Lighting

[NewGrow82]

Hey all

I am new to growing but have managed to get 4 plants to the vegetation stage. There is a lot of controversy regarding lights/lumens/wattage, etc and was wondering if some more knowledgeable home growers could help me out? Here is what I am working with:

Home built reflective grow tent
3- 40 watt bulbs @ 2800 lumens each
1- 65 watt blue plant bulb
A small clamp fan
All bulbs except heat bulb (connected to a light dimmer to control heat) are connected to a timer for 18/6 lighting

1 plant - vegetative since 12/17
3 plants just sprouted today

I am wondering how or if I need to change out my lighting - I am currently working on a budget as my employer has been shut down for the holidays. I just transplanted the first plant - gave root & grow, along with first feed. The other three plants I have root and grow and they are now in the grow tent with my very first plant. Sorry for the long post, just needing help/opinions. TYIA

 

[Chris Scorpio]

Lighting is very very important

You can get a nice cheap but good light for $100
Mars, GROWant, Viperspectra

Will make a HUGE difference

 

[MassMedMan]

I agree with, Chris. The amount you'll spend on comparable cfls is not worth it. If you want a good end product you'll find a way to get them a good flower light. Look around, used are in abundance because folks have given up or can't make it all work.

You've got time. Put your thinking cap on and you'll likely find a solution.

Good luck

 

[NewGrow82]

Thanks for the responses. I will do my research and find a light that will work for a grow tent that is 4x2x2.

 

[Virgin Ground]

Do you have a budget in mind? We may be able to help you find what you need.

I spent $360 on a quantum board for a 2x4 tent and it paid for itself in the first grow 10x over. My first light was a $115 Growant. It did great for veg. Didn't use it for long in flower. I needed more light for the space. You can get away cheaper but it will effect your harvest amounts.

 

[NewGrow82]

I will be adding onto the grow tent and I now know I need an equivalent of 150 total watt per plant EX: 2 x 40w CFL Daylight and 2 x 42w soft white per plant which will cost around 130 to upgrade to that amount.

 

[Chris Scorpio]

Get a real grow light for that $$$$

Mars, viperspectra, GROWant

Much better money spent than basic light bulbs

But yer call, grow small plants if that's yer goal

 

[jodyhighrollr]

Look through craigslist or other sites. You can find incredible deals. I got 4 light fixtures, 4x600w digital ballasts with the bulbs and 120 and 240 cords, hangers and ratchet straps, a big exhaust fan with a muffler and a carbon filter, a ph pen, everything needed for compost tea, pots, cloning dome with heating pad and a lot more for only $400. I was already half through a harvest when I bought it all but it really upgraded my setup for the harvest I'm on now. The guy I bought it all off of had to move and could no longer grow in the apartment he moved into and just wanted to get rid of it. If you look around you can find really good deals. For $130 I'm sure you could find a good light online.

Also I just wanted to add. I had a decent experience with Viparspectras. I have 2x1200w's and 2x300w's and now I only use them for veg. I actually don't use the 300w's at all because the HPS for my setup is more useful to cover the canopy I am trying to cover and the 1200w's cover my veg tent well. I won't use them for flower again and when the bulbs go I will replace them with CMH. They would be better than what you have now though.

 

[LEDXpert]

Lights are the single biggest factor for flower weight and trichrome development. If you're on a budget I'd stay cheap for now until you've got better skills and budget and then invest in a good LED. Going cheap LED now will just waste money later if you upgrade unless you can re-use it as a side light or something. If you never think you'll get to the hundreds of dollar mark then get those LEDs now recommended above.

Bulbs you use now will be weak during flower. Reason why you need more light during flower is the less "day time" Less time of light means you need more intense light to get similar total light per day. I liked the idea of craigslist or ebay to find a used light.

 

[pontiacman]

How much do you want to spend on a light?

 

[fanleaf]

For the money you are saying you are going to spend on "bulbs" you could spent the same $$on a decent but real LED grow light or even a cheap MH/HPS and get 5 times the yield as the bulbs would.

 

[LEDXpert]

Bulbs are typically not as efficient as fixtures do to heat density