Side Lighting w/ CFLs??

[Navigator330]

Hello all:

My question is... I am running a 400 watt HPS system and i want to add side lighting during flower... I was thinking 6 CFL's of about 40 watts each, one on the left side and one on right. Is 240 watts on two sides enough to get some lower branch buds growin better? Maybe make for some bigger buds?

Does any one have experience with this or something similar.... Any suggestions or past thread i should stop by?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Iron_Lion]

I use them to suppliment my 250W the more light the better,they just have to be kept extremely close to the plants which shouldnt be an issue since then run pretty cool.

 

[Dr Dog]

The only issue I would have with that is it would promote plant to expend more energy on growing lower popcorn buds and less from the main colas. As a part of nature plants have developed teh ability to grow pretty well straight up, which incidentally is normally up. Not to say that putting side lighting wont increase your light penetration and thus side and lower buds.

I would say go for it, but I would keep the light more closer to the top of the plant, maybe on a diagonal path from the canopy down

 

[Navigator330]

Dr Dog: Thanks for the input! After careful consideration about all the options i do believe i am going to put them closer to the canopy as suggested.

4 - 42Watt CFL's @ 2700K and 2800 Lumens Each

equals 11200 more lumen of flower power.... so i think it will help alot and be cheaper than getting another 175 or a 250 remote ballasted light.

I am going to construct 2 of these 4x setups and see how they work...... extra 23000 lumens will be kickin'!



Stand by for diagram and pictures!

 

[Chief]

howd it work out

 

[facelift]

Side lighting may be a waste of time. You want to flower the entire plant, but the realty of the problem is that you can't produce light as intense as the sun. You're better off focusing as much light as possible to the top 1.5 feet of the plants. Therefor, any side light will have to be close enough to the top 1.5 feet of and sides of the plant.

 

[Dope Boy Magik]

Iv heard of using red and blue christmas lgihts around the plants..does this even work??...I mean lireally..wraps the plants in chritmas lights like a christmas tree???!!