Growing with T12 fluoro - ideas/comments

[khronik]

I'm just starting my second grow, of 5 big bud plants, and I had some ideas and questions regarding it. Anyway:

I have some space in my attic, where I can put some lights and plants, so I'm planning on growing there. Unfortunately it gets up to 95 degrees in the hottest part of the day. Since hemp is a tropical plant, I'm guessing even if this is less than ideal, the heat won't kill it. Am I right? Also, I was planning to time it so that the lights were off from 11 am to 5 pm (the hot part of the day).

In order to make the heat less of a problem, I'm planning on using T12 fluorescent tubes. I have two 48" shop lights already, with a set of cool white tubes in each of them. (25 watts, 4100K light, 1860 lumens each, 4 tubes total) I'm planning on getting another light with a set of 40-watt tubes that i can switch between GE daylight and GE bath and kitchen depending on whether they're vegetating or flowering. Are these 25-watt tubes worth using for both flowering and vegetation, since they're between the other two types as far as spectrum? I was planning on having 4 lights and putting one of each in each fixture.

Also, I thought this next part was a really great idea on my part, but maybe it's not. I got a 36" long window box that holds about a cubic foot of dirt, and all my plants are in it, spaced about 6-7" apart. I figure this way, the roots can overlap some, and get stronger with less total dirt. Also, the shape and size of the window box is perfect for using those long fluoro tubes.

After figuring it out, it's probably cheaper to get CFLs, except with CFLs, you can't change the spectrum as easily. But I already started with two lamps, so the way i'm planning on doing it is probably cheaper. The tubes are about $10 for two 40-watts at wal-mart, i don't suppose they're cheaper elsewhere?

So, any suggestions?

[stinkyattic]

Well that's a long Q but here's a short A!

Your attic is not viable to grow as the enzymatic processes of cannabis start to break down at 95 degrees, and growth stops much sooner. If there is a window up there and you can add AC, then we can talk lol.... Even WITH AC running from April 1st until October, I STILL have battles with heat in my attic and occasionally lose weak plants to heat-related ailments.

As for t12 flouros, by all means!!!! I love shop lights personally. In fact Ilike them more than CFLs since they burn so cool. For flowering you will have to find something else [hps!!!!] but you can veg under a bank of 4 t12 tubes VERY nicely. Demeter's beautiful garden is a fine example of plants that were vegged under tube flouros.. but she's in the cellar and has IDEAL temps at all times. That will make all the difference in the world!!!!

[freewheelinfrank]

you can flower under T12s, get the Kitchen & Bath (red spectrum), BUT, your buds will tend to be light and fluffy - to get the dense tight buds, and good yield, you are better off with the HPS sodiums (like Stinky suggested) - BUT, if your budget is tight, the fluoros will suffice, until you get a sodium - I grew for 30 years under fluorescent tubes, gradually working up to 12 tubes - that's a lotta weight to move around - but, then, I finally switched to a 400 watt HPS, and it was a BIG improvement - :smokin:

[khronik]

Thank you very much for responding!

I think I will go ahead and run this batch with fluoros, because i am on a tight budget, but i was looking at some of these hps/mh lamps, and they look really nice! Maybe if this batch comes out nice, i will sell some of it to my friends and then i can fund a new light system.

I am thinking of building a little grow area in the basement, but there is a friend of mine living down there who isn't supposed to know about it. So if I did get one of those good lights, it'd probably have to be a digital one so it wouldn't make so much noise. Venting might be a problem too, i don't know.

[khronik]

oh, one more question: my choices are either, grow in the attic, with all that heat, or grow under this 40-inch high bench. (about a meter for you european/canadian guys) I'm wondering if that would be enough space for them.
Thanks for your help, and I will let you know how it goes! :)