New Grower CFL for seedling? What type? When to switch to bigger light?

[PhilGarcia]

Hello! What kind of CFL is recommended to start a seedling?

How far above the seedling should the bulb be?

How many nodes should the plant have for it to be safe to transfer it to a bigger light?

Thanks!

 

[Musturd]

Autos are different than what your thinking, I went with a mixed spectrum because I have plants at different ages. So I run the same lights 20 on 4 off all the time. I started with cfl and had great results with mixed (red and blue, 2700k and 6500k) The nodes can be controlled by how close you keep the light, 2-4 inches with cfl and floro, shooting for 1 inch spacing.

Since lights can be steady you should be more concerned about when to go from grow nutes to bloom nutes, read this

https://www.autoflower.org/f44/life-cycle-auto-flowering-cannabis-5113.html

I have it taped to my grow room wall

Your asking good questions you'll figure it out

 

[PhilGarcia]

Thank you for that link, Mustard...It clarifies some important things for me.

So, 2-4 inches above the seedling. And, is there a recommended number of nodes or age where I can switch it to a big light without stressing it out?

 

[Musturd]

I started everything in the final pot with the lights that will finish her. But I would say when they show thier sex if your gonna change lights.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. And I don't mind that cause I'm learning too

Just let em do thier thang :thumbs:

 

[The Squid]

Hey there Phil. What bigger light are you wanting/going to change out to? Either way after 2-3 weeks should be fine, which yes Musturd, is around sexing as well. If it's a bigger T5 unit then no change really, but if you're going to a larger HPS for instance you'll want to start about 24 inches from canopy and work down every day or so over the course of maybe a week, could be less, until you get within regular range of whatever light you're using. I just know that you may shock them they go from a few cfl to a 500watt HPS. Hope this helps.

 

[PhilGarcia]

Thanks to you both for the replies.

I'll be switching to a smaller LED (HydroGrow 21x-pro), and I'm still trying to find more info about how far that light should be from the plant. But, from what I have read, since it doesn't get too hot you can put it just a few inches above the plant without stressing it out. I'm not sure if I can do that right away after switching from the CFL...It might shock it, but then again I'm not sure if that's true. I'll just have to keep searching for more info on that light.

 

[The Squid]

Nooo. :no: Not the same with LEDs. One would maybe think that because of the temps but you'll fry them with LEDs that close. It's 18-24 inches for veg and 10-16 inches in flower. I would start at 24 inches and see how close your nodes grow together there. You're looking for an inch between nodes ideally. If they grow further apart then you can drop the LED a few inches and watch it tighten up.

 

[Epic Genetics]

Nooo. :no: Not the same with LEDs. One would maybe think that because of the temps but you'll fry them with LEDs that close. It's 18-24 inches for veg and 10-16 inches in flower. I would start at 24 inches and see how close your nodes grow together there. You're looking for an inch between nodes ideally. If they grow further apart then you can drop the LED a few inches and watch it tighten up.

is it truely fry them or is it light bleaching ?

ive never used an led but im considering buying a couple

peace

 

[Musturd]

Let's call it stress, It stresses them and my main goal as a new auto grower is to make them as comfortable as possible, Little stress makes better plants. Keep them happy they will make you happy.

Stress stunts

check out Stunted's work. Stunted=Stress

 

[PhilGarcia]

Squid and Musturd, thank you again! This is exactly the kind of info I need!