Lighting

[big_bud]

Hi guys, ive never grown cannabis before but really want to, lighting is probably the thing i dont really know about much, ive read through the threads on here but still need help.
I want to grow a maximum of 3 plants but but dont want to spend alot of money on equipment cause im a bit low on funds. I live in the U.K and need to know what to buy and where from, i plan on growing 'northern lights' so if you can advise any lighting pattern that would suit it best.
Thanks alot guys

big_bud Reviewed by big_bud on 07-25-2007. Lighting Hi guys, ive never grown cannabis before but really want to, lighting is probably the thing i dont really know about much, ive read through the threads on here but still need help. I want to grow a maximum of 3 plants but but dont want to spend alot of money on equipment cause im a bit low on funds. I live in the U.K and need to know what to buy and where from, i plan on growing 'northern lights' so if you can advise any lighting pattern that would suit it best. Thanks alot guys Rating: 5

[psteve]

Ideally, you want 50 to 100 Watts of HID light (HPS or MH) per square foot of floor space in your grow room.

[big_bud]

ok now where would i get that from? can i used any kind of light? e.g basic light bulbs? how much would the lighting you quoted cost?

[psteve]

ok now where would i get that from? can i used any kind of light? e.g basic light bulbs? how much would the lighting you quoted cost?

No, you can't use basic light bulbs and grow good bud.
You can grow with Compact Fluorescent bulbs, but the best weed is grown with High Pressure Sodium, or Metal Halide bulbs, ideally a mixture of both.
Compact fluorescent lighting is cheap to buy and cheap to run, but you won't get the big dense buds.
HID is more expensive, but worth it.
I don't know what UK prices are for HID lighting, but I'm sure you can find basic prices online.

[khronik]

I wrote a lot about cheap lighting in the guide at the top of this section. A nice system for you might be to start off with compact fluorescents. Get at least 26 watts, and try and get one per plant. You can add more later if you want. Try and get them with a bluer spectrum if possible, this makes your plants grow greener and less spindly. Anyway, while you're vegetating your plants, try and save up for a high-pressure sodium light, probably a 250-watt or 400-watt model.

I have no idea what one of these lights costs in the UK, or where someone would get one, but a HPS light will pay for itself in improved yields, and you're best off getting one.

With fluorescent lights for vegetation and HPS for flowering, you can have two crops going at once, which will also give you more bud.