What's the Cheapest Option and Example of Growing Indoor with CFL?
- Thread starter Txckes420
- Start date
Stealthboat
New Member
I'd imagine just lining bulbs around the plant will yield the best for CFL's, or use LST to make an even canopy and then make some sort of panel using CFL's to hang over that canopy
Snoop429
New Member
You could try growing Hempy style with Osmocote Plus. Search Doc Bud he grew this way a few years ago and has a journal on it.
Dave Groomer
Well-Known Member
I would suggest looking at the cost of the cfls (how many bulbs and fixtures you will need) and add it up. I spent as much on CFLs, fixtures etc as an LED panel would have cost me. How bi is the space you are looking at growing in? 
jojo677
Well-Known Member
I agree with supergroomer. If you add up the cost of your veg AND bloom CLFs, your cost could get up there. You'll probably want to use 23W (100W equivalent) draw CLFs, and several per plant. You can get budget LED panels for around $100 to do veg and bloom.
If you're set on CFLs, browse through the completed and in-process journals, and there are many!
Grow Journals
If you're set on CFLs, browse through the completed and in-process journals, and there are many!
Grow Journals
vastok
Well-Known Member
a good book will aid you well, see any books from Jorge Cervantas also find him on youtube
AKgramma
Well-Known Member
I went REALLY cheap with an $8 clip-on reflector lamp (remove reflector), added a socket doubler ($2), and two 14 watt common CFL's per plant. Used vegetable garden nutes maybe twice during veg and tomato nutes once at the beginning of flower, and watered regularly with brown sugar water throughout veg and flower. I have buds, sugar leaves and fan leaves covered with beautiful trics! Now the buds aren't giants, but after harvest and cure, I'll know how good the cheapo grow is!
Cannabliss89
New Member
You might want to upgrade those to at least 23w CFLs. I'm pretty sure 14w CFLs are only 900 lumens, that's only 1800 lumens per plant...
AKgramma
Well-Known Member
Cannabliss89: I did seriously consider using 23's. I have a pair of supplementary 23Ws in one 12/12 closet, but they tend to raise the heat too high, so I use only one bulb, not both. We're talking a mini-grow in some tiny spaces. 2 plants per closet and tent. On my limited income, the fancy equipment is out of the question. A window fan exhausts the stale air from the bedroom and a simple bucket filter reduces the odor.
Yes, less light means smaller buds, but I'm not looking to sell awesome-looking smoke, just to make my meds. So they can be small. The trics look awesome, though! Anticipating the color change and first harvest!
Yes, less light means smaller buds, but I'm not looking to sell awesome-looking smoke, just to make my meds. So they can be small. The trics look awesome, though! Anticipating the color change and first harvest!
With cfl's you need to get the bud sites open to as much light as possible. Training is advised. I like the 23's, my temps don't get over 85f
AKgramma
Well-Known Member
Agreed! One of the first major procedures I learned on this site was how to LST to create more equal colas and to open up the center of the plant to light. I only lst'd each plant twice, to make 4 colas, and have been tying down branches to keep the canopy level. Didn't have the room for scrogs.
Question, though, isn't 85 F a bit high? I got those temps with 23's, too, which is why I was reluctant to use both bulbs. I got the impression that 75 F was better for flowering.
AKgramma
Well-Known Member
Yes, on a yellow note pad. LOL! Not a lot of pics anymore, since my time is take up elsewhere. I suppose I'd better take pics of the trics before they go any further. Also, I didn't mention that each grow chamber has its own air-circulation fan, running 24/7. I figured that was something everyone would assume, just as necessary as food, light, and water.
