New to CFL growing

[HateHeaven]

I recently found out about compact fluorescent growing. I had a few questions if anyone could help me out :rastasmoke:

At the moment I have two 42watts with 2700 lumens each in homemade growbox, and was wondering when it would be necessary to get a few more. The box is around 3 feet tall and about 1 x 1.7 feet.

Also my plants are about 4 days old and I wanted some opinions on how they look.

HateHeaven Reviewed by HateHeaven on 12-13-2007. New to CFL growing I recently found out about compact fluorescent growing. I had a few questions if anyone could help me out :rastasmoke: At the moment I have two 42watts with 2700 lumens each in homemade growbox, and was wondering when it would be necessary to get a few more. The box is around 3 feet tall and about 1 x 1.7 feet. Also my plants are about 4 days old and I wanted some opinions on how they look. Rating: 5

[Atkeni]

Looking very sexy

i think the conventional wisdom is 2500 lumens sq/ft minimum for a full plant, so you'll probably be fine for the next couple of weeks with what you have- once they hit 6-8 inches tall, you'll want to switch for sure.

[HateHeaven]

The strain is Super Silver Haze. How many more lights do you think I should add when they are bigger? Think I could get away with 4 more, so I would end up with six 42watt CFL's

[Balkey]

As far as I know, higher Kelvins is better for Veg, Lower Kelvins better for flower. Different light spectrum's. Either way, your plants will grow, just not to the potential especially using CFLs.

I could be wrong about the Kelvins, so don't quote me on it, but I believe I am right. But lumens isn't the only important thing when using CFL's. I have a CFL grow going right now and they seem to like my higher kelvin rating (6500k). Your cfls should be 2 or so inches away from your plant, literally.

Pictures of your grow box would help as well to determine how effective your 2 42watters are. As well as pictures, one would probably say your plants are far too deep in the cups too. Although your probably going to transplant sometime to larger pots, I hope, you should let the soil sit for a day or 2 to let it settle down, or water it thoroughly to allow the soil to settle down. Before you add the seeds or plants, once it is settled, add more soil so the top of the soil is much closer to the top of the rim of the container.

[HateHeaven]

The soil seemed to go down a bit. It was fairly close to the rim, but I suppose it could have been loose when i planted the seed.

Here is a picture of the space I am working with at the moment. I am in the process of making a better looking box for the flowering.

[Balkey]

Well, the one CFL is correct (on its side) but the other one hanging is wrong, well, not as efficient. CFL's emit most of its light from the side so the one hanging isn't as efficient then the one on its side. Looks like your playing checkers with these babies!!! haha.

BUT, either those are a higher kelvin rating bulbs or an all spectrum bulb, which is what you want for Veg, although I could be wrong, do some research on it, I have found conflicting results on which Kelvin rating is better but for the most part it looks like you have it right.

Whats your kelvin rating? I would guess in the 4-6500k range.

[HateHeaven]

Alright, well I will try and figure out a way to make the one that is hanging sit like the other one. Hahaha, the checker board was to insure that the bottom was flat. The box I was working with wasn't very flat. But as for Kelvin rating, I looked online and couldn't find a thing. The boxes they came in only had watts and lumen output. I couldn't find a single thing on if it was 6500k or 2700k. I know the bulbs have 2700 lumens, that has nothing to do with 2700k, right?

[Balkey]

If your hanging the one bulb by its cord because you are running out of room, you can go to lowes or HD, they sell stand alone light bulb sockets. And might allow you to mount that second bulb on its side like the other one. ALSO, as the plants grow, will you be able to adjust the lights heights?

[HateHeaven]

I can raise both very easily. I was thinking within the next couple weeks to look for an adapter that allows you to plug in two CFL's into one socket.

[Balkey]

yeah lumens and Kelvins are different things. Lumens from my knowledge is the amount of light output for the bulb and Kelvins is the light spectrum or color of light.