Hello Again ! I'm in the process of trying to get more info on the Fold 8 to post. The light should be here by the end of the week (guess-timation) since it's at customs in Alaska & I'm in AZ. Hoping to post info with pics of the light when it arrives.
I've been kind of busy harvesting my other plants. 3.5 plants done & 5.5 plants to go. Looking like all 5 will get done at the same time which could be an issue. No place to hang that much weed to dry all at once. Oh well, I've had worse problems than too much weed... lol.
For those interested I'm planning to purchase these Far Red 730nm lights to use during flowering. Here's the info.
***These are the lights I'm considering buying.***
Premium Quality Research Grade FGI 730 NM Far Red LED Lightbar. 30 Watt. 45 inches Long. Commercial Grade Supplemental Far Red Booster.
- This Listing is for ONE Far Red LED
- Supplemental Far Red Bloom Flower Enhancer
- 30 Watts of Dedicated 730NM Energy
- Covers a 2' x 4' area in bloom
- Water resistant, passively cooled. 110V plug included
Far Red Spectrum Improves Plant Morphology
Studies By Dr Robert Emerson confirmed Far Reds importance to growth rates.
Dr. Robert Emerson, who taught at the University of Illinois, discovered that light on the far end of the spectrum, infrared light, boosted photosynthesis when combined with other wavelengths. Emerson’s primary observations included: There are two chemical procedures that contribute to photosynthesis. These processes are hastened, and are more efficient, when the plant is exposed to far-red and infrared light.
The plant protein phytochrome absorbs red, far-red and infrared wavelengths; this protein is responsible for regulating flowering.
Further Studies by Drs Zhen and Van Iersel
Zhen and Van Iersel (2017) showed that adding 110 µmols of far-red light (peak wavelength: 735 nm) to varying PPFDs of “warm-white” or blue-red irradiation increased the net photosynthetic rates with diminishing increases at higher PPFDs. Far-red + blue-red light and far red + “warm-white” light both increased the net photosynthetic rate to PPFD ratios by 41%.
Up to 120 umols ePPFD at 18"
This bar produces plenty of Far Red supplemental energy for your plants. Using dedicated IR sensors we measure the increase at 18" from the LEDs at 120 additional umols. We call this ePPFD because typical PAR measurement ends at 700nm. Our Far Red Bar adds up to 120 umols to any standard PAR measurement. Placing the light closer will increase ePPFD (however will also decrease the coverage area).
Features
- 30 Watts of power draw
- 110-277V
- Pre wired with 8' cord and 110V plug
- Mounting clips included
- 44.88”x 2.24”x 1.53”
- IP65 water resistant with sealed crystal glass diode cover
- 102.3BTU
- 4.4 lbs.
Coverage recommendations: Full Cycle
Our testing together with dozens of earlier buyers of the FGI 730NM Far Red Lightbar, have shown that the most effective coverage area for full flower cycle use is 4' x 2' at 12" to 36".
Our far red lightbar fits neatly inside our Uniformity Pro 640 and Uniformity Pro Flex full spectrum LED's, as it will with most multi-bar style LEDs. Two per 4x4 provides the infrared punch plants need in flower.
Our studies further concluded that the far red energy can be used throughout the entire 12 hour cycle. We recommend that initially the bars are 36" away from transitioning veg plants. And are left on for the full day. As the plants finish stretching the bars can be as close as 12" for most hardy strains. However some strains which exhibit more light sensitivity should be monitored for stress at this intensity.
Coverage recommendations: Emerson Effect
Test grows using our far red lightbar are ongoing as it relates to solely managing the "Emerson Effect". Theoretically when plants are exposed to far red energy at the end of the 12 hour light cycle, will reduce transpiration rates faster than plants that are not exposed to far red energy. With this in mind the far red lightbar can be mounted further away from the plants than the full cycle recommendation above. At this stage of our research we are relying on end users like yourself to help us dial in appropriate coverage area and light hanging distances from the canopy. Our current believe is that one lightbar managing to the Emerson Effect can cover 6' x 3' of canopy.
As for the number of minutes/hours of lights-on time we are less confident in a recommendation at this time. Anecdotal evidence from dozens of growers suggest that 20 minutes of dedicated far red energy after the primary full spectrum LEDs are turned off may allows growers to then turn their primary lights on for 13 hours without risk of re-veg or hermaphroditical transitions. Again, in theory, the additional hour of high intensity full spectrum energy will improve yields and possibly also potency results. At the same time, we are unable to make a specific claim or representation as this type of science is less than complete. Please help us to further our research by letting us know what you observe in your plants.
Happy Growing!
What would be cool is to see it in a time lapse video from strip to re flower.