Feelings on CFLs?

[AChemicalMind]

I'm a mostly organic soil grower, I moved very recently and unfortunately am having to downgrade from a small grow room to a closet grow set up. I would really like to continue to grow perpetually with both vegeatative and flowering areas. I will be using one 400 watt MH/hps for my flowering area, and I would really like to be able to use another MH/HPS lamp for the vegetative but I'm worried about heat becoming an issue as is, even with some ventilation. A few friends who grow have suggested CFLs, as they are both affordable and provide less heat, and are supposedly suitable for vegetative periods but I have some reservation abouts the CFLs, as I have always been a MH/HPS user. What are some pros and cons? I just don't want my girls' yield or flavor to suffer. Thank you kindly for any help.

 

[cobain420]

Well I think that the CFL's probably might hurt your yield vs. the MH/HPS but if it's your only option then it's better than nothing I have seen some pretty amazing thhings done with CFL's Good luck!

 

[gdtrfb]

at least in terms of vegging, i've got no complaints about cfl.

i do like to give some MH the last week to 10 days of vegging, just prior to the flip to 12/12 and much more intense HPS light - it seems the plant is 'hardened' a bit to the higher light levels this way, but i could always be full of shit. but in terms of general vegging growth, if you don't have a lot of floorspace to cover (and it sounds like you don't) there's nothing wrong w/ cfl.

 

[Holdin']

Your friends are right about CFL's. If you think heat will be an issue, get some CFL's to use for veg, but keep your HPS for flower, and you'll be okay. I've used them to veg before, and they've done me just fine. The cons... having to move them around accordingly.

 

[djr3065]

I am growing in a closet using a 400 watt MH for veging. I keep the door open at times and use fans but don't have an issue with heat. I keep the light about 20 inches from the tops of the plants and they are doing great.

 

[superbolan]

Ive always used strictly HPS but recently i had to downsize and began using CFL's for the first few weeks of veg. I dont think you will be disappointed with them. just keep them as close to plants as possible and you will do fine

 

[cobain420]

I agree, if you are going with CFL's keeping them close as possible is very important, good luck!

 

[ISP_SmokeTrain]

^^ I do also. CFL's will work.

 

[early420]

I use a 100 watt fluorex in my veg chamber and can keep many clones and mothers happy although I will often add some side lighting when things get thick. I can keep a 400 and a 600 watt supplied with less than a 3x3x3 space. It works and it will work really good when you get it dialed in.

 

[igrowone]

cfl's are a god send for those of us with very small scale grows
for veg, i've had excellent results
and to tell you the truth, they can do flower pretty nice too

 

[mostnonymouse]

If heat DOES become an issue with the 400 watt you might look into dropping down to a 250 watt hps and supplementing with 4-5 cooler CFLs. Smaller grows seem to do quite well when the grower supplements with CFL's towards the opposite end of the spectrum.

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

Check out IC member Voodoo. He has brought CFL growing to a new level.

 

[Jdizzel]

drock
search him as well , he did a great job
6500K veg
2700K bloom
Start there

 

[Fuzz420]

CFl's do work

 

[teemu shalanie]

i got some monster mother plants vegging in buckets from cfl,also i use t-5s i seem to habve some seroius tree from using them also using to preveg, they r super handy, never flowered out anything using only cfls i would amagine it would be a lil stringy, but i will be trying to grow a monster in a gutted coke machine with a bunch of t-5s and the biggest cfl i can get,keep u posted

 

[Diiirty]

my feelings on cfls are that theyre great

 

[smokeymacpot]

cfls are excellent for putting close once seeds break the soil or for cloning. but i find plants grow too slowly under them, if you want faster veging then use a lower wattage hps light.

 

[Nicoli]

cfls grow me all my smoke. and it's delightful quality.

however, i will be upgrading to HID soon.. going bigger.

 

[igrowone]

cfls are excellent for putting close once seeds break the soil or for cloning. but i find plants grow too slowly under them, if you want faster veging then use a lower wattage hps light.

everyone has their own experiences, i will say i haven't gotten to HPS yet
but my vegging experience with cfl's is that plants nearly 'explode' under good daylight cfl's
just inspected my NL lst chamber, micro grow of 78w, and it filling up the grow area in days

 

[moonie]

I love CFLs, great for vegging. I've done 3 or 4 complete grows with CFLs and gotten some really awesome smoke from it too, not fluffy like alot of people say. I used 340 watts though.