Need advice on lighting please.

[Zompton]

I am going to be building a grow box to grow 5 white widow plants and was wondering if the following light would be good enough?

Fluorescent Grow Light Fixtures - Model PLD24WS-C

If those are not good enough would the following lights be good enough? I dont mind spending the extra money for the 4ft light, but it will require me to build a much larger box than i would like...

Fluorescent Grow Light Fixtures - Model PLD44WS-C

I am looking to spend around $150 max for the lighting to grow 5 plants, if anyone has a better deal to make this happen please let me know.

(side question, whats the smallest box i can make for 5 plants? height isnt much of an issue but length and width are)

Zompton Reviewed by Zompton on 10-06-2009. Need advice on lighting please. I am going to be building a grow box to grow 5 white widow plants and was wondering if the following light would be good enough? Fluorescent Grow Light Fixtures - Model PLD24WS-C If those are not good enough would the following lights be good enough? I dont mind spending the extra money for the 4ft light, but it will require me to build a much larger box than i would like... Fluorescent Grow Light Fixtures - Model PLD44WS-C I am looking to spend around $150 max for the lighting to Rating: 5

[Zompton]

I also found this deel through posts in these forums;

High Tech Garden Supply

My sister (she grows orchids a lot) suggested the other links, but i need some bud growers opinions please.

[DreadedHermie]

Nope.

I dunno what those are designed for. Displaying plants, maybe. Sure not for growing.

Wider lamp spacing maximizes light distribution.

Yep. Also minimizes intensity. 2-4 foot shoplights from HomeDepot will give you better results, just cause the spacing's better. They don't even tell ya what type or color these tubes are. At 20/40watts, they're prolly the obsolete t-12's.


But are these vegging color, or bloom color? (moot point, these won't work for bloom because of that dumbass wide spacing.)

4 foot lamps give you more than double the light of 2 footers. Often the 4 footers are cheaper, too, cause they're more common.

The only reason to use 2 footers is if that's all that'll fit. (IMO)

All you need for vegging is some 5500-6500K fluoros. Bloom is something else. Need more power. HTH, Hermie

[Zompton]

Well i plan to grow 5 plants in as small a space as possible, what lights will do this for around $150? Any link to purchase would be greatly appreciated, and sorry for noobness...

[DreadedHermie]

Whoops, didn't see ya writin'.

My answer was directed at the lamps in the first post.

The Sylverstar's are t5 lamps. Pretty expensive to replace the tubes here in the States, but with the 3000K bloom bulbs you can flower short plants if you keep them close to the tubes. You can veg with pretty much anything, as long as it's a "blue enough" wavelength.

Those are a MUCH wiser choice, at that price point.

I use the HOPO specials for veg, though. Spend my $$ on bloom lights. :thumbsup: Hermie

[DreadedHermie]

Hey, we keep typing at the same time...

You need different type bulbs for the two phases of plant growth, yes?

Blue-ish --5500-6500K-- for veg

Red-ish --- 2700-3000K for flower, like in the Sylverstar ad.

What are you using this light for? Both? (You can, if you switch the bulbs...)

[Zompton]

Ok, so if i use this lighting ill be good?

High Tech Garden Supply

I want to grow 5 plants in as small of a box as possible. I dont plan to have multiple rooms for different stages, just want to grow around 5 plants in one box at a time.

[Zompton]

lol ya

Right now i have nothing but a few seeds shipping as we speak. I want to build a single room to grow around 5 plants, and my "lighting budget" is $150, can i not use the same bulbs for all cycles?

[DreadedHermie]

Well i plan to grow 5 plants in as small a space as possible

That statement has no meaning to Hermie.

You can grow fine herb on a 14" tall stick. Check Oldmac's posts to see that.

You can also EASILY grow a single plant so big you couldn't light it adequately with that 4 x 4 foot Sylverstar.

Hermie sez: "Build the biggest box you can light and ventilate properly, then fill it up with herb!"

There's a lot to read here. You prolly need to research a bit before ou spend $ on stuff that won't work well for you.

[Zompton]

I have read most the guides here and didnt catch anything saying i must have seperate lights for different stages... oh well back to the research stage