Lumens or Spectrum?

[shauze]

Ok, here's the deal. I plan on growing three plants in a small CFL cab. Right now I have eight 42 watt CFL's at the 2700k spectrum (20800 lumens total). I was planning on using these for my entire grow, but I have been reading that the red spectrum is no good for vegging, and that I should use the blue spectrum. My only problem is that the stores in my area don't carry 42 watt CFLs in the higher spectrums, so I would have to resort to lower wattage to get the blue spectrum. We're talking about 20 something watts putting out like 1700 lumens each. Would it be more benificial for vegging to go out and get 8 of the lower wattage blue lights, sacrificing more lumens for better spectrum, or keep the 42 watters and trade off spectrum for lumens? Maybe a mix of both?


Cliffs:

20800 lumens at 2700k or 13600 lumens at 6500k for vegging?

[kindprincess]

you CAN veg with those, but 6500k is best. if you aren't short on cash, pick up a double 48" flourecent fixture (about ten bucks) and two ge daylight tubes (lowes, 6500k, 3050 lum ea) these bulbs are "cool". the plants can litterally touch the bulb with no burning at all. this fix will get your three plants all the way through veg. you'll end up swearing by flouro's, lol

kp

[shauze]

Thanks for the advice kindprincess, but the reason I was leaning towards the CFLs is because I already have the fixtures up and wired, and I don't think I could fit a 48 incher in there. Would the blue spectrum CFL's be just as good? I have 8 sockets wired up, do you think it would be best to put the lower wattage blue bulbs in all of them, or maybe use a few of the 42's just for the extra lumens?

[kindprincess]

if cfl's are your only option, i'd keep the warm spec ones and add two 40+w cool cfl's (lowes) they are called "daylight" and are 6500k. course, you could use a two foot flourecent...

kp

[shauze]

So you think I should just put replace two of the 2700k bulbs with 6500k ones? Or I was thinking maybe four to even it out a little? I just don't have much experience with how the different spectrums affect growth.