20/4 or 18/6. Continuous lighting is NOT beneficial in any way whatsoever. They need their dark period just like we do, etc... Not recommended at all. This is from personal experience as well.
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I don't know any of the science here, but I leave plants away from direct light for the first two weeks, but I find 24 hours best for those two weeks. Maybe it's the extreme darkness is as bad as extreme light? I have no idea, just my experience.
Anthropolis
Canna Jedi in training.
I'm of the school for 18/6, but I am trying 19/5 at the moment and seems to be going okay. I have some tomatoes and peppers in there also, and they seem to be okay with either 18/6 and 19/5. I would like to try the 20/4 but that might just be too much for the non-cannabis. I do plan on hanging a planter of herbs in there also 
They probably wouldn't like much more than 19 of light.
They probably wouldn't like much more than 19 of light.
Im trying 16/8 atm to give a litle triger to bloom easyer i imagine.
Hi everyone, kind of new here.
For the first three grows in my new cabinet I have done 20/4 all through the grows, with good results. I somehow imagine even plants need some rest now and then.
I've previously made a bunch of grows from the same line of seeds as these three grows, but in plain sunlight (in small glass green houses/cabinets), sometimes aided by small T5s, but at normal daytime cycles. Worth noting is that for some reason my ratio of female to male has differed vastly between these two light regimens. I have not kept numbers, but I'd estimate that my grows under normal sun landed me with around 75-80% females, while under 20/4 only around 40-50% have turned out female. There has been other factors differing, but the light is the most significant difference I can come up with.
All seeds were Russian Rocket Fuel, produced by me in a few controlled batches from my first ten seed purchased a couple of years ago. Anyone had the same experience or know if amount of light would/could have any say in F/M ratio?
For the first three grows in my new cabinet I have done 20/4 all through the grows, with good results. I somehow imagine even plants need some rest now and then.
I've previously made a bunch of grows from the same line of seeds as these three grows, but in plain sunlight (in small glass green houses/cabinets), sometimes aided by small T5s, but at normal daytime cycles. Worth noting is that for some reason my ratio of female to male has differed vastly between these two light regimens. I have not kept numbers, but I'd estimate that my grows under normal sun landed me with around 75-80% females, while under 20/4 only around 40-50% have turned out female. There has been other factors differing, but the light is the most significant difference I can come up with.
All seeds were Russian Rocket Fuel, produced by me in a few controlled batches from my first ten seed purchased a couple of years ago. Anyone had the same experience or know if amount of light would/could have any say in F/M ratio?
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18\6 would be the way I would go, just to save on electricity costs. Does anyone know how long Seymour buds runs his lights?
Grey Bear
Confidential Cultivator
I'm not so sure about savings.
Total cost to run 500w of light for 10 weeks 18/6 at .125 kwh (avg. cost in usa '14) is $79
Total cost to run 500w of light for 10 weeks 24/7 at .125 kwh (avg. cost in usa '14) is $105
That is a difference of $26 for the whole grow. Most closet growers here are not using 500w of light.
Granted that does not include cooling costs, but on a grow that small the costs are not that much.
One thing I have factored in this is the advent of smart meters that can detect & measures surges in your electricity use.
Timers going off in regular intervals could invite a flag from some nosey auditor.
Total cost to run 500w of light for 10 weeks 18/6 at .125 kwh (avg. cost in usa '14) is $79
Total cost to run 500w of light for 10 weeks 24/7 at .125 kwh (avg. cost in usa '14) is $105
That is a difference of $26 for the whole grow. Most closet growers here are not using 500w of light.
Granted that does not include cooling costs, but on a grow that small the costs are not that much.
One thing I have factored in this is the advent of smart meters that can detect & measures surges in your electricity use.
Timers going off in regular intervals could invite a flag from some nosey auditor.
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I am using 510W actual draw in a 60cm x 100cm foot print and run em 24/7 get good results.
I am aware of the different opinions of different light periods and plants needing a rest.
Like Grey Bear said savings are minimal, but I should try to be a little more eco conscious plus it might give better yields.
So another grow I'll see what happens, really I should do 3 grows same strain, same nutes and growing style and see what the results are for the different dark periods.
I am aware of the different opinions of different light periods and plants needing a rest.
Like Grey Bear said savings are minimal, but I should try to be a little more eco conscious plus it might give better yields.
So another grow I'll see what happens, really I should do 3 grows same strain, same nutes and growing style and see what the results are for the different dark periods.
Magic
Canna Engineer
I can tell you now you will see little to no difference between light schedules. 18/6 will do just as good as 24/7 or 20/4. That is why most people will tell you 18/6 is the most efficient light schedule. The difference is not in the light schedule but the strain. You can run the same nutes on the same strains but honestly that won't teach you anything. Here is my reason you can grow say a white widow on 3 schedules and find that 24/7 is the best light schedule, but dutch passion strains do better on 20/4. A strain like Ultra Lemon haze better on 12-18 hours of light. To me no one will ever win the debate of "best" light schedule its strain dependent. IMO:Sharing One:
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