When I say 3-5 inches, I mean from the day you plant the seed (not after it peaks its beautiful head). So you can move the cfls as close as you can get about a week after it's out.

If you want to move to HPS, you could do so about 1.5 week from it popping out of your medium. Start with the light farther rather than closer. I would say about a foot or so. Depending on how much heat your light gives off. Use your hand to gauge the heat. Then move it closer after each passing day, until you find the happy medium, where the plant isn't getting burnt.


I've grown from veg to flower, with all CFLS and Flourescent tubes. The HPS with probably speed up the plants growth.