Lighting TOPled The Manual.

[pop22]

Could you please put a photo up pop of the bleaching so i could see what to look out for if that ok "AFN smoke out"

I could take a pick, but I don't think you'd see it. I only noticed because I'm very attuned to the color of my plants. I noticed that the leaves were slightly lighter green at the top, and a very tiny bit of burn at the tips of a few leaves. If you catch it before it gets bad, the leaves recover their normal color. Mine are almost back to normal. If I ever spot it on any, I'll take a pic. They way these girls are growing, I expect to wake some morning to the kissing the lights!

 

[pop22]

Does bleaching effect the plant except its appearance? I have that going on but looks kind of cool.

Dazed..

I would assume that it has damaged the chlorophyll. Maybe someone here on AFN who's experienced it can answer for us.

 

[Jack The Spliffer]

Does bleaching effect the plant except its appearance? I have that going on but looks kind of cool.

Dazed..

i believe it would mate cause the light would go through the leaves stopping photosynthesis ( only a guess )

 

[CanadianHigh]

I couldn't find an answer in this thread. I have a mars II 1200 and was wondering a good starting point from the canopy of my plants. Its in a 5x5 flowering room.

 

[Bilbo]

I couldn't find an answer in this thread. I have a mars II 1200 and was wondering a good starting point from the canopy of my plants. Its in a 5x5 flowering room.

It depends on a few factors mate but start at 16" -18" and see how your plants react, keep moving it a bit further by an inch or so at a time until you find the distance the plants like best.
Obviously if you need to cover a bigger footprint than that distance gives you you will have to move it higher or get another light for flowering.

 

[Dr. Frog]

It depends on a few factors mate but start at 16" -18" and see how your plants react, keep moving it a bit further by an inch or so at a time until you find the distance the plants like best.
Obviously if you need to cover a bigger footprint than that distance gives you you will have to move it higher or get another light for flowering.

That's really close for such a strong light. 24" is probably the closest you'd want any of the buds to be, especially with the area you are trying to cover. Your light should of came with a card that gives you a rough guideline for light distance. Typically I'd assume any light distances provided by a company would be a form of boasting (I.e. "performs well even 5 feet away!"), but I got better results with my Mars II by actually taking the manufacturer's advice. By backing my light off a bit, my plants grew into a more open structure and the buds actually seem to be thicker than my first time with the light. $0.02

 

[ThaGreenBandit]

I was thinking the same thing. I have a 400w, and started out at 19", and knowing what I know now, I could've, and probably should've, started them a bit further away

 

[Bilbo]

I know it's got 5w chips but they're only driven at 50% so once she's fully flowering I'd want it below 24" to get light all the way down on.
Vegging keeping them further produces a more hps-like stretch in younger plants I've noticed on a few grow logs.

Although CanadianHigh's plant looks like it's doing pretty well as it is if it were mine I'd get the light a bit closer to try and perk the lower leaves up a bit.

 

[pop22]

I couldn't find an answer in this thread. I have a mars II 1200 and was wondering a good starting point from the canopy of my plants. Its in a 5x5 flowering room.

A light that powerful I'd treat like it was a 1000 watt HPS and start at around 32" then lower it if need be. You'd not want it any closer than 24" if possible

 

[Bilbo]

A light that powerful I'd treat like it was a 1000 watt HPS and start at around 32" then lower it if need be. You'd not want it any closer than 24" if possible

I'm doing it the wrong way round! I keep them really close until the top leaves show signs of fatigue/burning/calmag def etc. and move the lights further by 4 ratchet clicks (about 1") each day until it calms down.

I'm always sure they aren't close enough if the top leaves aren't a bit worried.

I'll have to try keeping them further next time for the whole scrog grow, although this grow I let her get so tall the lights are about 3" away and not causing any problems I can see.