CFL & T5 Grow Lights
CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) and T5 Grow Lights are energy efficient, cooler running and produce less heat than equivalent wattages of High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting. They're perfect to use during propagation. You can also use them throughout a grow cycle for smaller grow rooms. You can also incorporate CFL/T5 grow lights into flower rooms, using a HPS grow light. Adding the CLF/T5 grow lights works to balance the spectrum, increasing the overall final quality. For more info on CFL/T5 grow lights, Read our buyers guide below.
CFL/T5 Grow Lights
CFL/T5 as a Standalone Option
Standard CFL/T5 grow lights are generally supplied in lower 100W – 300W wattages. This means they don't produce high intensity of light or heat as a result.
Individual CFL and T5 grow light fixtures work well in smaller rooms, think under 1m2. You'll need more than one for a larger space.
CFL/T5 grow light fixtures are cheap. This makes the initial costs of setting up a new garden less of a burden. Other options will give you more final yield, if you're looking for vegetative and flowering grow lights, but cost more, such as 400V HID or LED.
CFL Grow Lights are perfectly suited to propagation and early vegetative growth. You'll get better results in terms of speed of growth with stronger HID lighting on a dimmed setting.
We only recommend flowering under CFL's if other options won't work in your scenario. Issues include heat issues, or height limitations. HID & LED will outperform CFL lights in terms of yield and quality, but only in larger grow rooms with ample headspace.
Supplementary CFL Grow Lights
Some growers choose to hang CFL's around their garden to provide supplementary light from the blue side of the spectrum, helping to balance the nutrition in the light the plants receive. Blue wavelengths will reduce the stretch at the onset of flower, as well as promote terpenes and flavonoids in the fruit towards the end of flower.
If you need more info on CFL grow lights, email us or call our specialist team on 0800 085 7995 who can advise you on the best solution for your space and cultivar.