Lighting how to use autocob distance to control plant height

[AutoWonders]

I have stunted a couple of plants that are like dwarfs in my first grow. It's embarrassing

Don't sweat it. We've all screwed up when it comes to growing. Nobody has a perfect record. My first grow, with photos back then, was pretty much a disaster. Each time we get knocked down, we get back up with more knowledge.

 

[lunarman]

Don't sweat it. We've all screwed up when it comes to growing. Nobody has a perfect record. My first grow, with photos back then, was pretty much a disaster. Each time we get knocked down, we get back up with more knowledge.

Thanks for the boost. My first grow was actually tomatoes. Back in March. I could not grow weed at first so I practiced on that. Learned some stuff for sure. Mostly getting used to and tuning the indoor environment and how important plant training is.

Then my first weed grow was 4 plants. Just cut down two last night. They were pretty wild looking dwarfs with huge buds in some cases. One plant was like one big bud! The next two are not ready yet but they are better with nice branching and multiple buds. I really learned a ton off my first grow. And so it goes.

 

[BigSm0]

That’s just it. Keep on learning. It’s what makes growing so much fun. You are fine with the cobs being 3500 but possibly swapping the hps bulbs to metal halide will help keep them in the growth stage longer. For a fact you can prolong their veg/growth by giving them just veg nutrients longer.

 

[lunarman]

Thanks @BigSm0

I have a couple of mystery plants vegging under my 3500 autocobs and they are getting indirect HPS light as well.. I don't think my ballasts can do MH. They are old school, but not old in age, magnetic fixed 600 watt. I'll have to look in to whether they can do MH. Could be good to have some more veg spectrum at times. Like right about now actually.

I'm feeding these 2 (start of my second grow) veg nutes only. And did some LST tie downs today to spread out the bud sites. I think that will pay off later. And I did top them both earlier on. Def getting more buds and branching than the 4 plants in my first grow. I kind of think the balance of height and bushiness on them is working out. I kept them under t5ho at first for a while. Sorry to say this, but I like that light for seedlings. I will likely eventually find out the autocobs really are better for seedlings compared to the t5h0. Then I'll have to increase my autocob collection!

I have 2 Dinafem Critical 2.0 in autopots now. This is going to be an a/b grow comparing 2 different autopots.
And 2 Sweet Seeds Red Poison on deck for next week.

My next grow, the second grow, of 6 plants, is going to explode compared to my first grow. I learned lots the hard way, which is the only way to learn really.

 

[BigSm0]

Thanks @BigSm0

I have a couple of mystery plants vegging under my 3500 autocobs and they are getting indirect HPS light as well.. I don't think my ballasts can do MH. They are old school, but not old in age, magnetic fixed 600 watt. I'll have to look in to whether they can do MH. Could be good to have some more veg spectrum at times. Like right about now actually.

I'm feeding these 2 (start of my second grow) veg nutes only. And did some LST tie downs today to spread out the bud sites. I think that will pay off later. And I did top them both earlier on. Def getting more buds and branching than the 4 plants in my first grow. I kind of think the balance of height and bushiness on them is working out. I kept them under t5ho at first for a while. Sorry to say this, but I like that light for seedlings. I will likely eventually find out the autocobs really are better for seedlings compared to the t5h0. Then I'll have to increase my autocob collection!

I have 2 Dinafem Critical 2.0 in autopots now. This is going to be an a/b grow comparing 2 different autopots.
And 2 Sweet Seeds Red Poison on deck for next week.

My next grow, the second grow, of 6 plants, is going to explode compared to my first grow. I learned lots the hard way, which is the only way to learn really.

Don’t have to apologize for anything my man. I do feel a challenge though. The first part of the post had me thinking. Some 6500’s would work and you do have some frequent flyer miles built up so if you want to pick up some 6500’s to swap out 3500’s during veg I’d be sure to help you out. Then the second part.... t5’s are soft which is nice, good spectrum but there is a heck of a lot of wasted energy. I don’t think the t5’s are much past 20% efficient. That all works out to needing between 100-150 watts of t5’s to equal a 55w cob. Now if you did have 150 watts of 6500k t5 it will definitky best the 3500k cob. Against a 6500k it would be a great match while slowing down the meter.

 

[lunarman]

Good info and ideas @BigSm0.

I'm looking in to some MH conversion bulbs. My ballast is magnetic HPS 600 watt only.

and my t5 fixture is 200 watts. I can't tell exactly what all the bulbs are. Pretty sure they are 6400.

And yes, I always have more autocobs in the back of mind for sure. Just a matter of when!

 

[Apmotorider]

Hey guys, would two 3000k autocobs and two 3500k autocobs be to much in a 2ft x 4ft x 5ft tall grow tent be to much light for flowering only? Looking to purchase sooner than later. Needing advice!

 

[AutoWonders]

My last two runs, as part of a test, I placed two Autocobs over 2 separate plants. To this point, I haven't seen a huge difference between the two lights vs. 1 light. There will be strains that will enjoy two Autocobs, but we don't have enough info on which strains those are. I would definitely put two Autocobs over a super autoflower. Haven't gotten around to dropping those seeds. One light per plant does very well.

 

[RicanBlazer]

Hey guys, would two 3000k autocobs and two 3500k autocobs be to much in a 2ft x 4ft x 5ft tall grow tent be to much light for flowering only? Looking to purchase sooner than later. Needing advice!

You’d be fine with the Two 3500k, I have Three in my tent , same size, and Sm0 said that was too much when I asked a similar question.
Make sure to Tie them down too as they could stretch and get too close to the lights.


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[HemiSync]

Hey guys, would two 3000k autocobs and two 3500k autocobs be to much in a 2ft x 4ft x 5ft tall grow tent be to much light for flowering only? Looking to purchase sooner than later. Needing advice!

Like the others have already said, two 3500k AutoCobs will more than saturate that space with light. I have four in a 4x4 and I have to keep them 30+ inches away. From what I’m seeing the lights will most often be best left at one height, find what works for your strain, and let the grow to the lights.

This is the four autocobs 30 inches above the screen.


After thought, @BigSm0 prices are such that buying four is not a huge savings over two, so just buy two and learn to use them. There is a slight learning curve. Then if you need more later you can always purchase more.