CFL How much do I need exactly?

[SlickChief]

Hey, sorry if I'm over-asking questions...recently I've been convinced to go with the cheaper CFL option rather than an expensive LED light because I'm a new grower.

I know I need 6500K Veg & 2700K Flower.
My small grow box will have 3 square feet (2x1.5ft).
I've read so many different things on how much lumens per square foot, that I don't really know what to do.

I'm looking at 200W/2800Lumen/6500K and 150W/2800Lumen/2700K.

I'm thinking 6 CFL's of 2800Lumen at a time. 3 Reflectors with 2 CFLs each.
For Veg: 4x 6500K + 2x 2700K
For Bloom: 4x 2700K + 2x6500K

Will this be sufficient, too much, too little?

 

[Antics]

CFLs really aren't cheaper. Especially when the power bill comes.

You can mix your 6500K and 2700K spectrums. I used both when growing with CFLs.

Ignore lumens. I've never seen good guidelines to use for them, and I've seen a few experiences growers saying that lumen measurements are useless for plants, as they use the PAR scale, not lumens.

If you want to grow with CFLs, I suggest a minimum of 100 watts per plant in Veg, 150 watts per plant in Flower. Make sure you are counting actual wattage, and not the *Incandescent Equivalent* wattage listed on the package.

The bulbs you're looking at are 42 watts. Not 200w/150w. You'd need 2-3 for Veg, and 6-7 for flower, for each plant.
And that's only the minimum that I suggest, mind you. I personally grew 2 plants with 361 watts, and yielded a little over 3 ounces on 2 plants.

Total the cost of bulbs alone, and you're looking at $50 for the bare minimum of bulbs. Plus fixtures, wiring, splitters, and time to assemble it all.
Or LEDs start at $100.

 

[SlickChief]

Okay thanks, I guess I'll switch back to LEDs...hah

 

[Antics]

It depends on the LED that you're using. Not all LEDs are created equal. Even if they're sold as "grow lights" not all will grow Cannabis effectively.

 

[nobodyuknow]

You should look at TopLED's Reflector series, they start at $97.99 and there are a lot of grow journals here using them with great results. Also their "older" 100X3 model starts at $104.99 and I see a lot of people using those too. I just bought my 2nd Mars II 400 watter today to add to my grow closet, I was so happy with my first one. For the money they work really well. Look at Antics grow he has in his signature. His plants look so healthy!

 

[jinn]

For the record though, CFL is totally an option for those looking to stay off the grid or live in places where getting LEDS/HPS lights isn't possible.

There are some nice DIY CFL set ups on this site, and if you shop around you tend to find better prices. I bought 12 23w(actual) bulbs and did a 2:1 ratio for 6500k to 2700k, Ill be using 6 on one side of my tent, 6 on the other to supplement my mars II 1200.
Once I get my Platinum Leds though, Ill move my CFLs to my clone/mom tent, and the mars II 1200 to my veg tent.

Pretty much anything you buy grow related, that is quality, will be reused in its lifetime. MANY times over =p
So anything bought/made/etc... is another lesson learned, and another tool for your future grows.

 

[Antics]

You should look at TopLED's Reflector series, they start at $97.99 and there are a lot of grow journals here using them with great results. Also their "older" 100X3 model starts at $104.99 and I see a lot of people using those too. I just bought my 2nd Mars II 400 watter today to add to my grow closet, I was so happy with my first one. For the money they work really well. Look at Antics grow he has in his signature. His plants look so healthy!

Thanks

The Power Flower and Cali Jack were grown under 14 CFLs, 383 watts at first, which was later reduced to 361 watts after a 45w bulb blew, and was replaced by a 23w. 2 plants, FIMmed/Topped, lots of LST, 5.5-6 gallon pots, 3 part nute system, molasses in flower @ every other feeding, and I yielded 3.15 ounces total.

Buuuuut, switching to LED uses less than half the power of my CFLs, with brighter lights.