Overall CFLs are a useful addition to the grow lighting market – allot of growers prefer them to HIDs because of their cooler running temperatures, flexibility and low entry cost.
However, any professional grower will tell you that HIDs are the grow lights to use if you want to get the most out of your plants, and due to their availability at higher wattages, are the recommended lights to use if you’re using a grow tent or grow room with an area that’s greater than 1m x 1m.
In our experience, CFLs can work very well when they are used for propagation, in smaller grow rooms, or when they are used alongside HIDs to provide extra blue light to the leaves and flowers near the base of your plants.