My grow setup. Budget Lighting

[Thestonedranger]

This is my setup.

3 182 watt LED from Lowes

2 25 watt side lights (I rotate the plants 3-4 times per day)

20/4 light schedule

temp stays around 70

humidity 50%

Fox Farm Ocean Forest soil

soil and water PH is right @ 7

I am moving grow area to the 5ft.X4ft. alcove pictured
I started off 1 of the 4 ft. grow light and have been adding them as my budget (wife) allows
I now have 3 of the 182 watt overhead and 2 of the 25 watt side lights.
I plan on adding 2 more of the 182 watt lights.

I could not find any reviews online for these lights,but my plants seem to be doing ok
Is this enough light for a 5x4 area?
![lAq2OocWSdOhw6ZvHs7fWA|375x500](upload://bv

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[Retiredoldguy]

I have not seen these bulbs before so no knowledge to share with you…the specs look decent…you do what you can with what you can …good luck and keep the forum informed on how these lights work out

[MidwestGuy]

You can do far, far better for the price. Suggest looking for a product built with Samsung LM301 series diodes. Any light from Lowes, Home Depot, etc… aren’t going to do a very good job for flowering, though they will do fine in veg.

[Borderryan22]

I’m not a lighting expert, that would be @dbrn32, he’s the guy for that. I will say that the par/ppf seems awfully low for cannabis.

Seedlings 150-300ppfd
Vegetative 250-600ppfd
Flowering 500-1050ppfd

I know more is better in many cases, but I think you would benefit far more from one or two quality, more cannabis specific, LED light systems.

[dbrn32]

1.182 umol/joule is scary, this less efficient than most hps light. Most of the high end led lights are in the neighborhood of 3 umol/joule. That means a ppf of 3 umols per watt per second.

For good flower production it’s typically recommended to have ppfd average of 600-800 umols/s per square meter.

[2GreenThumbs]

Is it just me, ahhh anybody else rotate their plants 4 times a day? I’m more of a believer in letting nature do it’s thing, all that messing with the orientation is foreign to me. Might mess around and make a he-she.

[MidwestGuy]

I rotate mine each time I water - about every 3 to 4 days.

[Thestonedranger]

Those specs are the side lighting.So since I’m using 3 overhead lights wouldn’t the number be 3.5? Thanksfullsizeoutput_3e0c|666x500

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[Thestonedranger]

Could you recommend a specific model?
Thanks

[MidwestGuy]

Dbrn may have a better suggestion since he keeps up with the latest models, but I would look at something like an HLG (Horticulture Lighting Group) 320. HLG lighting is optimized for cannabis and they use the latest technology. The lights are built with Samsung LM301h diodes, which are the best technology available. Spider Farmer and Mars lights also use the Samsung LM301b model, which is also a very capable light that you might be able to pick up a bit cheaper.

Good lighting is probably the single most important factor for growing weed. Quality lighting produces quality bud. Inadequate lighting will result in tall plants with airy buds.

[Thestonedranger]

Thanks!

[Thestonedranger]

Since I am using side lighting for the lower branches, it makes sense to me to rotate so that the lower buds get even light.
After all sunlight doesn’t from the same direction all day.

[dbrn32]

@Thestonedranger

So since I’m using 3 overhead lights wouldn’t the number be 3.5?

Negative. Using more lights doesn’t increase the efficiency of the lights, just increases the amount light/lights you have.

You’re looking for light to flower 20 ft² right? Hlg scorpion diablo, scorpion r-spec, 650r would all do it. May find some deals in refurbished section.

[DEEPDIVERDAVE]

@MidwestGuy

Any light from Lowes, Home Depot, etc… aren’t going to do a very good job for flowering, though they will do fine in veg.

So you have time to flower light shop, now, for Christmas, before you flip.
Good Growing to you.

[Bunger64]

I was given the direction from this great place to the HLG 650R this replaced 6 purple lights and I have to run turned down to 6. I also searched for a coupon and saved 30 percent on my spider farm 2000. That is over my clones and seedlings

[Tophat]

The actual wattage listed in the specs are way lower than the advertised wattage. At 25 watts per light it would take six of those to equal my $119 mars hydro ts1000w and it’s barely enough for my 2x2 tent. Definitely check out hlg lights. More money but you only have to buy them one time.

[Auto11]

HLG blackbird … they do make great lights.
This is what i just got. Love it

[Bunger64]

Here is a good example of lighting these clones. 3 in back are under spider farm light

I gave my buddy 2 clones he has one of my 1500wt burple light

Same soil, and mother, and planted same time. His lighting is what i started with. Amazing the difference.

[Thestonedranger]

Good Morning ILGM fam! Was able to procure a used Spider Farmer SF 7000 for 350$.
Hopefully there is still time for these 3 plants to benefit from it before harvest
I have the light sitting 14" off the tallest plant, and set to maximum power

.
Thanks again for all the responses.

[Lenzo]

I ran 2 Spider Farmer SF1000’s on 3 plants into flower and they worked decently.
Half way through flower i upgraded to HLG350R. There was a noticeable difference in
bud growth when i did that.
Think you’ll notice a huge growth increase. good luck.