Update: Gas Lantern Routine - Week 4 completion
To recap the
Gas Lantern Routine; basically it uses 12/12 photoperiod with 1hr on between the dark cycle for vegetative growth.
Goes like this.
- 12 hrs on
- 5.5 hrs off
- 1hr on
- 5.5 hrs off
- repeat
Been running this light cycle for a month and the results are amazing. I would say this light cycle is superior to any other light cycle for vegetative growth.
For veg:
- 12-1 (Gas Lantern Routine) - Superior
- 15/9 - High
- 16/8 - High
- 18/6 - Middle
- 24/0 - Low
Here are the results from each week. I've trimmed a few times and the tent bounce back with more growth.
Before the switch
1st Week Results
2nd Week Results - Trimmed after photos taken
3rd Week Results - New Growth - Trimmed (center)
4th Week Results - New Growth - Trimmed (center)
No pistils/balls till this day.
I left the top area of the tent alone (only trimmed once) to see the height differences between the new growth and the old tops. Every two weeks the tent gets really dense so new cuttings are made to keep them in check. I have over 15 strains in here not recommended for small tent even the one I use 4x4 is quite small, it can get crowded if you don't have use for the cuttings. Good thing I got the 2L SOG running for the clones.
To solve the solution is to keep the mother plants small, bonsai small while keeping some at normal height. So every two weeks I trim the plants at normal height while letting the bonsai grow, and 2 weeks later take cuttings from the bonsai (should be at normal height by then) while letting the new bonsai plants grow, and repeat the cycle. I also have my own tissue culture going (more on this later) to preserve the clones when the cloner is running full capacity. This way the tent is kept at growth balance.
Pro:
- Saves electricity (11hrs of saving from 24/0, 5hrs of saving from 18/6)
- Promote healthy plants. Any deficiency it has the plant will be able to bounce back with new growth after adjustment is made.
- Promote plants growth, 2x more than 18/6, and 3-4x more from 24/0
- Cuttings will root much faster with thicker roots and more hairs
- Clones under bloom (12/12) will induce flowering much sooner
- Less on hours = less heat = stealth
Con:
- Must have good ventilation if the tent is closed or the tent has to be left open for the 1hr on between the dark cycle.
- Must have good odor control. Healthy plants produce more aroma even in veg.
- Plants in small container may get root bound due to rapid growth
Some tips using GLR (theory):
- Have the light on a timer so the on/off is consistent daily. Manual on/off may induce flowering.
- Use mix light or MH. Try not to use just HPS. The spectrum from HPS may induce flowering even with the 1 hour on between the dark cycle.
- For the 1 hour on use a cheap light source like Fluorescent light or CFL instead of using HID light. Have it on a separate timer only turn on 1hr between the dark cycle and have the HID light set at 12/12. Normally with any other light cycle the ballast is turned on once in 24hrs, with GLR it turned on twice. This may shorten the lifespan of the ballast and bulb. If you decided to run Fluo/CFL then make sure the tent is well lid any shaded area or area left in the dark may induce flowering. The 1 hour on between dark cycle help destroy floral hormone, lack of light will not be able to destroy the hormone and will send your plants in bloom.
I'm very impressed by the results from GLR. I give this light cycle a passing grade:
A+
You're safe to run this light cycle if you want. I'm using this exclusively for all clones/seedling/and plants in vegetative growth.