HID vs CFL debate finally OVER!!!

[Thundurkel]

Ok folks so I noticed some interesting things happening in my garden so I thought I would share. I always believed DrBud when he stated that CFLs could produce fully developed buds equal to a main branch of a bush grown under HID. A lot of folks don't think it's true or say they just don't see resin like they do with HID on CFL plants ect so check this out...
I have Double Purple Blowfish plants at 8.5weeks under my 400w HPS and the same strain grown DrBud style in my CFL cab at 6.5weeks and to my surprise the calyxes on my CFL plant are way more swollen than the HID!!! I think it has to do with spectrum since my CFL cab is mixed up with 2700K 6400K 6500K 5100K so here are the pics...

Left Bud = HID 8weeks Right Bud = CFL 7weeks same strain

HID 8weeks

CFL 6.5weeks

So there ya have it, can CFLs yield like HID not really but can they produce fully developed dense nugs fully of resin as big as the main top of a HID grow plant yes! So grow on Micro guys I'll be keeping my perpetual cab going but I am hooked on the yield I can get with my HID system....

 

[THC_Decapitator]

Very nice comparison T . CFL grows are great and you have xtra medicine .

 

[Thundurkel]

Thanks I told a few people I would do it when I had a chance to so I thought this was the perfect time. I'm seriously amazed at how much fatter the calyxes are on my CFL grown girl but the thing I did different with her was the nutes and she got the Head Formula tailored for coco and is said to increase yield ect so that could be a reason too. I will say I am disappointed that my DrBud style plants produce cola's just as fat as the main cola on my HID grown bushes... Though it's only a 400w HPS I'm sure a 600 or 1k would have gave bigger buds but let it be known 286w of mixed spectrum fluorescent light can produce just as good a nug as a 400w HID system...

Anybody else have a similar setup goin that they can post some comparisons of? Like I mean does any other HID cat here also have a lil person CFL grow still and have a same strain going in both to compare?

 

[kweb1989]

Nice Work Bro.
Could you remember to edit your origonal post with the harvest, wet and dry pics?
That tent kicks ass too...

 

[3dDream]

How close is the cfl to the flower? How close is the HPS to the plants? I mean if you have a bunch of bulbs right on a plant vs a single HID above a group of plants which do you expect to be faster? I use a 250w HPS and can hang a couple 42w cfls right next to lower buds and get them to catch up with the tops. CFLs are a great tool. HPS are too. If I want a single light source for an area I go HPS, if I want to get intimate and light flowers I use CFLs.

The fact that it's only two plants and that they did not have the same nutes really doesn't help your case.

 

[Green Smoke]

It's been awhile since I've seen any cfl haters around. Over the past year cfl's appear to have become the light of choice among most micro growers. But it wasn't that long ago that guys like you and the good doctor were taking such a beating for standing up for them. Pat yourself on the back bro, I'd do it, but cali is too far for me to reach.

 

[b00m]

Hey Thund, very nice photos bro with some cool macro action. Having a side by side comparison is a great idea and look at the difference of swelling on the two, if I could afford to setup with HID I would but for now I will still be cranking the fuck out of my CFLs and produce better product than I can get off the dealers on the corner. Double purple blowfish looks stellar bro, awesome plant.
Happy Gardening Bro.
Peace.

 

[superpedro]

Thanks I told a few people I would do it when I had a chance to so I thought this was the perfect time. I'm seriously amazed at how much fatter the calyxes are on my CFL grown girl but the thing I did different with her was the nutes and she got the Head Formula tailored for coco and is said to increase yield ect so that could be a reason too. I will say I am disappointed that my DrBud style plants produce cola's just as fat as the main cola on my HID grown bushes... Though it's only a 400w HPS I'm sure a 600 or 1k would have gave bigger buds but let it be known 286w of mixed spectrum fluorescent light can produce just as good a nug as a 400w HID system...

Anybody else have a similar setup goin that they can post some comparisons of? Like I mean does any other HID cat here also have a lil person CFL grow still and have a same strain going in both to compare?

Are you sure you got the same temps in the cabs?
Flowering time has a lot more to do with heat than light. 4-5 degrees C -/+ can make a plant finish a week late or earlier.

I like, and have used, both HID's and cfl's BTW, and IMO it is easier to get a big yield from the hps(It is perhaps because off too small space compared to wattage in my case). No problem getting quality from cfls though

 

[Mr. Hugeblunts]

HPS has a pretty terrible spectrum. I'd like to see CFL vs CMH

Either way, good job on the buds; they look better than mine

 

[Swansen]

Hey Thundurkel, what ratio of lights do you have per box? and i'm guessing you have six per cabinet? so how does that work out per light? 1per spectrum and two 2700k?? (best guess..)

 

[ScrubNinja]

Do you use tube fluoros in there too? I think I remember you discussing adding them at one point?

My pl-l buds were as big as the same strain grown outdoors by a more experienced grower. Definitely better smoke but I'm a little biased. But it was.

 

[microgram]

I think that's because of the dual spectrum to be honest. Like stated dozens of times before: "Given good enough conditions, marijuana does much better outside than indoors." And the only conclusion I have come upon is the fact that outdoors you get the TRUE full spectrum, even wavelengths that we may not know about. Like MR.Nice says "The best resin plants are grown on top of mountains."

My nugs are definitely not very swollen, but that might be because im using one spectrum with minimal wattage. (microgrows!!!)

 

[Castelvetro]

when u realize cfls put out more heat then hid lights of equal wattage the conveinence of hids win out even though everyone thinks there cooler. but the cfl spectrum is def better, but like an above poster said it would be nice to see your cfl compared to a cmh bulb as well, great grow, the cfl budds do look better-


it also looks like your hid plant is ripe or slightly over and the cfl just about to be, ive noticed that after caltalxes swell they shrink as the plant passes its prime- which makes good sense when u consider the orange light ripens things fastest.

 

[Hillbilly Wayne]

nice job!
all i have ever used has been fluorescents
i started with the old spectralux tubes, which worked but could not compete with the HID, but since T5 & cfl i have changed a few friends minds and one switched all together
he and i think they reduce the smell slightly, because they stress the plant less
but thats another debate all together

a little less heat, alot less power used, and less smell(maybe)
perfect for us little guys who aint making a living at it

isnt science lovely!

 

[Green Smoke]

when u realize cfls put out more heat then hid lights of equal wattage the conveinence of hids win out even though everyone thinks there cooler.

Paying $18.00 or more every 6 months for a new bulb is not what many would call conveinent. Not to mention replacing balasts. Replacing a burned out cfl is childs play. Dealing with heat is required no matter what you use, most micro growers have solved that issue long ago with inovative design.

 

[Castelvetro]

keeping plants and inch or two away from lights is not a picnic for either, hey not dissing clfs, i use em bro. to each his own, but they arent cooler watt for watt- i thought so untill recently, i can veg 3.5 ft buy about 5 ft with a 150hps all day, try that with 150watts of cfls.. its all good, its all a no picnic kind of thing in some way, but i agree with thundurkel if u read my first post, the cfl buds look bettah!

 

[LoKey]

Paying $18.00 or more every 6 months for a new bulb is not what many would call conveinent. Not to mention replacing balasts. Replacing a burned out cfl is childs play. Dealing with heat is required no matter what you use, most micro growers have solved that issue long ago with inovative design.

if you look at the rated hrs of both cfl's and hid, hid typically have around double the rated hrs compared to cfls.

now the 6 month thing i know relates to light degradation, but cfl's experience the same thing.

so its all really just whats your flavor, dont get me wrong im running cfl's at the moment as its what i had, but im definitely interested in trying CMH

 

[Thundurkel]

nice job!
all i have ever used has been fluorescents
i started with the old spectralux tubes, which worked but could not compete with the HID, but since T5 & cfl i have changed a few friends minds and one switched all together
he and i think they reduce the smell slightly, because they stress the plant less
but thats another debate all together

a little less heat, alot less power used, and less smell(maybe)
perfect for us little guys who aint making a living at it

isnt science lovely!

I agree on the smell somewhat but haven't run enough side by sides to really know. All I can say is it's time to play with spectrum more in HID grows like Sun Pulse folks are doing... Cuz I have noticed that my Thunder Goo girls in the tent are pushing 11 weeks right now and are barely purpling up like I've seen at 8-9 weeks in my CFL cab so I think that's something to take note of as well...

 

[microgram]

"A little less heat...." CFL'S produce next to zip for heat. and If you're putting in 100+ Watts for light, use PLL's, harness the ballast externally. Problem solved. CFLs in comparison to HID are 'cold'. The new LED technology that I've seen put out the same heat as CFL's. But only time will tell.

I have no idea what kind of bulbs you're using castelvetro, but CFL are 'icecubes' compared to HID bulbs in terms of heat output. But given a chance, heat will build up.

Just my

ug!

 

[Swansen]

anyone else know the ratio of bulbs he is using? (bulb per spectrum??)