Help Needed With CFL's

[Jeff6]

Hey there well i have a double cupboard all mylard out, about 2.5 feet wide and about 2 foot depth. The 1 problem i have is CFL's to use, now i know to use 6500k daylight for veg, But they are impossbile to find near me and also cost alot in the uk at £10 each at 1 store near me so thats like £50/£60 on jut vegging bulbs alone which i dont really want to pay...

Soo i am wondering if anyone with knowledge and experience can give me a selection of lower bulbs for example which can maybe add upto 6500k daylight bulbs, Because the stores near me have all the other wattage's etc just no DAYLIGHT bulbs.

Soo if you could PLEEEASE help and if you could also a selection for flowering, i will be very appreciated as i have been looking for 6500ks all week and its doing my nut in now, Thanks!

 

[Jeff6]

I have found some 18w/100w DAYLIGHT bulbs at a decent price, Think they are 6400k though, Will these do for vegging 1 or 2 plants if i get about 6 or something ? Thanks

 

[smokinweedgi]

yes they will do the job

i recentally got 23w daylight/6400k bulbs for my small grow cupboard
i got 4 of em for 25£ delivered from ebay

my grow space is 14inch by 20 inch by 30 inch high and they are working very well ,dont give off too much heat

they will work but id recommend getting at least 23w if you can

good luck

 

[smokinweedgi]

you can also mix the spectrums
ie if your going to have 6 bulbs u order 4 off each spectrum
so
for vegging use 4bulbs at 6400k(daylight) and 2bulbs at 2700k(warm white )
and
for flowering use 4 bulbs at 2700k(warm white) and 2bulbs at 6400k(daylight)

 

[Jeff6]

you can also mix the spectrums
ie if your going to have 6 bulbs u order 4 off each spectrum
so
for vegging use 4bulbs at 6400k(daylight) and 2bulbs at 2700k(warm white )
and
for flowering use 4 bulbs at 2700k(warm white) and 2bulbs at 6400k(daylight)

Thanks mate much appreciated

 

[Jeff6]

Also what Watt shud i get the 2700k, The same or higher ? Thanks

 

[smokinweedgi]

the higher the better say a minimum of 20w these are a lot easier to get than the daylight bulbs

i got a box of 4 from B&Q they are 20w energy saving spiral 2700k=warm white cost 10quid for a box of 4

here is some info i have coppied You might see a lot of different labels when shopping at the store for CFL’s. Label’s including Soft White, Warm White, Cool White, Bright White, Halogen White, Daylight White, Full Spectrum. And also label’s like 2700K, 3000K, 3500K, 4000K, 5000K, 6400K, and 6500K. These are all the color temperature of the light you are using. This is a measure of how warm or cool the light given off by a lamp appears, with warmer colors having a yellowish tinge and cooler colors being tinged with blue. What confuses some people is that the warmer a color is, the colder its color temperature is. (ex. Warm White = 2700K). Bulbs ranging in the 2700K-3000K spectrum are usually labeled Warm White or Soft White, bulbs ranging in the 3500K – 4000K spectrum are bright white or cool white, 5000K is labeled Full Spectrum, and finally 6400K – 6500K is labeled Daylight. You can grow an entire crop with CFL’s if you chose the right spectrum of bulb’s. For Vegetation you will want to use 6500K or 5000K, and when you flower you will want to switch to 2700K or 3000K . The reason being, throughout the year the plant’s outside receive more 6500K light because the day’s in summer are long and hot and as Autumn/Winter get’s closer the day get’s shorter, and gradually receives less 6500K light and more 2700K light as the plant flower’s. Do what you can to avoid bulbs within that 3500K – 4000K because they emit very little light that Is useful to your plant.

 

[smokinweedgi]

In order to efficiently use CFL’s to grow your MJ you will need to position the lights around 2 – 4 inches from the foliage of the plant. If you place the light too close, then your plant will have nothing to vertically stretch to and it will remain short and stocky. Some people combat this by addingCFL’s to the side of foliage instead of on top of it. On the other hand if the light is too far away from the plant, the stem will suffer elongation (stretching), which will result in loose and fluffy bud’s.It is very important to note that when using CFL’s it’s a daily “battle” to have lights in the right spot. Many of us are in our grow areas at least once a day anyway, so to move your bulbs a bit really isn’t that big a deal. Also many people wonder is it better to have many low watt CFL’s or just a few high watt CFL’s. Both way’s are capable of provided you a good harvest but I suggest you chose the configuration that is easiest for you and your grow area.

 

[Jeff6]

Thanks pal im going to B&Q tmoro then, And tell me about it ! i have been searching all week for 6500k and onli few shops that sell them are £9/£10 :O

But john lewis store are selling 6400k daylight for £2 each , phillips 1s too aha

 

[Jeff6]

Also do you think there is a difference between spiral and the straight utubed bulbs, As i shall be gettin the straight ones.

 

[smokinweedgi]

theyre is a grreat thread on this site about cfl lights CFL Light Tutorial

this guy roseman really knows his stuff id suggest u read his info he knows a lot more than me he has produced some very large crops just using these cfl lights

 

[Microdocks]

got pics of my clfs 11$ for 6 of them

White Rhino & Blue Dream 23 watt 20 gallon fish tank stand grow box

 

[Nate86]

Hey Jeff I'm in the UK too I purchased a 300 watt CFL bulb from a local hydroponics store for £45 cfl's are good for veg but imo you want to go with a HPS for flowering there is a online store in the UK where you can purchase a reconditined 600 watt self balasted HPS grow light for £55.00 which you can use for flower and veg i dont know if I'm allowed to post the link here but if your intrested i can pm you the link I purchased one myself there very good and half the price of anything else you will find online you wont fit one in your grow box tho but if your planning on building a seperate flower room i'd go HPS anyway good luck with your grow dude