closet light question..

[exhashsmoker]

Ok scratch the above idea about buying a bunch of desk lamps and using 23/42w cfls. I found a shop that sells 125w CFL grow lights with connections and all for 40 each and they are like 8000+ lumens each so im gonna buy two. The guy in the store advised me to buy two red spectrum rather than one blue and one red, He said I would get a bigger yield this way is that right?

[undertheinfluence]

yeah but a more leggy veg growth i think.

[GRB.4.Life]

Yes, you'll have much heartier flowers but your stems and leaves will be weak.

If you vegitate your plant with the wrong kelvin it will not produce as potent of a flower as it would if you cycled the kelvins throughout the different stages of growth.

Truthfully, to achieve the highest potency possible, you should try to use as much of BOTH warm and cool kelvin lighting throughout the plants WHOLE growth. This will ensure full spectrum photosynthesizing which will in fact increase the initial THC potency throughout the whole plant when flowering begins.

So personally, I'de go with your original plan to have both spectrums on the plant the whole time. This of course depends on the kelvin rating of those lamps. If they are not extreme it wont work like you want it to. In which case you would be better off with one or the other and not both.

Now if you can afford it, you can't go wrong with having two of the blue spectrum and two of the red.

Here's a little information on Kelvin for you, from what I know:

Kelvin temperature is a numerical measurement that describes the color appearance of the light produced by a lamp and the color appearance of the lamp itself, expressed on the Kelvin (K) scale.

The science behind determining color temperature values starts with the theoretical black body radiator, a block of black metal through which electric current is passed (performed as a computer model). As the metal is heated, it turns red-yellow, then white, then blue; as the temperature of the metal is measured at any given color produced, we then match the color to that temperature and a color temperature value is determined.

Ok so how does this apply to lighting?

Well, the Kelvin temperature of lamps is used to categorize them as warm, neutral or cool sources. The terms are not directly related to temperature; instead, they describe how the light source appears visually.

Warm sources actually have a lower color temperature (3500K or less), producing a red-yellow appearance. Neutral sources (between 3500K and 4100K) tend to have a yellow appearance. A lamp with a color temperature of 5000K is considered pure white light (Full Spectrum) with the lamp becoming more blue in color as the color temperature is increased.

Now Cannabis will survive in a pretty wide range of Kelvin. However, to achieve maximum photosynthesizing it's best to focus on the Kelvin range that is used most by the plant to utilize your light more efficiently.

Which Kelvin range promotes the most efficient photosynthesis energy is debateable but here is a general idea of how it works:

5K - 7K Kelvin:
Promotes bushy growth. Ideal for rapid growth phase of plants.
Greatly enhances all-around plant growth when used with super
high output, high pressure sodium or 3K warm metal halide lamps.

4.2K - 4200 Kelvin:
Can be used as supplimental blue lighting when used with a 3K
source.

4K - 4000 Kelvin:
Best single source for plant growth, producing shorter, bushier
growth than 3700 Kelvin and color rendition. Used in general
plant lighting.

3.7K - 3700 Kelvin:
This coated lamp is used in general plant lighting and for more
rapid growth than 4000 Kelvin produces.

3K - 3200 Kelvin:
Highest photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) value of all HID
lighting for all phases of plant growth. PAR watts account for the
nutritional value of light and are a direct measure of the light
energy available for photosythesis.

2.7K - 2700 Kelvin:
Redder color mix, used for propagation, blooming, supplemental
greenhouse lighting.

[Dr.Hashman]

And now a little info on Lowryders

Lowryders start to flower after about 10 days of veg... You will not need to buy a blue spectrum bulb for 10 days of veg, why not just get 2 reds, unless you are planning long term. As for Lowryders, you can use a HPS or warm CFLs for the whole grow (I stuck 2 23w cool CFL along with my 6 warm 42w CFLs to get em off to a good start). If you have some cool CFLs, use em, if not, not a big deal for Lowryders.

Long Term
1 Red, 1 Blue

1 Blue for veg
1 Red for flower

Use both all the time.

[edit] I like to stick my plants outside on sunny days so they can get a nice full spectrum of light when possible.

[GRB.4.Life]

The bottom line is it's always best to use both warm and cool spec.

Some strains will do fine with just the warm. Some won't.

There is a fact that lies between there though. In terms of potency, if you do not use any cool spec during vegitative state your plant will not be as potent.

I always reccommend using both ends of the spectrum. Don't cheat yourself or your plants.