Grow Light Help..

[Purge]

alright so im starting my second grow, and i need to get some lights(or a light?). im thinking 3 or 4 plants. theyll be in a box to start with. its about 3 feet deep, a foot and a half wide, and 2 and a half feet long. so what should i get? any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Zandor]

If you are only starting in a box then what is the long-term plan? A light you buy for a small box may not be good for a larger area. Think about the big plan and the future before you spend your hard earned money on lights that are only good for small areas.

Cheep lights like CFL are good to start with in small spaces not too much heat and the cost is not bad either.

[Purge]

is CFL a brand a or type of light? im not to familiar with lights. i used sunlight for my first grow. also what wattage should i use?

[sugarmagnolia]

we need some help dude. Box aint gonna do the job the whole veg cycle. U can properly start seeds but then they will all stretch out.

Go to Home Depot for your vegetative lighting. Buy a bunch of 150 watt CFL (compact flourecant lights). You can get em each for around 10 bucks at Home Depot. No heat so they will be good for your box.

I got a 250 watt HPS system from insidesun.com. Works nicely and only cost in the 90 buck range after shipping and chains and shit like that.

You got any closets that no one sees or is hidden, because if you plan on growing 3-4 plants you will quickly outgrow the box.

what strain?

[Purge]

yeah im gunna move them out of the box into the hidden closet when they mature enough, its just more conveinyent to keep em all in the box at first. but im willing to spend a decent amount of money on a lighting system. are you saying i should get the CFLs for the vegative stage, and then an HPS system for the flowering stage?

[Zandor]

A HPS with a growlux bulb will do both. FYI

Just watch the heat and keep the temperature down.

[unmeg]

HID means heat,better have a why to displace it.Exhaust is important.

[Purge]

A HPS with a growlux bulb will do both. FYI

Just watch the heat and keep the temperature down.

thanks, how many watts should it be though?

[Zandor]

That depends on the size of the final area of growing and how many plants you want to grow. With a HPS light you will need to spend money of a blower to force air in from the outside, through the light and back out the room. So keep that in mind when you make your purchase. There is more then just a light and bulb type to consider. A good blower will cost anywhere between 100-250 fyi.

[Purge]

ill be growing in a box that is:3 feet deep, a foot and a half wide, and 2 and a half feet long. prolly 2 plants. perhaps just one. how many watts would i need for something like that? and i blower isnt a problem, ill just use a few CPU fans.

[Zandor]

Computer fans are not even close to a blower. In a space like that just use the CFL with your computer fans and save the heat and trouble.

[Purge]

will i still get a good yeild with the CFLs? and im able to use them for vege cycle AND for flowering cycle? also how many should i get? by the way thanks so much for all the help everyone!

[HARDDON]

will i still get a good yeild with the CFLs? and im able to use them for vege cycle AND for flowering cycle? also how many should i get? by the way thanks so much for all the help everyone!

1. What do you consider to be a good yield?
2. Yes, but barely.
3. All you can. At least a true 500W total.

[Purge]

at least an ounce or 2 for a yeild, is that realistic? and what do you mean barely able to use them for both cycles?

[HARDDON]

CFL's are awesum....probably the best way to do an indoor grow up to 45 days. Better than MH if you ask me.

But when it comes flower time....things change.

There are special 2700K CFL's on the market....but....you need to keep them inches from the plant surface and thats almost impossible to when flower time rolls around.

You will get all kinds of buds with CFL in flower....but they wont be the tight, dense had packed buds you might get with an HPS.

You still need to deal with your fan / exhaust issues with CFL as well as any other lighting....

Yes an ounce or two for a plant is fine but it really depends on how much do you want to harvest....if you;re happy with an ounce or two,........then yes you can do it.

If you intend to CFL the whole trip, you will need about 2 of the 125W 6500K bulbs....for veg and 3 125W 2700K bulbs....per plant.

[Purge]

wait so 2 125 watt 6500k bulbs for veg? and 3 125 2700k bulbs for flowering?

[HARDDON]

wait so 2 125 watt 6500k bulbs for veg? and 3 125 2700k bulbs for flowering?


Yes.

[outlaw immortal]

if you're growing in such a small area you might want to consider growing a few "lowryder" plants. they grow up to 1 or 1.5 feet. but don't expect a massive yield. you could probably use CFL's with it and it'd grow well.

[Nochowderforyou]

You will need that extra boost for flowering. That's why Hard-On suggested an extra light or so. Without that extra boost, things will move pretty slow. I use 100W of CFL's for vegging, and a 150hps for flowering. Just that extra 50W's and different light spectrum doubles my yeilds easily. Good luck!

[Purge]

alright thanks everyone, youve all been of great help. the germinated seeds are going in the soil today : )