Light for growing and producing peppers

[hotpepperman1]

Hey everyone! I am very,very new to pepper growing, and had a good start with an orange habanero plant, but now that frost season is upon me, I wish to try to grow some peppers inside my apartment. I don't have alot of space available because I am in Military Housing. I have some pics of my basic, poor setup. I have two compact florescent lights on the peppers right now. Each are 26 watt that produce 1750 lumens each, and are 2700K. I am trying to grow the seedlings, and also trying to grow some ripe peppers as well. Any suggestions of how to make this work in the space I have are highly welcome.

My Setup Pics

 

[Crusher]

I would first suggest changing the 2700k out to a 5000-6500k bulb. I did a test run with one plant under a 6400 and one under a 2700. The 2700 plant's growth was stunted while the 6400 plant doubled in size in about a month. I understand that 2700 may have some benefits with flowering, but you will definitely need a 5000-6500k to grow.

 

[SuperHot]

I would first suggest changing the 2700k out to a 5000-6500k bulb. I did a test run with one plant under a 6400 and one under a 2700. The 2700 plant's growth was stunted while the 6400 plant doubled in size in about a month. I understand that 2700 may have some benefits with flowering, but you will definitely need a 5000-6500k to grow.

+1

 

[hotpepperman1]

Ok. I have made the setup a little different. I think I am on the right idea now. I have two CFL soft white that produce 1750 lumens each @ 2700K, and two CFL daylight that produce about 1100 lumens each @ 6500K. I plan on putting some aluminum foil up for reflecting as well. Do you think I am on the right track? Would I need some type of heat source as well?

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[willard3]

Whether you will need heat depends upon what the heat loss of your growing space is. It is different than anyone else's.

Mylar is a better reflector than alum foil.