[QUOTE=What's up everyone? Ive done a lot of research on this site and many others and have set up a cfl grow with a few twists. Currently there are only 3x24watt cfl's, 3x17watt fluorescent wal-mart grow light tubes, 1 60watt incandescent grow bulb, 1x65 watt grow bulb, and 1x120watt grow bulb with reflector. I mounted all of the lights except the 120 volt onto a flat board, the 120 I put in a shop light shroud and clipped it to the board. I germinated some random bag seeds that my roommate and I had been saving, right now they have been in soil for 6 days on a 23/1 light cycle. Temps have been a problem but I finally have them down to about 80-81 degrees consistently. The lights are about 5 inches away from the top of the tallest seedling. I built a pos shroud of aluminum foil, and yes I used the right side, had to leave a few gaps for heat escape in the rear, but overall I feel this is better than nothing! I hope

**** I seriously do not think that the grow lights are even needed. For vegging all you need are a couple of shop lights or several cfl's.

I currently have the seedlings growing in cut down solo cups and was wondering how much growth I should allow before transferring them to 3 gal pots? The tallest is currently 3 inches in height.

**** I usually do not transplant until I see roots starting to stick out the drain holes in my pots or cups. Transplant in stages, cup to small pot to larger pot. I do not transplant into the final size ( 5 gal in my case) until
a week or so befor I move them too flower.

From cup to 3 or 4 inch pot. 3 or 4 inch pot to 1 gal pot. 1 gal pot to finished pot size ( 3 or 5 gal ).

I also have a 400watt HPS/MH light on the way should arrive in 5-8 days. How many plants would that allow me to flower and expect a decent harvest?

****A 400 watt lamp should be good for a 4 ft x 4 ft. area. I have a 8 ft x 8 ft flower room and use (4) 400 watt lamps. I usually can grow around 12 to 16 plants at any given time. ( I use a continous harvest method, no scrog or sog ) and let my plants get around 16 inches or so befor moving them to flower. This gives my finished plants of around 3 too 4 ft. in height with a harvest of around 2 to 3 ounces each ( strain dependant ). The one time I had all the plants come ripe at the same time I got around 4 lbs. out of the room. That was growing 1/2 white widow and 1/2 Pure Power Plant. Doing the math I do not see why you could not get at least a half lb, if not a full lb. if everything else is all right ( temp control, nutriants, etc. ).

I apologize in advance for the quality of these pics, taken from my cell phone and tips or helpful advice are greatly appreciated!!! Thanks Everyone!

PS. I'm posting these pics for help not criticism, I know this setup looks like a 12 year old made it, but understand I' am a student working on an extremely limited budget! The light I ordered cost me a textbook! but schools for fools anyways!

*** The plants don't care what it looks like, just that it works ****

Just my two cents worth, it works for me.