24 vs 18/6?

[SD619]

For good people who have experimented with both these times, which one showed faster growth?

I have read that during the 6 hours of darkness, the plants get to 'rest' and do grow taller. Some people on the other hand swear by 24hrs light!

I have 5 plants that have been growing since 4/11 and are still only about 3" tall under 125w cfl and occasionally i put them out in the sun. any help/advice would be appreciated!

 

[SD619]

To t he top

 

[Retired One]

Plants need dark. There are exceptions. I am currently growing some White Dwarfs that the breeder said could be grown on a 24/0 light schedule. However, I cut the lights back to 20/4 after a couple weeks and the plants took off, so there are exceptions to the exceptions...lmao. But as a rule, the plants need some amount of dark.

 

[HazeSeeker]

agree ...
Roots are growing much faster in dark
And its not natural to keep them on 24/0 ... tryed it once ...i didnt like it , I prefer 18/6

 

[SD619]

Thanks for the input. I will be switching back to 20/4 or 18/6.

 

[Be Irie]

If you want stretchier plants then go 18/6 if you want stacked plants then go 24/0.. I have done both and prefer 24/0... It comes down to preference..

 

[NorCaliwood]

I guess I'm just stuck in my ways. A oldtimer once told me plants grow most at night 'I could even hear his large crop make noise at night' and process sugars all day. No Idea which is right but I always go 20/4. But I've never gone 24/7. To each tho. Stay Down

 

[Be Irie]

I am not saying either way is right or wrong. I just think it comes down to personal choice. Most of the other growers I know do it to save six hours a day on electricty...

 

[Darkness420]

I am not saying either way is right or wrong. I just think it comes down to personal choice. Most of the other growers I know do it to save six hours a day on electricty...

Yeah I'm with IRIE on this one its personal choice. I'm on 18/6 while my buddy is doing 24/0. Started at the same time but mine are 4" tall and his are 1 1/2" go figure.

 

[L8tNightSkunk]

I started mine with 2 days of 24/0 then switched to 18/6 seemed like it work alot better to me

 

[SD619]

I have mine on 24hr and theyre only about 2-3". I'll see how it goes. Maybe 2 of my plants ill do 18/6 and the rest 24hr.

 

[L8tNightSkunk]

haha that would be cool let see what happens im guessing that the plants on 18/6 are gonna do better IMO

 

[Racefan]

I determine the light schedule by the type of light I'm using. if I'm vegging with a floro I run 20/4. I figure the extra light makes up for the less intenseness of the light. If I'm vegging with a HID I go 18/6. I've never been a fan of the 24/0 cycle yet. Although I did do a personal experiment to determine if the extra light made growth faster and cut any time off the grow period. It didn't. All I really saw from 24/0 was a higher electric bill.

 

[SD619]

Good point Race. Majority of the posts were not fans of 24/0 so its time to change things up a bit. You think it will stress my babies out a little? From 24 to 18/6? They've been on 24 for about 2-3 weeks now. Still small tho.

 

[SD619]

welps, switched to 18/6 today. Hopefully they take off! I'll try to get pics

 

[sully508]

ive been 19/5 since 4-30 to 18/6 with now. 24/0 at the very begining.ive got 7 plants.
i got 5 plants at 6.5 inches and bushy and 2 plants around 4'' and struggling.
my plants just started growing about 2 weeks ago.with the 5 that are healthy and bushy, should i trim some of the old fan leaves cause the growth around the stem is increasing?

 

[Racefan]

ive been 19/5 since 4-30 to 18/6 with now. 24/0 at the very begining.ive got 7 plants.
i got 5 plants at 6.5 inches and bushy and 2 plants around 4'' and struggling.
my plants just started growing about 2 weeks ago.with the 5 that are healthy and bushy, should i trim some of the old fan leaves cause the growth around the stem is increasing?

Leaves are the power plants for growth. Don't trim unless it's neccessary.

 

[DroJo]

Yeah I'm with IRIE on this one its personal choice. I'm on 18/6 while my buddy is doing 24/0. Started at the same time but mine are 4" tall and his are 1 1/2" go figure.

How many nodes in his plant as compared to yours?

 

[sully508]

my5 plants are now 6.5 + up to 7 .5 inches. with 4 stiill at 3.5 inches but i planted them later in april. 5 nodes now on the 5 plants very bushy very hard to get the tape measure in along the stem. the stem is getting bushy too

 

[sully508]

is using a propane torch in my closet too much co2 my closet is 6 by 8 feet.