CFL 42W/150W flouro OK to veg?

[Max Blast]

I have a spiral compact flourecent light the says on the package that it is 150 watts of light using 42 watts of power. It says "warm white light" on the package description.

Is this light OK for vegging period? I have a seedling in soil (already had it going in soil before my hydro setup arrived) and want to use this light for vegging (24/7) and then switch to HPS for flowering.(12/12)

Any comments on this type of light? (spectrum, etc)

thanks for the help,
Max Blast

Max Blast Reviewed by Max Blast on 07-24-2005. CFL 42W/150W flouro OK to veg? I have a spiral compact flourecent light the says on the package that it is 150 watts of light using 42 watts of power. It says "warm white light" on the package description. Is this light OK for vegging period? I have a seedling in soil (already had it going in soil before my hydro setup arrived) and want to use this light for vegging (24/7) and then switch to HPS for flowering.(12/12) Any comments on this type of light? (spectrum, etc) thanks for the help, Max Blast Rating: 5

[69NovAss]

Yes Max blast those lights are florescent so they do
work and provide some food for the plants.
The only downfall is you have to use more than one
of these lights in your garden, due to the fact they
they are small lumens, hope this helps, peace.
:nova:

[HARDDON]

That is a standard 42W CFL.

Adding this to your grow wont help.

You would be better off burning your HPS for your plant growth.

They produce roughly the same spectrum, only HPS cranks the lumens out far more efficeintly.

If you can find the CFL with 'bright white light...not warm....." you would be better off.

Either way, like NovAss says, you need more of them.

For a 42W bulb, you will want to have at least 6 of them for veggin one plant.

[Max Blast]

Thanks NovAss and Hardon,

Wow I didn't realize it would take 6 of them. It says 2600 lumens on the package. Just how many lumens does it take for one plant vegging in a smal space?

I guess I'll just bite the bullet and get a MH and a HPS but how powerful? Want to veg to 8"-10" inches for SCROG grow 1 plant growing a 2'x2' screen using soil on this one:-(

Is 24/0 OK or should I go to 18/6 during veg? Any aditional tips would be great.

thanks again,
Max Blast

[Nochowderforyou]

24/0 lighting is okay for a young seedling stage, but once they start getting developed, in my opinion, the plant needs some rest time. They still grow and develop even though the light is off. A dark period is needed in my opinion.

To get a decent yeild, you would need at least 50W per.sq.ft of lighting. I have vegged 2 plants under 125W of CFL's before in a 2ft square space. When flowering hits though, you will need more lights or flowering will go very slow, and the yeild will be very low.

I suggest not using an Hps for vegging. From the things I've seen using those for vegging, you get stretched out, lanky budsites that produce airy, wispy buds. Using CFL's for veg is better in my opinion because you can get the plants very close to the plant reducing stretching.

How big is your space?

For the 42W bulb, you are going to need more. If you just want to do one plant, I suggest getting at least 75-100W of CFL's in a small space, approx. 12-24inches(1.5-2.5ft in height) Using just one 42Watter will not give you much. Get another one, or a couple 25W. When flowering comes though, you can still use CFL's, but in my opinion you would have to double your vegging wattage to get decent smoke.

Go with an HPS bulb for flowering, that's your best bet. Or, you can use an Mh bulb for vegging, and an hps for flowering, OR, CFL's for vegging and CFL's for flowering, OR CFL's for vegging, hps for flowering. Take your pick.

[Nochowderforyou]

I guess I'll just bite the bullet and get a MH and a HPS but how powerful? Want to veg to 8"-10" inches for SCROG grow 1 plant growing a 2'x2' screen using soil on this one:-(

Whoa holy shit I'm blind, I see your space now duh!

8-10 inches high is not even a ft. That is quite a small space. I suggest using nothing but CFL's. Low heat factor, hps produces a lot of heat and you NEED a fan to keep it cool. For your space, you have the 42W CFL already, I would get a 25W CFL, a total of 67W CFL's for vegging. But when flowering hits, you will probably want to add another 25-35 watts of floros/CFL's. Having a total of 92-102W for flowering.

Keeping your plants that short will be a challenge, hope I helped, good luck.

[Max Blast]

Thought I would send some pics of my closet grow.

I have one plant now vegging under a CFL 42watt mounted in an upside down 5-gallon bucket placed over the potted plant. Vented at top of bucket for heat relief (not much heat from CFL)

The little thing is just two weeks old and seems OK. Only 3 inches tall but already working on its 4th node.

Planning a vertical wrap-around scrog once the plant gets to about 10" tall and then switching to 70 watt HPS and 12/12 cycle for budding.

regards and thanks for all the help,
Max Blast

[weedracer119]

thats a pretty cool set up for your closet. just wondering are you trying to keep it from parents or did you do that just to try something different?

[weedracer119]

oh, another thing. what do you plan on doing for flowering this plant. are you gonna keep it small or what. you will probably need more cfl's for flowering unless your keeping it short enough to keep in the bucket.

[Max Blast]

Weedracer,

Actually it just sort of worked out that way. I am 3 days older than dirt so no parents involved. I was contemplating a C-13 style grow in the garage or a special built shed in the back yard but the temps here are over 100 degrees this time of year so the heat alone ruled that out.

My significant other insists on keeping the house temps under 75 degrees all the time so putting this in the closet where I have my computer rack setup seemed like a good answer.

When the smell starts to become an issue I will have an airtight cab built and use a fan and a carbon scrubber as described by Zandor. Also I do no think the plastic bucket will stand the heat from the HPS I will use for flowering.

I will be doing a vertical wraparound scrog in the cabinet with the light hanging down in the center. Just a hobby grow for now.

regards,
Max Blast