SCROG/CFL lighting

I am filling a 2x4ft screen with one plant and am using CFL's placed about 2 inches from the trained canopy. Currently I am running 12-26 watt CFL's @6500K for veg.
I plan on upgrading the lights to 18 - 26watt CFL's (9-3000K and 9-6500K) for a mixed spectrum for flowering. I did the math and the total lumen output for the 18 bulb setup would be 28,800 lumens. Figure in my square footage (8sq. ft.) and it equals out to 3600L/1sq.ft. I know the optimum goal is for 5000L/1sq.ft. But is this desired amount for freestanding plants that require canopy penetration?
Also, does this factor in the inverse square law?
Will I be able to get any dense buds with this limited lighting with my scrog setup? Remember, I have my light fixture only 2-4 inches away from the even canopy.

What should I expect?:jointsmile:

FYI- I will be upgrading to a 400watt hps after this grow.
Any seasoned CFLer's/SCROGer's out there?

we're waiting... please? anyone?

ahm 18 cfls for 1 plant? isnt that abit too much for 1 girl? like i mean she will love it but i think you could put 1 more plant in there and yeild x2

I wish I had 3 more plants under the CFL sun but I had a mishap with my first trial and was only left with one clone from my favorite plant. So its all up to her. Doing the math I believe I am still short on the lighting for a good flower, or am I?

I think the question is how you get 8 square feet of space out of one plant. Even screened, you shouldn't be taking up that much room. If it were me, and I had only one plant and--I'm guessing here--you have some sort of height issue in your cabinet, I'd LST. For one plant, 12 26 watt bulbs is overkill unless it's a monster plant for an indoor grow (as in 5 ft. +). A "normal" indoor plant that's 2.5 to 3.5 feet high can be flowered quite well with 4 or 5 26 watt CFLs. A plant that size usually takes up about 15" x 15" of space...that's about 1.5 sq. ft., more or less.

Anyway, I'd like to hear some more details. How long has you plant been in veg? How tall is it now? I'm just trying to picture a single indoor plant taking up eight square feet of space....

The plant is sitting under the center of the screen and has so far filled a 2x3 foot space. The height of the plant (pot-to screen) is around 8 inches with around 5 main branches helping to fill the screen. I actually plan on starting flowering in about 3 days. The light setup I have is a 6-socket vanity light with Y-splitters running the length of the screen providing even, intense lighting. As for how long in veg. well I think I took the clone early September so I figure 5 weeks on the veg time.

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Originally Posted by jdsoil

I am filling a 2x4ft screen with one plant and am using CFL's placed about 2 inches from the trained canopy. Currently I am running 12-26 watt CFL's @6500K for veg.
I plan on upgrading the lights to 18 - 26watt CFL's (9-3000K and 9-6500K) for a mixed spectrum for flowering. I did the math and the total lumen output for the 18 bulb setup would be 28,800 lumens. Figure in my square footage (8sq. ft.) and it equals out to 3600L/1sq.ft. I know the optimum goal is for 5000L/1sq.ft. But is this desired amount for freestanding plants that require canopy penetration?
Also, does this factor in the inverse square law?
Will I be able to get any dense buds with this limited lighting with my scrog setup? Remember, I have my light fixture only 2-4 inches away from the even canopy.

What should I expect?:jointsmile:

FYI- I will be upgrading to a 400watt hps after this grow.
Any seasoned CFLer's/SCROGer's out there?

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in answer to your most important question, i'd say very definately yes, you will
get some very nice buds.

the only suggestion i'd make at this point is to remind you that your plants
need both red and blue light during all stages of life. so adding some 2700K
bulbs to your vegging period would be a good thing.
and when you flower, make it about a 3 to 1 ratio, red to blue.

come check out my garden, you can see some buds of mine that came from
CFL's only.