thinmac

I'm growing 6 white widow plants in a 2' by 3' cabinet. I vegged for 3 weeks under 125 watt Sunleaves compact fluorescent, and have been flowering for another 3 weeks under that lamp and a pair of 20 watt grow lights I had lying around.

Now, three weeks in to flower everything is looking great, but I'm starting to worry that I don't have enough light. With that in mind, I've been looking at buying a 250 watt HPS setup. Thing is, I'm broke, so the $150 or so that this is going to cost me is going to hurt right now.

My question is, is switching to the 250w HPS at this point in the grow (well, this point plus a week or two, since it'll take me that long to get it together) going to make a significant difference in my quality or yield? If not, I'll save the money and eat less ramen, but if it is, I think I can tighten my belt for a few weeks.

KingKong-Plantr

Well, youve got about another five weeks of bloom left..I would definantly get the extra light..It will increase yer yield and give you a nice solid base to start yer next grow off of..

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ltsystems

if your going to get it now is the time.

under 120$ total

http://www.e-conolight.com/Product/E...ber=E-HR4H25QZ

or


http://www.e-conolight.com/Product/E...umber=E-BLH25Q

SMOKKEY

take half that 150$ and spend like 75 bux on flours u can get 7 duel 40 watt t-12s and the bulbs for them that 75 bux for over 500 extra watts spend the other 75$ on sum bud and watch them grow!!!!!!

ltsystems

watts x flours is not equal with watts x hps


with equal watts plant growth with hps is grater than with flours

knna

I believe that buying the 250w woulth worth now. You will notice the diference in yield and probably in quality. Not because the HPS give better quality than your CFLs, but a underlit garden dont yield fine.

I think you must do any kynd of investment now. I you spent in the 250w now, maybe it hurts you, but the whole investment would be lower. The other option is buying some more CFLs, and put two with reflectors above (one at each side of the 125w CFL) and some hanged between the plants. This would be cheaper in the short run and will allow you to get a decent harvest.

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Bulb Analyzer Tool

MajoR_TokE

High Tech Garden Supply has an awesome 400w hps setup, with a blue spec enhanced hps bulb, and a reflector hood, this light can work from start to finish, it costs 119.95.. Just don't say what you are growing.

thinmac

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I've ordered a 250 watt light from insidesun.com.

I'd love to go with a 400 watt, but I just don't think the older 15 amp circuits where I'm at will handle that, plus the veg light, plus the pumps, etc. If I get a chance to add a 30 amp circuit, then I'll upgrade to a 430, but until then, 250 it is.

I think it'll be fine anyway; with basically a 2x3 garden, that's 41 1/3 watts per square foot. Plus, I'm going to air cool it when I get the chance, so I'll be able to drop that 250 right down on top of them. I think it should be good.

DLA

Inside Sun...you won't see it in a week for sure. Maybe 3 weeks.

Here<---Click Me!!!

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From Chi toCali

Light intensity is most important in the first weeks of flowering. If you don't get the lights until week 5 or 6 then you wont see a substantial weight gains. Because of security i had to move some large plants in week 5 from beening right under a 1000w to getting indirect light about 5-feet from a 400 watt. The yield was the same as when i had the same size/amount under a 1000 watt for the entire 8 weeks.

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