or 4ft high the box that i flowered it in is 2 x 1.5ft i think, and 4ft high i got a lot from it but it had a seriously long veg time, it wouldnt be economical to do that every time
[quote name='"jetski"']the mother plant box is 1 x 1ft and 3 or 4ft high the box that i flowered it in is 2 x 1.5ft i think, and 4ft high i got a lot from it but it had a seriously long veg time, it wouldnt be economical to do that every time[/quote] Probaby not economic lol, but I was asking because my to be grow space is similar, but I might just say f'ck it, and buy a mylar grow tent and pop it up in the closet. Trying to be stealthy, and get big plants, is seemingly tough aha
personally, if i was gonna keep a mother, i'd use a metal halide, and not a hps, which is used for flowering. and jetski, very nice/healthy looking mom! anyone wanting to keep a mother, should copy jet-ski's method. he obviously knows what he's doing!