Supplementing 400w HPS with CFL's

[PrideOfCucamonga]

I have a few questions about lighting. I am going to be using a 400w HPS light for flowering. I have a bunch of extra CFL's and three T12's laying around. I was thinking about supplementing my HPS with some fluorescent lighting.

Does anyone have an expierence with this. I was thinking about putting them on the side or underneath the plants. Should i just go with the red spectrum or add some blue light in there to mix it up a bit? I can mount the T12's straight to the walls.

Thanks a lot for any help. I would consider this my first real grow now that i am using some good genetics (not bagseed) and a 400w HPS. I am using pro mix soil and the botanicare pure blend series.

PrideOfCucamonga Reviewed by PrideOfCucamonga on 01-23-2008. Supplementing 400w HPS with CFL's I have a few questions about lighting. I am going to be using a 400w HPS light for flowering. I have a bunch of extra CFL's and three T12's laying around. I was thinking about supplementing my HPS with some fluorescent lighting. Does anyone have an expierence with this. I was thinking about putting them on the side or underneath the plants. Should i just go with the red spectrum or add some blue light in there to mix it up a bit? I can mount the T12's straight to the walls. Thanks a lot Rating: 5

[PdoubleOTY]

that would be great! racer or something like that has a sick recirculating DWC grow going with HPS lights and T5 lights and he gets RIDICULOUS growth. the mixture of light is good, resembles day light so yea man, load em up! just keep things cool

[hybridlove420]

id suggest the cool white cfls since the hps should unleash more than enough red-orange spectrum.

also, put the lights midway down the plant so it will reach areas the hps may not be as penetrating at

[Mr. Clandestine]

If you've got the means to wire up the fluorescents, then by all means, your plants will love you for it.

I just recently started adding CFLs to the floor of my growroom. I was just using a 600W MH/HPS, and wanted to get some extra light to the undersides of the branches. I made several independent fixtures using desk lamps with adjustable necks. I took the original 100W bulbs out of the lamp and fitted the socket with three socket extenders each. Four 23W CFLs go into the sockets, and away you go. They're very efficient in that you are able to bend the lamp in the direction that needs light the most. I'm using four of these lamps at the moment, along with a new 1000W system that I just got. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Since I use a switchable MH/HPS system, I decided to go with cool bulbs to supplement the MH, and warm bulbs for the HPS. The plants seemed to fill out a bit better in veg and flower using this method, but I'm still experimenting with it and can't confidently speak of its effectiveness. It definitely doesn't harm the plants...I can attest to that with confidence.

[hybridlove420]

does lighting the bottoms of leaves help? the top is where they convert co2....

[Mr. Clandestine]

does lighting the bottoms of leaves help? the top is where they convert co2....

I illuminate the undersides of the main branches, which gets plenty of light to all of the areas beneath the canopy...including the side-branching and lower fan leaves. I don't do many SCROG grows, and tend to keep all (or most) of my lower branching, especially if the plant hasn't been trained.

And I'm not entirely sure that the plant can't use the undersides of the leaves to photosynthesize light and C02. As far as I can remember, the whole leaf as well as the stems are where C02 and light are synthesized. It may not have the same luster as the tops of the leaves, but does this make it impossible for light to be useful there? Now I'm curious...

[hybridlove420]

ive heard of bottom lighting on the site before, but i cant remember what reception it got.

but its the same idea: get more light into where the primary lamp wont penetrate. it should make your popcorn buds a bit less pathetic hopefully

[Mr. Clandestine]

Nothing about my buds are pathetic...even the "popcorn buds" get you high. Every bit of concentrated light helps in my opinion, especially if you have the means to recirculate the air and keep temps where you want them. Soon I'll be experimenting with C02 again, and may have to remove some of the lights due to heat restrictions. We'll see. The HID is going to be air-cooled, so maybe I'll still be able to use them.

By the way, your posts seem familiar. Have you ever posted here before, possibly under a different name?

[hybridlove420]

oh...im not saying popcorn buds are pathetic, and made no refernence to yours. im just thiking that extra light to them, and maybe theyll stop being "popcorn"....