As far as lumens, you couldn't possibly overdo it with CFL. Throw as many in there as you have. If you're asking about wavelength, you want more blue (higher K°, such as 6500K) for seedlings and veg, then more red (lower K°, such as 2700K) for flower. You can do all one color, but a mix is probably best.
fanleaf
Well-Known Member
What CFL's are you using?
AKgramma
Well-Known Member
Just to clarify: Daylights are blue, soft-whites are yellow. I mix the two for extra wavelengths, with more daylight on the seedlings and veg and more towards the soft-whites in bloom, to mimic the sun being lower in the sky. I went with a dozen bulbs, 6 high and 6 low, to light up all parts of the babies. The early part of my journal shows this setup.
I even kept them after I added LEDs, since LEDS are red and blue, and my plants love the blend.
- Thread starter
- #5
1500 lumins,but i dont know anything about different colors and where i can buy them
fanleaf
Well-Known Member
Ok so your using 23Watt CFL's. Those are about 1500 lumens. They are 100W equivalent but draw 23W. At 2 weeks you want several at least. Can we see a picture of your plant? 2 week old plant may be night and day difference from one plant/grower to the next. I can tell you that if I used those CFL's with one of my 2 week old plants I would be using about 5-6 of them at the very minimum.
You can buy them at any store that has light bulbs or online. It will say somewhere on the package what the color temp is. It will at least say "daylight" or "soft white". Both of those are a range, so if it says 6500 or 2700K go with those. Typically those are what "daylight" and "solft white" are, respectively. From what I've read, and never having grown with CFLs, 6500K and 2700K are the ones you want. The middle spectrum one, 4xxxK, isn't as good.
fanleaf
Well-Known Member
For Veg cycle you want 2 of the "daylight" or 5500-6500k to every 1 of the 2700k-3000k (soft white).
For flower go with the exact opposite of 1 "daylight" or 5500-6500k to every 2 of the 2700k-3000k (soft white).
For instance, in veg maybe run 4 of the "daylight 5500-6500k" bulbs and 2 of the soft white 2700-3000k.
For flower you could be at 8 of the soft white 2700-3000k bulbs and 4 of the 5500-6500k's
Just keep a 2:1 ratio. It's not a must but a good ratio for all around.
For flower go with the exact opposite of 1 "daylight" or 5500-6500k to every 2 of the 2700k-3000k (soft white).
For instance, in veg maybe run 4 of the "daylight 5500-6500k" bulbs and 2 of the soft white 2700-3000k.
For flower you could be at 8 of the soft white 2700-3000k bulbs and 4 of the 5500-6500k's
Just keep a 2:1 ratio. It's not a must but a good ratio for all around.
- Thread starter
- #9
Bodhisattva
New Member
Agree. You cant overdo it with CFL. A buld with do a few seedlings. 10 seedlings - maybe 2 to 8 23W (or higher) CFL bulbs.
My advice - few smaller CFL = less heat - more equal spacing - greater yeild.
(unless you can side mount a CFL - i would never buy above 46W - as long as very inneficient unless you have a magical hanging plan for it).
depends how you wanna space them and do your setup. I use CFL also for the heat for germinating. I just had 10 seeds and used 3 to 4 23W CFL lights around 3 to 5 inches from the seed depending upon heat and height of seedling. Youll be fine.
Wishing you a great grow!
My advice - few smaller CFL = less heat - more equal spacing - greater yeild.
(unless you can side mount a CFL - i would never buy above 46W - as long as very inneficient unless you have a magical hanging plan for it).
depends how you wanna space them and do your setup. I use CFL also for the heat for germinating. I just had 10 seeds and used 3 to 4 23W CFL lights around 3 to 5 inches from the seed depending upon heat and height of seedling. Youll be fine.
Wishing you a great grow!
Bodhisattva
New Member
Seedling temps
Actual germination - for me 26 to 27 degrees Celcius.
Seedling Stage - for me - 24 is idea - Range = 22 to 25. Heat stress unlikely.
A very gentle breeze is helpful....
Actual germination - for me 26 to 27 degrees Celcius.
Seedling Stage - for me - 24 is idea - Range = 22 to 25. Heat stress unlikely.
A very gentle breeze is helpful....
