Lighting Brand New Grower, Needs T5 Advice.

[StickMan]

Hey all you T5ers, I have never grown yet, but doing massive research here on AFN.

Anyway, my plan right now anyway is to get one Commercial brand, 4 foot long 8 bulb light.

Planning on using this light with ‘veg bulbs’ to start plants indoors, and then finish them off outdoors this summer. (after hardening them off of course)

After the outdoor grow season is over I plan on growing 2 autos at a time with this light.

I do plan on using ‘bloom bulbs’ at the appropriate time. Will this size light be enough without any additional lighting for 2 autos?

Anyone heard anything bad about Commercial brand? From my perspective the quality looks as good as the “Bad Boys”, just somewhat less expensive. But I will spend the extra money for the Bad Boys if need be.

Thanks Everyone, this is an incredible forum, with incredible people!

 

[namvet25]

Do you have the web sight for the commercial light?

 

[StickMan]

Do you have the web sight for the commercial light?

http://www.greners.com/i/grow-lights/fluorescent-grow-lights/t5-fixtures/commercial-t5-fixture.html

Thanks Namvet!

 

[alley_walker]

That's a lot of light for 2 plants.. I think I have 11 under my t5 but they are small plants--supposed to be. But, I looked at the sight and other than being a little high priced, looks ok to me. The thing about t5's is thay don't differ all that much except when you start talking about ballasts. But if one goes bad, you can always replace them. I had to change one out.. No big deal. I think I paid $170 for mine on Ebay. So far so good!

 

[Eekman]

Okay Stickman,

Let's see yer stuff. You did a bunch of research, You have stalked us from afar, now you are one of us. You've got your initial set up (assuming you get that light or similar). There will be nothing we can do about all the ideas that will pop into your head as you do your first grow, just rmember to keep it simple on your first go 'round. However there is just about everything we CAN do to help you grow a nice plant or two or more. Looks like a good enough start.

Are you using soil? what kind? How about pots?

I guess that would be the next question, ay?

just askin' And be proud, you are doing the right things.

Eek

 

[StickMan]

That's a lot of light for 2 plants.. I think I have 11 under my t5 but they are small plants

Hey Alley, I just read through your grow journal, WOW, who needs to grow with MH/Hps lighting! Yea I can see that I can certainly see that I grow more than 2 auto’s at a time.
Thanks.

Are you using soil? what kind? How about pots?

Hey Eek, thanks for chiming in. I will be growing in soil (TLO), not sure what mix yet,seems like everyone has their own recipes.

As far as Pots, for inside I’m a thinkin either Air pots, or Smart pots. For my outside grow this summer still haven’t decided.

Any input from on soil or pots, would be greatly appreciated!

I’m a lovein all you awesome people on this forum.

Thanks.
StickMan

 

[Noods]

I'm an Airpot fan myself, Stick. Haven't used smartpots.

Advice on pots: A mistake that many, many people make when filling the pots is leaving the soil too loose. After a while and a few waterings, the soil level sinks up to a few inches and the lower leaves of the plant are down under the level of the top of the pots. This is bad for circulation and an ideal breeding ground for mold on the top of your soil.
Also, it's hard enough to feed your plants (smaller, bushier phenos) when all of the foliage is above the top of the pot. If you're using airpots where you have to water slowly and develop a sort of system to do it, you'll constantly be splashing your leaves with your nutes solution and that can burn your leaves (IF they're below the level of the top of the pot).
To avoid this, you have to "pack" the soil in the pots. You don't want the soil to be like cement and rock hard, but you want it tight. What I do is start with an empty pot, add about 2 inches of soil, spray it down with some specially treated water, then lift the pot a few inches above the ground and let it fall. See? -now it's only 1 inch of soil. Next, add another two inches of soil, spray, lift, drop... and repeat this process till the pot is full. If you do this, the soil level will stay flush with the top of the pot till the end of the cycle.
Spraying with water while filling the pots leaves you with a pre-moistened environment that your beans will love to come to life in.

I agree, that fixture is gonna be great for two plants. They'll love it!

 

[pher2]

Hey Stick, you should be able to grow more than two plants under that light if you wanted to. i have a 4ft T5 with only 4 bulbs and i can grow anywhere from 2-12 plants depending on pot and plant size. Good luck and happy growing!

 

[X]

You might think about getting 2) 4-bulb fixtures, instead of 1) 8-bulb fixture... much easier for bulb changes and, if you do have a serious failure, it only affects half your lighting...

IMPORTANT: Make sure to get T-5 HO. I almost bought a regular T-5 fixture and the lumen output of the two isn't even close... It was on a grow website, and sold as a grow light, so be careful.

 

[wg]

If you're willing to spend some money, the new VHO systems are somethin' else.. I'd love to get one, I love flouros.. just make sure the plants fit under the fixtures, like tx said.. 2x 2 foot fixtures is a better solution than 1 x 4 foot fixture, even if it costs a bit more. Growing two plants you can keep them centered under the light each individually.. good results.