Supplementing MH & HPS with Fluorescents

[Scepter]

Has anyone used CPF or Fluorescent Tube lighting to supplement HID lighting?

I have 15 3ft plants growing under one 1000W MH and one 400W HPS.
The canopy is so dense that very little light gets thru to the bottom of the plant, even though I've lowered my lights to the minimum distance without burning the tops.

I'm about 20 days into flower, and have a hell of a lot of bud sites, but many of these sites are deep down in the plant and receive very little light.
I know these will turn out to be popcorn bud, nice for making hash but not so good by themselves.

I'm thinking of using either shop lights or CPF's to illuminate the lower portion of the plant, the lights will be shining upward into the lower branches loaded with all those little bud sites.

I'm growing is soil, so I know I'll have to use a lot of caution when watering and caring for the plants.

What I need to know is will this be worth the hassle involved? Has anyone here used supplemental lighting in this way, and if so was there a noticeable improvement in the lower buds quantity or quality?

I'd really like some feedback and opinions on this before I try it.

Thanks...

Scepter Reviewed by Scepter on 03-26-2006. Supplementing MH & HPS with Fluorescents Has anyone used CPF or Fluorescent Tube lighting to supplement HID lighting? I have 15 3ft plants growing under one 1000W MH and one 400W HPS. The canopy is so dense that very little light gets thru to the bottom of the plant, even though I've lowered my lights to the minimum distance without burning the tops. I'm about 20 days into flower, and have a hell of a lot of bud sites, but many of these sites are deep down in the plant and receive very little light. I know these will turn out Rating: 5

[turtle420]

I'm not sure... but, 15 3ft plants?

You have to posts pics man... It's in the User License for Cannabis.com....

You can't post questions of such a grow, incite us in such a way (15 3footers) and NOT include picture... you're too bad man... C'mon... pretty please?!

[mrabrego]

how big is your space? Cfl's work great at supplemental lighting. Just dont use cool whites, they suck. You may be better off with side mounted tubes with that many plants, of course with no pics, we really dont know what to suggest

[LIP]

Yes, pics would help greatly.

To your Q. Yes is the short answer, it is worth the hasel, although as you have already pointed out, you will have to be very careful when water and caring for the plants.

You said you've only just started flowering, so unless you have femanized seeds you end up with alot less then 15 plants. I'd say at least 6 of them are male, if not more. When you know what's what with the sex of your plants, then you can go ahead with the rest!.

Good luck man, i hope all goes well.

[Scepter]

Here we go, (I hope) Never uploaded photos on this site before, hope I got it right.

Plants were rapidly outgrowing the ability of my lights to penetrate into the foliage, I did the LST bit, tying down the tops to the sides of my pots, you can see how the buds multiplied on the now horizontal main stems. I am 21 days into 12/12.
My idea was to use either strip fluorescent as shown in the photo, or CPF's scattered among the plants...

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