Alternate light cycles to 18/6 - 20/4

[Arthur]

As to the plants need sleep, I would concur if running microbes and not regularly inoculating. During the dark plants move things down to the microbes, during light microbes up to the plants. Symbiosis. As long as your reintroducing microbes regularly, you can get around it.

 

[AutoWonders]

That's a great thread. I read it twice, and ended up going 24/7. "Plants need sleep" was repeated hundreds of times, but to me it looked like 24/7 guys were proving the opposite with some impressive plants.

Before I started using Autocobs, I ran my 350 watt 5 watt diode led lights around the clock. I finished a little quicker and felt that I got a little more product. With autos being classified c 3 and not needing a dark period, that worked for me quite well.

 

[420Forever]

Watch your plants, they tell you everything you need to know.

hear-hear! ppp

 

[Bong Whisperer]

As to the plants need sleep, I would concur if running microbes and not regularly inoculating. During the dark plants move things down to the microbes, during light microbes up to the plants. Symbiosis. As long as your reintroducing microbes regularly, you can get around it.

I have a hard time believing the plants (or microbes or whatever) need darkness theories, because I live in a place where we have all day sunshine during mid summer*, and you can see plants loving it. Now, we don't grow much outdoor weed for legal reasons, but if every other plant loves it...

* In the above mentioned light schedule thread there are actually people who don't believe this happens on our planet.

 

[Arthur]

I have a hard time believing the plants (or microbes or whatever) need darkness theories, because I live in a place where we have all day sunshine during mid summer*, and you can see plants loving it. Now, we don't grow much outdoor weed for legal reasons, but if every other plant loves it...

* In the above mentioned light schedule thread there are actually people who don't believe this happens on our planet.

Yeah well... wen you think the earth is flat... extended arctic days don't make sence.

 

[redxber]

Damn
You all are awesome

Thank you for that link and the replies Sorry for the delay In response as I was 20 pages deep into that thread.

What I’ve come down to is the following....

There is more then one way to skin this pig

Ultimately do what is best for you and your girls living situation while keeping an eye on their performance
Use a light schedule of 18+ hours favoring a dark period for a newer grower as myself while becoming familiar with the strains your working with and their growth parameters.
Understand the plants may need different parameters as you increase the light and decrease the dark.
Alternate lightning schedules your mileage may vary...other then the traditional 18+ lights on and 6 hours or less off other light schedules can and does cause stress to the plants that have possibilities of damaging the plant or lowering your yields

redber

 

[420Forever]

Yeah well... wen you think the earth is flat... extended arctic days don't make sence.

ppp

 

[redxber]

As to the plants need sleep, I would concur if running microbes and not regularly inoculating. During the dark plants move things down to the microbes, during light microbes up to the plants. Symbiosis. As long as your reintroducing microbes regularly, you can get around it.

This then supports my use of a dark period as I have my seedlings in coco/perlite with dry organic amendments added (went the Dr Earth 444/flower girl route). I’ll add the top dressing when it transitions to flower but will only be watering with PH’ed water with molasses and a compost tea added at times to help keep the microbes happy

 

[Slater]

I've ran all the different times from 18 / 6 to 24hr and all I ever seen is a bigger electric bill (most of the time)... same strains from 18 / 6 to 24 hr, pretty well much the same yield give or take an Oz due to phenotype and it's normally the 18 / 6 runs that end up yielding the bit more... my opinion is that they do need some rest, how much is a debate to be had over and over but I feel 4hrs is the minimum amount.

 

[Bong Whisperer]

It would be highly interesting to see some even remotely scientific testing on this.