New Grower Light schedule

[Freiya]

Question for all you pros. Is it better to start seedlings at the light schedule you plan on using from the get go? I originally started my seedlings on a 24/0 schedule and then switched to 19/5 after about a week in a half. I'm wondering if that was a bad idea. Is it okay to do 19/5 from the start?


Thanks!

 

[Trapper]

My theory, and it's in no way based in fact or experience, is to go 24/0 in veg to maximize every minute of the veg cycle to gain plant size and and secondary limb length (easier to get them into position for good light) and once it's time to flower, switch to something including a little darkness to give the plant a little rest so it can exert itself fully at producing flowers. I went from 24/0 in veg to 21/3 in flower. my 2 cents. Tons of literature backing the claim that non-photoperiod cannabis does not need any dark for the sake of "flipping" it into bloom...which is the only reason photos need it.

 

[Freiya]

My theory, and it's in no way based in fact or experience, is to go 24/0 in veg to maximize every minute of the veg cycle to gain plant size and and secondary limb length (easier to get them into position for good light) and once it's time to flower, switch to something including a little darkness to give the plant a little rest so it can exert itself fully at producing flowers. I went from 24/0 in veg to 21/3 in flower. my 2 cents. Tons of literature backing the claim that non-photoperiod cannabis does not need any dark for the sake of "flipping" it into bloom...which is the only reason photos need it.

I really like your answer and I think I'm going to use that idea from now on. I've read a few people claim that switching the light schedule stunted their plants and I feel like it did the same thing to mine as well. If I could go back I definitely would have kept them at 24/0. Switching after veg sounds like the best of both worlds.

I wonder if it would be okay for me to switch back to a 24/0 schedule right now since I'm still in veg or if that would stunt the plant again lol.

 

[Gloomshade]

My autos weren't sensitive to their light schedule...I mean I had a timer on... most days it was 20 on 4 off... but there was a power outage. .. and 12 hours of dark off schedule when my inspection came around... and I'd constantly get impatient and wanna go look at them so I'd be like, yeah 2.5 hours of dark is enough for today lol.

 

[Trapper]

It's my theory that energy spent adjusting to change is energy not spent on production....same with pruning...energy spent on healing is not energy spent on production...it's a fine wire to walk, judging cost/benefit of changes, but ultimately I feel like the less changes the better unless you are attempting to counteract short comings in the original game plan...like my needing to selectively prune to provide direct, line-of-sight light for secondary tops (instead of having enough light to begin with and not needing to).

 

[Freiya]

So you think if I turn the lights back on to 24/0 for the next few weeks until flower I won't freak them out and hermie them or something?

 

[Trapper]

So you think if I turn the lights back on to 24/0 for the next few weeks until flower I won't freak them out and hermie them or something?

No action (or it's effect/consequence) can be assessed in a vacuum when multiple dynamics occur simultaneously and interconnectedly. You could take that action and it could still go herm for some completely different reason...

The question is...will giving the plant 5 more hours of light for (x) amount of time be beneficial enough to achieve net gain over the detriment of enacting a change that the plant has to adjust to.

And only then if you are apt to believe that changes intrinsically slow things down. I might be tempted to keep it at 19/5 for the rest of the grow. My 2 cents.

 

[Freiya]

meh!! ok I'm going to stick to the path I've already started to follow. I'm definitely going to change it up for my next grow though. I really like the idea of 24/0 for veg and then switching for flower. Man this stuff is addicting, I'm already searching for a new cheap led light even though I really shouldn't be spending anymore money. I keep telling myself I should just wait until I finish this grow. My birthday should be a couple weeks after harvest (if i reach harvest) and I know I will get money from people on my birthday so it's making me lean toward buying a new light right now.


WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO!! haha. I've been looking at these vipars on ebay and at the topled website. Decisions, decisions.

 

[Trapper]

Hey, you're not obligated to listen to me (of all people) listen to your gut, you may find some path none of us know about

 

[Freiya]

I just thought about it and I'm already feeling like my plants are stunted and not the size they should be. I'd be stupid to continue to make changes that might make my situation even worse. I need to chill out and take a step back and just let them grow without doing too much more. I think it's bad enough I'm already debating another LED. I doubt more light would hurt them though lol.