Is this a good option for a grow light?

[sleuth]

As mentioned in other posts, I'm trying to start my own garden indoors on the cheap.

I've researched DIY fixtures and store-boughts to build as many grow lights as I can for as little as possible.

Seems to me the biggest bang for my buck would be these at Home Depot.

Reviews are lousy except for the one guy who says they are working great as grow lights.

Are these bulbs sufficient enough or am I going to need to upgrade bulbs in them? Should I keep looking?

 

[Wannabefree]

That's almost exactly what I use, and mine do great. For that price though....better double check and make sure the bulbs are included, that may be just the fixture. Mine were higher than that, by almost double including the bulbs.

 

[Emerald]

They look like my grow lights too.. but I got mine for about $6(no bulbs) and the bulbs cost more than the lamp fixture. lol but I did buy grow bulbs. I have them on chains and hooks and can move them up and down with the growth of the plants..

 

[Wannabefree]

I got the regular fluorescet bulbs for mine. I was looking on the back of the bulbs in Walmart when I bought mine, and the red and blue spectrum on both bulbs were the exact SAME, but one of the bulbs was colored and the other wasn't, one labelled grow light, and the other was not. The prices were WAY different, so I went for the cheapies

 

[Emerald]

I got the regular fluorescet bulbs for mine. I was looking on the back of the bulbs in Walmart when I bought mine, and the red and blue spectrum on both bulbs were the exact SAME, but one of the bulbs was colored and the other wasn't, one labelled grow light, and the other was not. The prices were WAY different, so I went for the cheapies

mine are over 10 years old haha. if they ever burn out I am just buying a cool and a warm set to pop in heck I even had a CFL in one of the brooder hoods and it had enuf light for one small pot of baby boc choi last year. I just ran out of room under the lights.

 

[Wannabefree]

I'm about in the same boat, but I will just have to buy more lights

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Its mainly DH's baby but we have a shelving unit from Northern Tools and a few fluorescent lights bought at our local Ace Hardware, with chains, which we adjust according to how the plants are growing. We have bought gro lights in the past, but our current set up is serving us just fine. If possible we put white poster board on the walls to give more light.
It looks nice. Everything is growing really good. He planted everything in used pots or in plastic cups. He knows how much I hate heating with electricity, but he put an electric heater to help thing gerinate good; which now we don't need it anymore cuz its warming up.
The one year investment can be caught back in next several years with buying seeds instead of plants. Works for me.

 

[sleuth]

That's almost exactly what I use, and mine do great. For that price though....better double check and make sure the bulbs are included, that may be just the fixture. Mine were higher than that, by almost double including the bulbs.

You nailed it. No bulbs. :/

 

[sleuth]

They look like my grow lights too.. but I got mine for about $6(no bulbs) and the bulbs cost more than the lamp fixture. lol but I did buy grow bulbs. I have them on chains and hooks and can move them up and down with the growth of the plants..

Where did you find them for $6?

 

[Wannabefree]

That's almost exactly what I use, and mine do great. For that price though....better double check and make sure the bulbs are included, that may be just the fixture. Mine were higher than that, by almost double including the bulbs.

You nailed it. No bulbs. :/

Yeah...sorry :/