Lighting question

[503Danks]

I have 4 40W "GE Plant & aquarium" florescent lights over 9 plants on 18/6(Not sure if that is even the right light cycle) Is that going to be plenty of light up until when they start to flower? I have about 8 more lights and enough fixtures for them. If I set up 12 40W lights how many plants could I have flowering?

I need help, this is my first grow. As soon as I get a digital camera I will start me a grow log.

503Danks Reviewed by 503Danks on 01-25-2007. Lighting question I have 4 40W "GE Plant & aquarium" florescent lights over 9 plants on 18/6(Not sure if that is even the right light cycle) Is that going to be plenty of light up until when they start to flower? I have about 8 more lights and enough fixtures for them. If I set up 12 40W lights how many plants could I have flowering? I need help, this is my first grow. As soon as I get a digital camera I will start me a grow log. Rating: 5

[Garden Knowm]

HI 503

That is not enough LIGHT for 9 plants.... You want as much light as you can get... Fluorescents work best when they are 1 inch or less from your plants...

You should consider flowering when you have 4-5 nodes... IT is not WISE to grow tall plants with fluorescent....

and NOW you KNOWM

[503Danks]

HI 503

That is not enough LIGHT for 9 plants.... You want as much light as you can get... Fluorescents work best when they are 1 inch or less from your plants...

You should consider flowering when you have 4-5 nodes... IT is not WISE to grow tall plants with fluorescent....

and NOW you KNOWM

Is that enough light to have on the plants until they start to sprout, they are germed and 6 planted yesterday, 3 planted today.

[Bree1978]

I vegged 4 plants under one 4' shoplight fixture. (I also had a couple of CFLS in the end when they were bigger). I am flowering now with 8 CFLS, and the fixture....only two plants however,cause the other two were males...I'm still dreaming up ways to have an HPS instead. Only for two piddly little plants, certainly not nine (you have to get the floros so CLOSE, if you want any growth)....Garden Knowm tells no lies....As for your question, I believe you can get to sprout under the current lights no problem. PS. I used Daylight EcoLUX Light tubes and liked them. Good luck, Bree.

[503Danks]

Lets say 5 of these little babies are female. Well I have 4 of those 40W(?) CFL's from walmart I bought for like 8 bucks and 12 40W 4 foot fixtures. Is that going to be enough to flower them?

[Bree1978]

Yeah you can do it, just the results would be much better with HPS. Keep a log, I'd like to see how the heck you are going to fashion that many fixtures in one area, think about how many times you will have to move them....lol....take pics! Look into LST so that you can have an even canopy so more light reaches the buds. Think about the investment in bulbs too....(day light ecos are 9.00 for two) (kitchen and bath 6.00 for two). In your case you many want to buy the tubes by the case....And with all adustments.......Just wondering, are those fixtures all double lamps/tubes or just one? Oh, and I've been using kitchen and bath tubes for flowering, that is why I mentioned it. Good Luck! :jointsmile:

[stinkyattic]

Is that enough light to have on the plants until they start to sprout, they are germed and 6 planted yesterday, 3 planted today.

Plants don't need light until they break the dirt.

The aquarium lights are really too pink... you should go with cool white for vegging.

[503Danks]

Plants don't need light until they break the dirt.

The aquarium lights are really too pink... you should go with cool white for vegging.

I found that out after I posted that :X.

But I think these lights are fine, my father used them in a grow op he had about 15 years ago but stopped after my mom got cancer. I am also using some unknown fixture, on the side of them they say "Lifelite", is it a grow fixture or just a regular florescent light fixture or do I not know what I am talking about.

[stinkyattic]

But I think these lights are fine, my father used them in a grow op he had about 15 years ago
.

Yes your plants will grow... but not as well. Trust me! BLUE spectrum all the way baby! (until flower anyway haha)

[503Danks]

Well what I'm planning on doing is get this grow down. This is a first time, a learning experience. If it doesn't go to hot who cares, they are bag seeds. But if it does go all and well and I harvest then I will buy a 400W HPS system and some better seeds.