Originally Posted by sharer6969

Really nice work KD. I've been following the thread, and have got quite a bit out of it. It's certainly given me much to think about in my own growing plans.

I've come to the conclusion that most of the criticisms of CFL growing revolve around a misunderstanding of the real "niche" CFLs are meant to fill - namely, the micro grower, who is really only interested in keeping a garden for his immediate needs, or who wants to "boutique" a few quality plants for some far out straing, etc.

Obviously, for larger operations they become cost prohibitive.

One problem I've perceived, further, is that a lot of the advice being given to micro-growers is usually just a scaled down version of things one would do in a more "commercial" setting. That is not at all a knock at those techniques or the quality of the product they can produce. It simply means that when you go onto a really small scale, your priorities are probably different. Having the absolutely most efficient watt/lumen ratio isn't the only consideration - keepin' it simple, and super stealth are also important.

Further, it's obvious from everything I've seen that cfls really cannot be used at all in the same way HIDs are. They need to be kept close to the plants, which is how they compensate for their lower intensity. Further, they offer a very good colour spectrum if you buy the right bulbs.

I'm still trying to hammer out exactly how I want to do this. But you've certainly been of some assistance with your growlog. Thanks again.