New Grower Question about auto photo-period length/timing

[MerlinMan]

Forgive me if this has been answered, I've tried searching and come up with nothing:

I'm guessing auto's can be grown 12/12 all the way through, is this correct? Is it more beneficial to go 20/4 then cut it down to 12/12 after a month, or after signs of sex, or is 20/4 better for autos throughout their lifespan.

I'd like to use my 600w HPS and try an indoor auto grow, but I don't know if I could afford running it 20/4 for for months on end, which is why I ask.

Also, if they auto flower, does that mean they can be exposed to light during the dark cycle (from me going in the room, or if the door is just left open, etc.).

My Questions in short: Just wondering if anyone had any info or experience regarding the optimal photo-period length/timing for autos, and if auto flowers are also susceptible to being stressed by exposure to light in the 'dark' period.

 

[stashmouth]

20/4 is the defacto standard for autos. They seem to like it best(think yield). And light leaks during the dark period are a bad thing in general. That said, a quick in and out of the room now and again would not stress them too much. Too much light leak can cause hermies.

 

[MerlinMan]

Ok, I found this thread: https://www.autoflower.org/f2/lighting-time-12302.html

Similar question, two people said they go 16/6 from seed to harvest, another said 20/4 seed to harvest, another said 24/0 from seed to harvest, and yet another 24/0 to start and 20/4 after a few weeks. I would be disconcerted by the variance in the answers, except the people who posted make it sound like none of them are having any issued to to their light schedule. So I am under the assumption now that the light period length doesn't really matter.

I'd still love to hear what period schedule everyone is using for their autos, and if everything seems to work out OK for you.

Also would love any insight as to the sensitivity of autos to light exposure during the dark period. Again, I can only presume it wouldn't matter since these can apparently be grown with 24/0 lighting without issue.

 

[MerlinMan]

Thanks stashmouth, that seems to be what it looks like from what I can gather hopping around grow threads.

Basically I can afford to do fluorescent 24/0 all the way through, or 12/12 with my 600wHPS all the way through (electricity is killin' me). I'm trying to gather which route is best for the plants.

 

[dbossmanfl]

thats what i use i go 125w cfl 24/0 and hps 12/12.... but this grow iam going 24/24 cfl and 24/0 hps with a 400 hps....

 

[MerlinMan]

To clarify why I'm asking the second question:

I plan on growing in a small spare room, I leave it open to the hallway for fresh air and to keep the room cool. With 20/4, no problem, I can time the 4 hours of darkness to the middle of the night when the house is dark. If I do 12/12 with the HPS, there would times where ambient light from the hallway will enter the grow room.

Now all that being said, if a few people were to chime in that it would make a night and day difference in yield doing 20/4 with the HPS, I might give it a shot for one round, and bite the bullet. And by bullet I mean electrical bill. And by bite I mean pay.

 

[stashmouth]

You CAN grow them under any lighting schedule, but everybody needs their sleep. Even the girls. My opinion is that you would do best with the 20/4 sched.

Just doing a little math in my head on your light... If it pulls the full 600w, and elec costs $0.10 per kwhr... It uses $0.06 per hr. --- comes to about $1.20 per day. Is that right? I was trying to see if it would cost justify a different light. My cfl/led setup runs at 400w...only saves $0.40 a day. Wouldn't pay to switch out until about a year of growing.
Sorry, I digress.

 

[MerlinMan]

I totally see where your coming from. That makes total sense that they could use at least some down time.

To answer you on the electricity - with the HPS I'll need to use my 6" vortex fan on it - so that 700 total watts. I have about 350w of flourescents, so that's why to stay at the same operating cost ($1.42 as electricity in my area is 17 friggin cents a kwh) I'd have to do the HPS at 12/12 to match the electricity usage of my floro's going 24/0. Although again, I would be open to trying a longer photo-period with the HPS at the expense of a larger electric bill - if the yield will be drastically improved!

 

[stashmouth]

If this is your first auto grow, you'd be doing well to avg. over an oz./plant. Just what I've seen and experienced.
Anything you can do to up the yield is just that much smoke you don't have to buy from the cartels.

Of primary importance is soil ph. If you don't have ph pen with automatic temp compensation, you will STRUGGLE.
Do run off testing and get the soil right prior to planting. Say 2 weeks prior. Since autos finish fast, any problems that take more than a few hours to recover from, will cost you bud.

 

[Griever]

check out my threads allways growin with energy savers 24/7

id say 20/4 or 18/6 is best