PPFD Source selection?

Badfinger · Oct 23, 2021

I am hoping someone here can help me.

I am trying a PPFD phone app just to get me in the general range of finding the ideal height and power percentage for my LED's. But I am lost with all the Source type choices.

My light is listed as having:

LED
3000k white
5000k blue
660nm red
760nm IR

Any recommendations as to which Source type I would pick for this app? It has 14 sources to choose from in the list. Do I need to list those too?

Bob's Auto's · Oct 23, 2021

Sorry to say that Phone apps are really terrible at measuring light.
What I would do is look at the tops and leaves on the plant(s). If the leaves are canoeing then the lights are to close.

What kind of lights do you have? Maybe we can find a reference online for it? :toke:

Badfinger · Oct 23, 2021

Auto_Bob said:
Sorry to say that Phone apps are really terrible at measuring light.
What I would do is look at the tops and leaves on the plant(s). If the leaves are canoeing then the lights are to close.

What kind of lights do you have? Maybe we can find a reference online for it?

I have 3-100watt Groplanner Led lights. The manufacturer gives recommended distances which I adhered too last grow, which was also my first grow. They worked pretty good, got 8 oz from two plants. But the last few weeks of my grow one plant, the top cola leaves turned brown and died, the other they turned white. I never did get any canoeing, they just started dying at the tips and rolling up towards the cola.
I suspect my light burn was either a bad height for my strain, or possibly a nute deficiency that made the plants extremely sensitive to the light. I am leaning towards the deficiency hunch, cause I did have a issue I really never figured out.

I had chatted with another guy who had the same lights for a couple grows under his belt, and he had no issues, we both used the 80% power @ 16 inches away, during flower.

GreenBean · Oct 23, 2021

Which app is it? Most of them are eh. But Photone has been tested by a few reviewers like the Migro dude against their apogee units and is surprisingly good, provided you are using a “diffuser” as recommended. Although he recommends adding about 10% to the readings at and above 800 PPFD.

Bob's Auto's · Oct 23, 2021

GreenBean said:
Which app is it? Most of them are eh. But Photone has been tested by a few reviewers like the Migro dude against their apogee units and is surprisingly good, provided you are using a “diffuser” as recommended. Although he recommends adding about 10% to the readings at and above 800 PPFD.

Not to kick you in the heels, but unless one can measure correctly it's only an assumption. I believe it's better to learn how to read your plants then use a tool. Except for a real sensor off course, but those are so expensive...

GreenBean · Oct 23, 2021

Auto_Bob said:
Not to kick you in the heels, but unless one can measure correctly it's only an assumption. I believe it's better to learn how to read your plants then use a tool. Except for a real sensor off course, but those are so expensive...

I do know how to read my plants. As a matter of fact, whenever I am asked questions about growing, I repeatedly repeat the fact that one must learn to read plants before anything else, ad nauseam. So I do understand what you are saying. There’s no schedule, or app, that can do the work for you.

However I do believe that certain “tools” can be used to help you get closer to the ballpark. Do I use Photone? I do. But more as an extra tool in the toolbox I suppose.

Badfinger · Oct 23, 2021

GreenBean said:
Which app is it? Most of them are eh. But Photone has been tested by a few reviewers like the Migro dude against their apogee units and is surprisingly good, provided you are using a “diffuser” as recommended. Although he recommends adding about 10% to the readings at and above 800 PPFD.

I seen a couple youtube reviews of phone apps, and the Photone seems to be the most accurate, but unfortunately, they all say it's not so accurate with android, and ofcourse I have an android. LOL

Badfinger · Oct 23, 2021

Accurate or not, I still havent found out which measurement setting I would use with a ppfd meter.

GreenBean · Oct 23, 2021

Yeah Photone is an iOS only app I believe.

As far as the app you have does it have a selection for “full spectrum” LED? If so, that would be the choice.,

PPFD Source selection?

Badfinger

High as a Kite

Bob's Auto's

On a breeding journey...

Badfinger

High as a Kite

GreenBean

Let's see what happens!

Bob's Auto's

On a breeding journey...

AMG

GreenBean

Let's see what happens!

Badfinger

High as a Kite

Badfinger

High as a Kite

GreenBean

Let's see what happens!

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