New Grower Brand new, trying to figure out lights

[Growpanda]

OK I know everyone probably gets tired of answering this question but there is sooo muchin formation that contradicts itself. I have a room that is 10x12 and can not figure out the best way to light it. I don't want to spend too much this first go around but I also want a decent harvest. I'm thinking of using CFLs and would really appreciate some help. Thank you so much in advance

 

[Gadgetguy]

Personally I would wait if you are trying to run a room that big. I'd save some cash up and go LED or HPS. You will still end up spending a fair amount of money on lights to fill a room that size with CFL and you will eventually end up replacing them all with bigger lights anyways. You could buy 1 big light to start, and run a smaller area and just keep adding lights as time goes on and eventually fill your entire space. Don't forget about ventilation etc... Large rooms can get hard to cool off when you have a lot of lights pumping out the heat.

 

[Growpanda]

Is there a good way of separating the room to only use part without buying a tent?

 

[namvet25]

First off is this your fist grow? You should start off smaller at first until you gat some experience than go bigger as you go.You can make your room smaller by just hanging some white plastic with a few 2x4s and make the room to what ever size you want.

 

[late]

Start small.

I started growing one at a time, and decided to stay with
one at a time. It's easier, esp. the way I do it.

You will need to get the heat out, which is easier if you own and have to cut holes
in places. We also don't know the budget. If you have the bucks, you can just go buy
LED and a tent and see how it goes.

I am good at doing things on the cheap, if that's what you want.

Are you in the SW, NE or what? I am in the NE and am about to shut down my grow tent
because of the heat until the Fall. Again, it's easier and cheaper that way.

But that's me, you may have plans. If you do, this can get to be a whole lot of work
if you want to grow a bunch of plants. Nothing wrong with that, but it's easy to get in
over your head.

 

[epenguin]

As always, top advice from Nammy. Start small and simple. Two or four at most. Divide the room and invest in a decent LED which you can add to as you get more experience. Low electric costs and low heat issues for me is the way to go.

KISS - keep it simple stupid. Good luck chum, eP.

 

[Gadgetguy]

You don't have to have a tent. If you can keep the whole room dark you can just section off a corner and put a makeshift curtain around the grow made from pandafilm or some other reflective material. If you are doing autoflowers you may not even need to worry about keeping it light tight but I'm not sure on that, I've always grown photoperiod plants so my mind always goes towards keeping things light tight.

I just really think you'd be disappointed if you went with CFL's only, and it would seem like a waste of money after you started replacing them and saw what kind of yields you could get with more powerful lights.

 

[hippy]

I am no expert but I am gonna recommend you find a t5 fixture, 6 or 8 bulbs, on craigs list. they usually come with the veg bulbs and all you need to do is go buy 1 flower bulb. like 5 bucks. you can grow like 2 to 4 plants with that and learn heat management, which is a major pain to deal with, along with a lot of other issues you will need to learn. so far all the advice I have read here is right on its just what you feel comfy with. your gonna have your hands full this first grow. we all have for more like a bunch of grows. check out craigs list but keep in mind do NOT use used HPS bulbs if you go that route. buy that bulb new. don't worry about a tent or white walls or anything else. yet. and if going t5 keep the lights about 1 to 4 inchs away from bulb and don't freak out if the plant is touching the bulb. just raise it. you can upgrade later when you start feeling more comf

 

[hippy]

I have been growing just over a year now and have 2 8 bulb t5s, 1 6 bulb t5, 1 600 and and 1k hps bulbs and just went back to the 2 t5 cause I don't have heat management down yet . now I have all that money tied up in equipment just waiting for me. LOL

 

[leela]

Mylar Hyerfermia blankets 5 for £4 on Amazon they are quite big so if you bought say 7 boxes they are padded Cardboard boxes used as a wall with these just get stapler loads of people grow this way hope it helps