People who use CFL's for seedlings then go to HID - which bulb do you use?

proggyjammer · 01-28-2011, 10:02 AM

I am growing 2 Northern Lights seeds that I got from Nirvana. They are doing alright. I've gotten some help from different people on this site, and thank you to those who have helped me.

I have them under a desk lamp pushed very close to them, with a 23 watt compact fluorescent daylight bulb that has a 6000k color temp and puts out 1600 lumens. This is over only 2 seedlings. I am doing this until they can get stronger and more used to the light before I switch to my 100w MH for vegging.

I'd like to hear from anyone else who grows like this, using CFL's for seedlings before switching to HID. What wattage do you use to get them through the seedling phase? I'm wondering if replacing the 23w with a 42 or a 60 watt CFL would be worth it. I know it would be an improvement, but do I need to?

Note: I don't really want to hear from those who use CFL through the whole grow cycle, because I already know you will tell me I will need way more bulbs. But I am only doing this through the seedling stage.

Thanks everybody.

Happy tokin'/

Sugar420 · 01-28-2011, 10:38 AM

A 23w cfl is fine for 2 plants if its only going to be a few weeks. I think rather than spend money on a new bulb, you can just switch to the 100wmh a little sooner if they seem like they are getting stretchy.
normally people want to baby the plants for the first 4 weeks before they start to get aggressive with nutes and a big HID light, but a 100w light isnt going to kill em in their 2nd or 3rd week if its not too close and you have proper vent / temp control.

stoneric · 01-28-2011, 11:41 AM

I go from a 42W fluoro for seedlings to a 250W HPS for vegging to a 600W HPS for flowering. I have 3 seperate rooms so the size of the room is determined by the size of the lite. When going from the seedling room to the veg room I keep the lite a couple feet from the top of my plant until she gets used to the shock of the HPS, usually a couple days and then I gradually inch her closer.

proggyjammer · 01-28-2011, 11:57 AM

I am in process of buying 1-2 60w CFL's and see how they like that instead of the 23w. The 23 is okay, they aren't hating it, but I know they could handle way more with absolutely no shock. I assume. And I assume that I am assuming correctly, lol. They are looking extremely healthy right now, at about 6 days from planting. Can't wait to step up the bulb(s)!

farmergiles · 01-28-2011, 12:59 PM

The more light you give them the more bud you can produce. It's a linear relationship.

01-28-2011, 10:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
proggyjammer YaHookan Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 43 Thanks: 33 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	People who use CFL's for seedlings then go to HID - which bulb do you use? I am growing 2 Northern Lights seeds that I got from Nirvana. They are doing alright. I've gotten some help from different people on this site, and thank you to those who have helped me. I have them under a desk lamp pushed very close to them, with a 23 watt compact fluorescent daylight bulb that has a 6000k color temp and puts out 1600 lumens. This is over only 2 seedlings. I am doing this until they can get stronger and more used to the light before I switch to my 100w MH for vegging. I'd like to hear from anyone else who grows like this, using CFL's for seedlings before switching to HID. What wattage do you use to get them through the seedling phase? I'm wondering if replacing the 23w with a 42 or a 60 watt CFL would be worth it. I know it would be an improvement, but do I need to? Note: I don't really want to hear from those who use CFL through the whole grow cycle, because I already know you will tell me I will need way more bulbs. But I am only doing this through the seedling stage. Thanks everybody. Happy tokin'/

01-28-2011, 12:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
farmergiles Yahookan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sick of the hatred and the lies Posts: 7,807 Thanks: 2,285 Thanked 3,750 Times in 2,554 Posts	The more light you give them the more bud you can produce. It's a linear relationship. __________________ Cultivate a stoic calmness *Fuck the Monkeys* Every Kind of Vice

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01-28-2011, 10:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sugar420 Freedom Bird Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 6,138 Thanks: 41 Thanked 183 Times in 733 Posts	A 23w cfl is fine for 2 plants if its only going to be a few weeks. I think rather than spend money on a new bulb, you can just switch to the 100wmh a little sooner if they seem like they are getting stretchy. normally people want to baby the plants for the first 4 weeks before they start to get aggressive with nutes and a big HID light, but a 100w light isnt going to kill em in their 2nd or 3rd week if its not too close and you have proper vent / temp control.

01-28-2011, 11:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
stoneric bougeman Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 5,646 Thanks: 704 Thanked 1,512 Times in 1,067 Posts	I go from a 42W fluoro for seedlings to a 250W HPS for vegging to a 600W HPS for flowering. I have 3 seperate rooms so the size of the room is determined by the size of the lite. When going from the seedling room to the veg room I keep the lite a couple feet from the top of my plant until she gets used to the shock of the HPS, usually a couple days and then I gradually inch her closer.

01-28-2011, 11:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
proggyjammer YaHookan Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 43 Thanks: 33 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I am in process of buying 1-2 60w CFL's and see how they like that instead of the 23w. The 23 is okay, they aren't hating it, but I know they could handle way more with absolutely no shock. I assume. And I assume that I am assuming correctly, lol. They are looking extremely healthy right now, at about 6 days from planting. Can't wait to step up the bulb(s)!

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