Fast Buds Is this the biggest Chemdawg ever?

[Delps8]

I had the DLI at 35 smh. I thought since they are in the prime of there flowering that they needed more light. My buds aren't getting any bigger. So I lowered it to 25 DLI as per the PPFD app. I don't have a lux meter. Idk how accurate the app is to begin with. So I have been kinda doing it buy feel. Like if they look like they could take more light I would increase the intensity a little bit. Then if they started to look stressed I would back it off. Idk I'd I messed this grow up or not. Buds are tiny no colas at all. They only have 2 weeks left as per the breeders timeline.

You can get a good yield at 35 mols so don't beat yourself up over giving them "only" 35 moles. When photos switch to flower, they're almost always on 12/12, and 900 µmols for 12 hours is a DLI of 38.9 mols*. There could be something else causing that issue.

You did use the exact technique that you should have re. lighting your plants - you increased the amount of light until you saw light stress and then backed the light level down.

I tested Korona, now renamed Photone, in early 2021 and bought an Apogee. Just for the heck of it, I tested Photone a few months ago and it was 16% high at 25, 50, 75, and 100%. It's great that it's consistent but it's of concern that was it that far off. Per the data in the table that I posted, I'd go with a lux meter instead of Photone if I had an HLG light, a Growcraft, or any other light where I could get a conversion factor. I know of a grower here on AFN (I suspect he's forgotten more about growing cannabis than I will ever know) who uses a Growcraft and, instead of buying a light meter, he just uses the data on the Chilled web site and changes his dimmer setting. That's pretty trick.

"Buds are tiny no colas at all. They only have 2 weeks left as per the breeders timeline."
Could there be other factors at play? Per Bugbee, there are nine parameters to the grow environment and they work in concert. When I started growing again early last year, I used that diagram as a how-to guide. Check each part of your grow and maybe something will come to mind as being a potential issue.

"2 weeks left on the breeders timeline" - meanwhile, here on Earth….
Take their numbers with a grain of salt. Reading through grow journals here on AFN, very few grows match what the breeders put on their sites. Don't let that scare you off. Late flower is where they "pack on the pounds" so the more light you give them, the more they can photosynthesize, and that will increase yield.


*PPFD in µmols * hours * 0.0036 = mols

 

[throxic]

The PPFD app needs to be calibrated if you want accurate results. Otherwise, you're playing a guessing game. I picked up the lux meter they recommend and now I don't have to guess. At your stage, you should be good to push them to 35-45 DLI as you still have at least 4-6 weeks left based on the pic you posted. Never go by breeder timelines, always go by trichs because if you do any training, you extend the timeline in my experience.

What you're doing by backing the light off if they looked stress is a good way to go if you don't have a reliable way to accurately gauge the PPFD. Being able to feel your plants is one of the gardener's best tool.

 

[DoobieGrows]

The PPFD app needs to be calibrated if you want accurate results. Otherwise, you're playing a guessing game. I picked up the lux meter they recommend and now I don't have to guess. At your stage, you should be good to push them to 35-45 DLI as you still have at least 4-6 weeks left based on the pic you posted. Never go by breeder timelines, always go by trichs because if you do any training, you extend the timeline in my experience.

What you're doing by backing the light off if they looked stress is a good way to go if you don't have a reliable way to accurately gauge the PPFD. Being able to feel your plants is one of the gardener's best tool.

I wish I didn't buy this Hlg 600Rspec. It's way too strong for Autoflowers. I wish I did my homework a little better. I researched led grow lights for over a year only to make a stupid decision. I should have just got a Kingbrite and been done with it. Everything I ever learned about growing weed goes out the window with these Autoflowers. I maybe should have grown a few before buying 20 packs of mephisto beans smh. I was so happy with the grow. But it seems my plants are going backwards not forward.

 

[DoobieGrows]

meanwhile, here on Earth….
Take their numbers with a grain of salt

Hahaha

 

[throxic]

I wish I didn't buy this Hlg 600Rspec. It's way too strong for Autoflowers. I wish I did my homework a little better. I researched led grow lights for over a year only to make a stupid decision. I should have just got a Kingbrite and been done with it. Everything I ever learned about growing weed goes out the window with these Autoflowers. I maybe should have grown a few before buying 20 packs of mephisto beans smh. I was so happy with the grow. But it seems my plants are going backwards not forward.

Don't beat yourself up, it's a great light and it has a dimmer, right? I'm on the team of wanting too much light than not enough. Your girls look great in the picture you posted and you can't go wrong with Mephisto. Some of the frostiest and best flavors in the auto game. (The CDLC I grew is so good, I catch myself taking dry hits just for the taste... and the potency is comparable to some photos I've grown in the past.)

 

[DoobieGrows]

The PPFD app needs to be calibrated if you want accurate results. Otherwise, you're playing a guessing game. I picked up the lux meter they recommend and now I don't have to guess. At your stage, you should be good to push them to 35-45 DLI as you still have at least 4-6 weeks left based on the pic you posted. Never go by breeder timelines, always go by trichs because if you do any training, you extend the timeline in my experience.

What you're doing by backing the light off if they looked stress is a good way to go if you don't have a reliable way to accurately gauge the PPFD. Being able to feel your plants is one of the gardener's best tool.

Do you know how to calibrate the ppfd app? I can't find anything online other than something about using a piece of paper to diffuse the light. But that is only for iPhone. I rock a Samsung. Looks like I will have to get the lux meter Shane from Migro was talking about.
I know what the problem is. I planted 4 different strains. And the bigger plants are too close to the led. Next grow I am going to just do all the same strain. But I really like variety. I like a sativa in the day and indica at night. Maybe I need 2 tents.

 

[DoobieGrows]

Don't beat yourself up, it's a great light and it has a dimmer, right? I'm on the team of wanting too much light than not enough. Your girls look great in the picture you posted and you can't go wrong with Mephisto. Some of the frostiest and best flavors in the auto game. (The CDLC I grew is so good, I catch myself taking dry hits just for the taste... and the potency is comparable to some photos I've grown in the past.)

Yea it has a dimmer with 10 clicks on its dial. I have it on the 3rd click. I think the ppfd app is not as accurate as I thought. It is still an ok tool, but by no means is it 100% accurate. I have a Mephisto Hubbabubbahaze that is very frosty. And a Barney's farm GG4 auto that is a 5 feet tall. I may have gave the grow nutes to long. I probably should have switched to bloom sooner. But this is only my first grow. So I need to shut up and be happy with what I do have lol

 

[DoobieGrows]

Don't beat yourself up, it's a great light and it has a dimmer, right? I'm on the team of wanting too much light than not enough. Your girls look great in the picture you posted and you can't go wrong with Mephisto. Some of the frostiest and best flavors in the auto game. (The CDLC I grew is so good, I catch myself taking dry hits just for the taste... and the potency is comparable to some photos I've grown in the past.)

I have a 3 pack of CDLC. I can't decide if I want to grow Sour Stomper next or CDLC. Double Grape sounds good too. So many choices. Thank you for the kind words Growmie

 

[throxic]

Do you know how to calibrate the ppfd app? I can't find anything online other than something about using a piece of paper to diffuse the light. But that is only for iPhone. I rock a Samsung. Looks like I will have to get the lux meter Shane from Migro was talking about.
I know what the problem is. I planted 4 different strains. And the bigger plants are too close to the led. Next grow I am going to just do all the same strain. But I really like variety. I like a sativa in the day and indica at night. Maybe I need 2 tents.

The app has a 'Lux Meter' button, when you click that on the top there's a calibration button. That's where you can update the calibration. The main way to do this is to reference the manufacturer's PAR map (should be on their website), but then create your own PAR map. Be sure the height of the light is the same as their PAR map. Then, based on the difference, input your calibration percentage.

Or you can get the bluetooth lux meter. lol

Be sure to also select the correct light 'source type'. Click PPFD & DLI button, on the bottom left, click the option button and select the source type that corresponds to the HLG600rspec. I believe it's either LED 3000k +10 660nm or LED 3500k + 10 660nm. You can also change the 'daily interval' if you were growing photos at 12/12 to get the DLI to display correctly and also set thresholds you want to stay in, though, these are more for the visual aspect as it changes the color of the meter when using it. (ie. too high would be red, too low would be blue)

 

[throxic]

Yea it has a dimmer with 10 clicks on its dial. I have it on the 3rd click. I think the ppfd app is not as accurate as I thought. It is still an ok tool, but by no means is it 100% accurate. I have a Mephisto Hubbabubbahaze that is very frosty. And a Barney's farm GG4 auto that is a 5 feet tall. I may have gave the grow nutes to long. I probably should have switched to bloom sooner. But this is only my first grow. So I need to shut up and be happy with what I do have lol

You're in for a treat with that Hubbabubbahaze. I've only heard good things. Ya, based on that pic, you're crushing it and will have some quality flowers soon!

Another app I used before PPFD Meter was Tent Buddy. If you select the right light type, it's fairly accurate (+/-10%). It worked, but I wanted something more accurate with less thinking on my part and picked up the bluetooth lux meter for the PPFD app. In my opinion, growing in a tent I'm always moving my lights or dimming them so having a reliable way to measure PPFD/DLI is priceless.