What type of light should I get for growing "stuff" indoors?

Question

I'm looking for a cheap solution, i'm talking wal-mart, lowes, home depot cheap. My grow space is 29" long x 3' feet wide x 5ft High and i'm planning on growing 6-8 plants for personal consumption. What type of bulb should i get? How many watts and Lumens?

I'm desperate for help on this matter.

I need straight answers and no bullshit if you've got stupid jokes to say about me smoking or growing just keep it to yourself.

Answer 1

29" long is perfect to fit a series of T4 fluorescent lighting fixtures.  They are relatively cheap and easy to set up.  For bulbs, you will want 6400K full spectrum ones.  You can find both at any home improvement store.   The number of fixtures and the number of lumens will depend on what you are growing.   My suggestion is to get a light meter that measures lumens and add enough fixtures to give you the lighting you want.  The light meter will also be handy as fluorescent bulbs lose their intensity over time.

Answer 2

Hmmm, well it depends how cheap man. Sounds like a closet room so here is my past experience. A good place to pick up your lights on the cheap is a liquidation wherehouse, or on the net at ebay craigslist etc. They all offer the ballast settups needed to run say a 400W HPS (High Pressure Sodium) or other similar large lights like Medal Halide (has a more dense yellow red spectrum of light similar to street lights). For six to eight plants go with a little cooler light like a HPS or much cheaper Flourescent bulbs. Flourescents are your cheapest option and are much cooler, compact, and readily available, but will lessen your harvest weights.  I highly recomend some grow books that you can find on amazon ..put in the search "stuff" grow guide and get a cheap book. I have used personally one 250W HPS and acheived good results. Just move the light up as they grow carefull not to burn them. If you can afford the bigger bulbs ask some of the experienced guys on the lights and equipment, ballast, wiring, timers, etc. They do sell the 400W setups for store lights or barns and such and sometimes you can find these cheap...they are the same lights you use to grow with, such as the street lights I mentioned before..if you have any basic electrical skill you can rig it up quick, just get your timer, light/ballast, wiring, light reflector, and right plug setup. Just ask if not sure or get a good book...

1.Cheapest-Flourescent tubes or compact, get a couple 75w tubes and keep close to plants.$75-$200

2. HPS or Medal Halide, hotter, more expensive $200-$400+more electricity, but better yeilds.

All depends on where you get your goods...

I wish I could tell ya more but I could write a small book on this stuff, i hope this helps a bit and happy growing to ya.