Cheapest, effective lighting solution.

[Markass]

I'm looking for some kind of fluorescent bulb to go into a clamp light that will provide nice natural light...suggestions?

[TxRooster97]

Try your local Wal-Mart or other mega-mart. They have some nice 35W CFL bulbs that replace the 135W regular bulbs. They will fit into normal household bulb fittings. These babies put out some real nice light. We found ours that were 2000 lumens and 6500K, perfect for seedlings and getting started. They were about 8-9 dollars each. Also try your local hardware stores, too. Good luck to you!

Peace

Tha Rooster

[Markass]

@ 1700 lumens and 6000k would be sufficient for the entire growth of the plant?

[hoodrider]

Not really unless the plant was short. The intensity deminshes very very quickly the farther you move from a bulb, its worse with fluoro's than with HID lights. The thickness of the brush and the hight simply would not allow 1 single light to produce decent bud.

I honestly have to say you should invest in something better (ie 150+ watt HPS or a 100 watt T5) It makes a huge difference. They would both pay themselves back after the first or second grow.

[Markass]

http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/26w_powercompact_65_prd1.htm

I've read to keep the fluorescent about three inches from tops of plants and should be good, correct?

[hoodrider]

Correct, but one light still will not do it for the entire cycle...

The amount of money spent on fluorescent bulbs and electricity to even compare closely to a HID system is alot. Just think 4 of those bulbs wouldn't even put out as much like as a 100-150 watt HPS, not to mention it's not in a good spectrum range compared to an HPS bulb.

[Markass]

I'm not looking really for great growing I guess...This is my first time growing, and I'm just looking to get an idea of the life of the plants I would say...just kind of like a trial run to see how it goes without putting much effort.


About eight or nine days from seed...

[Markass]

Growing just fine with 13w CFL. Going to get a couple of fluorescent tubes by the time that the plants get bigger..

11 days:

[BLaQLiGhT]

You only have one 13 watt cfl? thats not going to be good enoguh to complete the grow. You will need atleast 1 30watt cfl @ 6500K ($8 ) and two 42watt warm white light cfl @ 2700K ( $10/each ). Then you will not have to worry about anything growing slow. At 11 days, your plant should be bigger then that. You can keep the 13watter but it can't really do anything on it's own...

[Markass]

"Going to get a couple of fluorescent tubes by the time that the plants get bigger.."

[slowthestone]

You only have one 13 watt cfl? thats not going to be good enoguh to complete the grow. You will need atleast 1 30watt cfl @ 6500K ($8 ) and two 42watt warm white light cfl @ 2700K ( $10/each ). Then you will not have to worry about anything growing slow. At 11 days, your plant should be bigger then that. You can keep the 13watter but it can't really do anything on it's own...


Hey Blaq...the costs of 6500Ks has come down. I recently picked up a two pack of GE 6500s for less than $7...costs less and has higher lumens than the lights of america models I've got.



"Going to get a couple of fluorescent tubes by the time that the plants get bigger.."

How many plants? I ask because, though tubes are nice and cool....nice and affordable...they cast off a lot of light that doesnt find it's way to the plant. 2', 3' , 4' tubes...unless ya have a nice wall of green sucking in the light, you've got gaps of space being lit up with nothing underneath it.

Stick with CFLs till you've learned more, and have more plant volume available for utilizing as much of a tube's light as can be had. If anything, in the long run, at least you can take a CFL and stick it in a normal socket somewheres around the home.

[slowthestone]

Hey Blaq...the costs of 6500Ks has come down. I recently picked up a two pack of GE 6500s for less than $7...costs less and has higher lumens than the lights of america models I've got.

Should add...more lumens, same wattage.