Lights and young seedlings...

[TheMetal1]

Is it sufficient to have 3 x 26w 6500k CFL's and 1 x 26w 2700k CFL for (two) week old seedlings? It is a combined 6500 lumens in a 2.5 sq. foot cab. I had read that at that stage it isn't great to blast them with maximum lighting. I have a bunch more to wire up and I want to utilize them as soon as neccessary. As usual, any input is greatly appreciated. :thumbsup:

TheMetal1 Reviewed by TheMetal1 on 05-28-2008. Lights and young seedlings... Is it sufficient to have 3 x 26w 6500k CFL's and 1 x 26w 2700k CFL for (two) week old seedlings? It is a combined 6500 lumens in a 2.5 sq. foot cab. I had read that at that stage it isn't great to blast them with maximum lighting. I have a bunch more to wire up and I want to utilize them as soon as neccessary. As usual, any input is greatly appreciated. :thumbsup: Rating: 5

[texas grass]

on seedlings and clones you only need 10-25 wats of cfl/floro lighting

its next to impossible to over do lighting with cfl/floros

keep tops of plant from touching the bulbs

good luck hookin up the rest of the lights

[justanotherbozo]

seedlings need almost no light, as texas grass says, 10 - 25 watts is all that is needed (and thats not 10x25 for a total of 250 watts, that's 10 watts - 25 watts)(what you are using isn't too much, just not needed)

in this case, less really is more as, if you reduce the amount of light now, you can move the bulb much closer which will help minimize seedling stretch

anyway, that's my understanding

[TheMetal1]

That makes sense. These CFL's run so cool that temperature isn't really a problem at the moment, and I am able to get the bulbs
~1-2" away. They definitely aren't stretching for any light. They actually haven't grown vertically in days. Horizontal growth is steady though. One is looking fairly pale green with yellowing, the other is cute as a button. I rushed into things and used some pre-fert'd potting soil. I think flushing is needed once the last watering dries. I wish I had just waited a week. The Sticky's around here are enough to bring you seed to harvest, basically holding your hand the entire time. Sweeeeeeet! :thumbsup: Oh well... thank the holiest one for bagseed. Haha keep :jointsmile:

[TheMetal1]

Just looking to get some more info out of an old thread. Is there a way to tell when the plants are ready for additional lighting? I seem to recall that past the 4-5 node range they are considered to be immature plants in the vegetative state, which makes me think that this would be when to boost the lighting. Any info is appreciated.

Oh, and no these aren't the same seedlings from my initial thread posting. Pre-ferted soil was wayyyy too spicy!

Stay and Keep :jointsmile:

[FrostAie]

move outside?

[dodohead]

i only had 2 26 watter's on my first grow till about the 4th week, it worked fine.

[justanotherbozo]

Just looking to get some more info out of an old thread. Is there a way to tell when the plants are ready for additional lighting? I seem to recall that past the 4-5 node range they are considered to be immature plants in the vegetative state, which makes me think that this would be when to boost the lighting. Any info is appreciated.

Oh, and no these aren't the same seedlings from my initial thread posting. Pre-ferted soil was wayyyy too spicy!

Stay and Keep :jointsmile:

lol, yeah, if they have 4 - 5 nodes then they are definately more than ready for more light (i actually start adding additional light once i see the seedlings are firmly established, usually by the third set of leaves)

and i agree with you, if someone is willing to do the research, there isn't a method or a problem that isn't or hasn't been discussed here at this forum

lol, and yeah, most people that grow in dirt stay away from the pre-ferted stuff, prefering to mix there own recipes instead.
it's the only way you are in control of what your plants are exposed to