Haight Solid State vs. H.G.LED

Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Cephas said:
Dude those photos are amazing! This is like watching an incredibly slow episode of CSI!
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LOL!

lemme tell ya, it goes a lot slower when you're watchin' the pot ;).

I'm curious about the factors that have contributed to the drastic difference in the plants. Do you have any opinions yet? I would think the HSS would be blowing the HGL away due to its wattage advantage but it isn't. Maybe the lens angles or the LED wavelength selection? Both? Geez, I can't wait for my light to get here so I can start experimenting for myself!
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I've done my best to limit variables to just the lights, and I think I've done a pretty good job of that, so I think the differences in how they look is directly related to the difference in the design of these lights.

It's like when you go looking online for grows of a strain you might be interested in growing because you want to get an idea of how the plants turned out, but the plants in each grow turn out looking very different because of environment.

I think that the design feature that has had the most influence in how the plants look is the difference in lens angles. IMO, the difference in wattage between these lights, and any effect from that, is overshadowed by the effect from the difference in lens angles. It would be really difficult to separate out the wattage factor with two designs as different as these. Also, the higher wattage advantage of the HSS light may not have manifested itself yet.

That extra 54w may kick in later in some way, but I don't think we're going to be able to separate it out.

You're not going to grow plants that look the same with 60 degrees versus 140. It's not going to happen. Plants are very adaptable, especially our beloved MJ, so they're just not going to grow the same under viewing angles that are that different.

What I'm dying to find out is which approach works best for *this* style of grow.

I'm also curious what you think about increasing the average temperature in LED grows (not this one, don't change a thing) to 80F-85F in order to increase soil evaporation?
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I like to research a strain as thoroughly as I can before I grow it so I can head off any surprises and optimize things as much as I can for the specific needs of that strain.

For me, any specific temperature needs of a strain would take priority over watering frequency issues. The Hindu Kush mountain range has temps that vary a great deal, from intese cold to scorching heat, so Kush strains can tolerate a fairly wide variation in temps.

So VK would probably do fine at 80-85F, but probably not as well as let's say, the African strains.

So, all that to say that I think that as long as the strain can handle the heat, it may be a good strategy to use higher temps to increase watering frequency ;).

thanks Cephas, I appreciate your comments ;)
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

My thoughts on how things are going are that while both groups of plants look significantly different at this point in time, it's too premature for me to comment on or project on whether those differences are positive or negative.

If we can keep this mofo on-track, strengths and weaknesses will declare themselves soon enough.

stay tuned ;)
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

SS, I'm sure it's in here but I'm lazy today, what nutrient line and strength are you using and what's your feed/water schedule. Those downturned leaves are a bit curious...looks a bit like heat stress or over waterering, but your skills are way beyond making rookie mistakes.

I'm extremely impressed with your veg with both lights. You have certainly proven that they have what it takes to get plants through the early stages of life, now let's see what they can do, when guided by experienced hands, through the latter stages.

Very impressive.

I'll continue watching.
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

I'm using the FF soil trio and a semi-flexible schedule based on how the plants are doing. I started out with 1/2 strength Tiger Bloom, and increased to full schedule at the last feeding.

After the pre 12/12 flush, I've given them two consecutive feedings because I reasoned that the soil was nute-weak from the flush and the plants weren't showing any signs of even minor burn.

From here on out, I'll alternate feedings with water for the most part, but if I don't see any sign of tip burn, I may skip a watering or two.

The leaf curl on the HGL plants is strange. The reason I don't think it's overwatering is because the HGL pots have been slightly drier than the HSS pots when I've watered/fed, yet the HSS plants don't show any of it.

To add more confusion, I think, but I'm not sure yet, that it does improves some (but doesn't resolve) as the pots dry out.

Temps have been completely stable at 75F lights on and 68-70F lights off.

thanks for your support and positive comments SW! ;)
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

The ladies are looking very nice to me, I hope to have half the luck you have.
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Setting Sun
My memory is not what it was and I'm too lazy to read thru 48 pages.
Plan on using my PPF-800 for vegging. Did you have yours at 12"? I'm limited on headroom in veg chamber and won't be able to maintain the 12". Did they provide you any instructions on how to use the high low switchs. If not do you have any opinions? I will probably have 6" toward the end.
Thanks
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Hey SS looking amazing,as expected. Almost as impressive as your growing ability is your still unbiased observations. Way to let the lights do what they do and save the comparison for the end product. :peace:
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

kevin.n said:
Setting Sun
My memory is not what it was and I'm too lazy to read thru 48 pages.
Plan on using my PPF-800 for vegging. Did you have yours at 12"? I'm limited on headroom in veg chamber and won't be able to maintain the 12". Did they provide you any instructions on how to use the high low switchs. If not do you have any opinions? I will probably have 6" toward the end.
Thanks
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I started out vegging with the PPF-800 at 16", but dropped it down to 12" after Haight Solid State advised me to do so. The light was at 12" for practically the entire duration of veg.

I was advised to leave both the high-low switches set to "high".

In bloom, I was advised to drop it down to 6", but you can drop it down lower than that because coverage does not suffer much at all.

The following is cut and pasted from Haight's website:

"The PPF-800 should be positioned 12-18 inches above the canopy. Closer than 6 inches can result in stunted growth during the vegetative stage but it is a good idea to move the lights closer during the second half of flowering."

Watch for leaf curl/twist and bleaching as those are signs of LED burn.

Are you going to journal your grow?

I'd love to see it!
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Setting Sun said:
you already have *all* the luck I have ;)

thanks brother!
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lol, great response. deep.
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Just got back from checking the grow and I'm going to have to raise the HGL light, because at 6" it's not covering the canopy adequately.

What exacerbates the issue is that I also have to start moving the pots farther apart because the plants have gotten too bushy to keep them in tight under the light.

I raised the light to 8", gained significant coverage, and intensity still looks good, to my eye anyway.

I'd love to leave it at 6" for the intensity, but if that intensity is only covering roughly 50% of the canopy, the plants just won't do well.

I've already been turning the HGL pots every day to even out the exposure, but that trick is becoming less effective as the plants get bigger.

I think whatever loss of intensity occurs from raising the light will be more than made up for by increasing the *total* amount of light delivered to the canopy. It's still quite bright at 8".
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Setting Sun said:
Just got back from checking the grow and I'm going to have to raise the HGL light, because at 6" it's not covering the canopy adequately.

What exacerbates the issue is that I also have to start moving the pots farther apart because the plants have gotten too bushy to keep them in tight under the light.

I raised the light to 8", gained significant coverage, and intensity still looks good, to my eye anyway.

I'd love to leave it at 6" for the intensity, but if that intensity is only covering roughly 50% of the canopy, the plants just won't do well.

I've already been turning the HGL pots every day to even out the exposure, but that trick is becoming less effective as the plants get bigger.

I think whatever loss of intensity occurs from raising the light will be more than made up for by increasing the *total* amount of light delivered to the canopy. It's still quite bright at 8".
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Any way to get a "before and after" shot of this? ;)
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

Setting Sun said:
Just got back from checking the grow and I'm going to have to raise the HGL light, because at 6" it's not covering the canopy adequately.

What exacerbates the issue is that I also have to start moving the pots farther apart because the plants have gotten too bushy to keep them in tight under the light.

I raised the light to 8", gained significant coverage, and intensity still looks good, to my eye anyway.

I'd love to leave it at 6" for the intensity, but if that intensity is only covering roughly 50% of the canopy, the plants just won't do well.

I've already been turning the HGL pots every day to even out the exposure, but that trick is becoming less effective as the plants get bigger.

I think whatever loss of intensity occurs from raising the light will be more than made up for by increasing the *total* amount of light delivered to the canopy. It's still quite bright at 8".
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Hey bro!
For scientific purposes, if you turn the pots in one group you should turn them in the other to eliminate a variable. Otherwise, you're mitigating a "weakness" of one light making the comparison unfair, because the other light does not share this weakness.

I can hear it now:

HGL: well, our lights performed as advertised
HSS: the plants under our light would have outperformed had they been rotated like the HGL plants.

Treat 'em both the same and the lights do all the talking.
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

DocBud said:
Hey bro!
For scientific purposes, if you turn the pots in one group you should turn them in the other to eliminate a variable. Otherwise, you're mitigating a "weakness" of one light making the comparison unfair, because the other light does not share this weakness.

I can hear it now:

HGL: well, our lights performed as advertised
HSS: the plants under our light would have outperformed had they been rotated like the HGL plants.

Treat 'em both the same and the lights do all the talking.
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I have been turning the HSS pots occasionally, but not daily like the HGL's.

But I agree 100% with your point and will begin to spin both sets of pots daily and/or whenever I spin one group, I'll also spin the other, whether it needs it or not.

thanks doc! appreciate the heads-up ;)
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

More great info about the lights.

And I'll be interested in your solutions to the space issues.
 
Re: 420 Consumer Reports Competition - Haight Solid State vs. Hydro Grow LED

sfhaze said:
Once they get heavy with buds (we hope!!!), turning them constantly is going to be hard without damaging them.
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It's already getting hard cause the plants are almost wall-to-wall in both tents.

I'm glad it's become a problem, but it's a problem nonetheless.

thanks sfhaze!

Papa Green said:
More great info about the lights.

And I'll be interested in your solutions to the space issues.
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I've done all I can to extract as much performance from both of these lights as I possibly can.

The only solutions I can come up with to compensate for the HGL's smaller sweet spot are to raise the light or remove two plants.

Removing two plants isn't an option.

thanks papa g!
 
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