Are regular CFLs and different from the same ones labeled as grow bulbs? - Orchid Board

ljoycek · #1 06-01-2010, 07:19 PM

"any" sorry.

I just bought a 200W 6500K 2800 lumens bulb at the hardware store for much less than I paid at an online garden shop. Is there any difference if all the specs are the same?

BTW I know about T5s or whatever. I mean strictly apples to apples.

Thanks!
-Rob

WhiteRabbit · #2 06-02-2010, 12:33 AM

well - I don't know much about grow lights - tho I think it can have something to do with the color spectrum as well as the lumens - bumping this so hopefully someone who can help sees it

ljoycek · #3 06-02-2010, 01:42 PM

Thanks for the bump, WhiteRabbit. I'm glad you're not as hammy as me... I would have said "Go ask Alice. I think she'll know."

The color temperature and lumens are the same as my other bulb, which is specifically labeled "grow light" and cost considerably more at a specialty retailer. So does anyone know if there are any other differences?

John D. · #4 06-02-2010, 04:29 PM

I don't think there will be any difference with the CFLs. BTW is that a 200w equivelent (actually using about 40watts) or does the bulb consume 200 watts.

ljoycek · #5 06-09-2010, 07:13 PM

It's 200W equivalent. BTW it is growing a bunch of herbs, etc. beautifully (the orchids are outside for the summer).

johnblagg · #6 06-09-2010, 08:13 PM

There is not any difference if the specs are the same In fact I used to buy ....The GROW LIGHT types untill I got smart and read up on them ....

A warm white is in the red end of the spectrum and better for blooming some stuff,and a cool white is in the blue end of the spectrum and better for vegatative growth ....I just go with biggest wattage of warm white I can find and often dont even pay much attention to that if I find a nice high watt bulb after all I used to notice how well plants grew in offices with flouresent lighting compared to at my house for years before I started useing plain old shop lights and then LOL the wide spectrum grow lights.

Now I use a wide range of lights depending on the space I want to use ...I have 400 watt high intensity metal halides and 400 watt High pressure sodiums as well as a 250 watt high pressure sodium and several 85 watt cfls.By the way the 85 watt cfl is the equivalent of a 300 watt incadesent and puts out 4200 lumens and is the 5000k daylight bulb.

Right now my set up has one 250 watt High pressure sodium and two 85 watt cfls in use....Catts are directly under the hps and phals and dens under cfls