Re: Cannafan's Perpetual Grow White Widow-Master Kush Reveg and More! CFL's/LED/HPS
I honestly don't know if that's true or not, although I suspect it probably is; but I can tell you what I do and why its immaterial for the most part whether it does or not. All the lights I've ever seen advertised come with a 1 year warranty (I've only had one bulb fry sooner than that after 9-10 months & got a new one free.) As one progresses in this hobby he accumalates quite a bit of excess shall we say, bulbs included, lol. I think it absolutely insane to not have an emergency back up lighting plan. I learned the hard way just recently that includes a ballast. Nothing more annoying than to go 3,4,5 months only to have bad luck at the wrong time cost your pride and joy become at best a run of the mill grow.
I keep backup bulbs for both my MH and HPS. They start to go down hill in lumen output after a couple of grows and lots of people don't use them after a year anyways due to diminished light output. Any hoots, I simply rotate the bulbs...use this one until I need another then put it w/my nutes in the box as a back up and put the back up in the shed unless its been used a whole lot. In which case, depending on temps and the strain I'm growing and how the plants in the main flower chamber are looking, I actually use it (600w) down as close as 7-8 inches above the canopy to get every last bit out of the light. On some Indicas LSTd nicely with an open canopy, it really works wonders on the density of the lower "popcorn" buds, which of course means better/bigger yield. In a perfect world, as long as there's a back up, I wish I could blow the bulbs every 10-11 months; would save me the $60 bucks or so a year buying replacements, lol. But alas, they're pretty hard to over work ime.
I place my light (MH for first 3 weeks) anywhere from 9-12 inches above the canopy at the flip. When they actually start moving upward, which might take a few days to a week, I set it at the original height (9-12") and use the dimmer as it grow up towards it. This is prob over analyzing things, but it works for me in controlling height. MHs, if cooled, can get pretty close w/o bleaching the girls and whenever they get to with in 6 inches (by then I'm @ 50%) I put the HPS in at anywhere from 12-15 inches above depending on what I'm growing and if the stretch is done (hardly ever is) or how far into it I went. I then just use the dimmer if it climbs to within the 10-12 inches. I defol a bit after 3-4 days of no vertical growth and flush then use Gravity full dose with just ph'd water 3-4 days after that. I raise the lights to 15" for Indica's & 18" for Sativas when I water w/Gravity. On the next feeding (I water, feed, water, feed so twice a week they get some kind of drenching) I put the light back where it needs to be and leave it there for the duration using the dimmer again only on two more waterings of Gravity @ 1/2 strength & 1/4 strength over the next two weeks.
This is what works for me and does decent although there's some REAL growers out there that do some outstandiing things w/far less effort. I'm currently setting up another small area so I can try the Cap'n & Sling's set up on a smaller basis. I think I might really like that style of growing.
Thank you Jam!
I'm going to wait a couple more weeks then. Doesn't cause any issues with space or additional lighting. They are under the LED's, and that's where the clones are going. Plenty of space right now.
On the HPS lights, another member stated that using lower than the maximum setting on them can decrease the life of the bulb. Do you find that to be true?
Based on that, I think I would just lower them up and down as needed.
I honestly don't know if that's true or not, although I suspect it probably is; but I can tell you what I do and why its immaterial for the most part whether it does or not. All the lights I've ever seen advertised come with a 1 year warranty (I've only had one bulb fry sooner than that after 9-10 months & got a new one free.) As one progresses in this hobby he accumalates quite a bit of excess shall we say, bulbs included, lol. I think it absolutely insane to not have an emergency back up lighting plan. I learned the hard way just recently that includes a ballast. Nothing more annoying than to go 3,4,5 months only to have bad luck at the wrong time cost your pride and joy become at best a run of the mill grow.
I keep backup bulbs for both my MH and HPS. They start to go down hill in lumen output after a couple of grows and lots of people don't use them after a year anyways due to diminished light output. Any hoots, I simply rotate the bulbs...use this one until I need another then put it w/my nutes in the box as a back up and put the back up in the shed unless its been used a whole lot. In which case, depending on temps and the strain I'm growing and how the plants in the main flower chamber are looking, I actually use it (600w) down as close as 7-8 inches above the canopy to get every last bit out of the light. On some Indicas LSTd nicely with an open canopy, it really works wonders on the density of the lower "popcorn" buds, which of course means better/bigger yield. In a perfect world, as long as there's a back up, I wish I could blow the bulbs every 10-11 months; would save me the $60 bucks or so a year buying replacements, lol. But alas, they're pretty hard to over work ime.
I place my light (MH for first 3 weeks) anywhere from 9-12 inches above the canopy at the flip. When they actually start moving upward, which might take a few days to a week, I set it at the original height (9-12") and use the dimmer as it grow up towards it. This is prob over analyzing things, but it works for me in controlling height. MHs, if cooled, can get pretty close w/o bleaching the girls and whenever they get to with in 6 inches (by then I'm @ 50%) I put the HPS in at anywhere from 12-15 inches above depending on what I'm growing and if the stretch is done (hardly ever is) or how far into it I went. I then just use the dimmer if it climbs to within the 10-12 inches. I defol a bit after 3-4 days of no vertical growth and flush then use Gravity full dose with just ph'd water 3-4 days after that. I raise the lights to 15" for Indica's & 18" for Sativas when I water w/Gravity. On the next feeding (I water, feed, water, feed so twice a week they get some kind of drenching) I put the light back where it needs to be and leave it there for the duration using the dimmer again only on two more waterings of Gravity @ 1/2 strength & 1/4 strength over the next two weeks.
This is what works for me and does decent although there's some REAL growers out there that do some outstandiing things w/far less effort. I'm currently setting up another small area so I can try the Cap'n & Sling's set up on a smaller basis. I think I might really like that style of growing.
Think I'll do some research on that issue today.
