Lighting Veg and Bloom under same light?

[akreso]

This might rank up there in dumb questions, but given I am a newbie, I am asking it anyway.
I have a Mars Reflector Series 144x3. I'm about 50 days into my first grow. First, off, totally loving the plant.
Question: Once I switch to bloom on this grow, does that mean I have to wait to finish off this grow before starting a new grow? In other words, do I need to invest in two lights? One for each stage and have them rotating? Obviously that would be the ideal situation, but wondering what is possible with my current set up.
thanks!

 

[TaNg]

Hay bro I don't use one myself but I think a lot of the people that do,run them on veg and bloom all the time.

 

[thecuch]

This might rank up there in dumb questions, but given I am a newbie, I am asking it anyway.
I have a Mars Reflector Series 144x3. I'm about 50 days into my first grow. First, off, totally loving the plant.
Question: Once I switch to bloom on this grow, does that mean I have to wait to finish off this grow before starting a new grow? In other words, do I need to invest in two lights? One for each stage and have them rotating? Obviously that would be the ideal situation, but wondering what is possible with my current set up.
thanks!

I have the same led.
If you are growing a auto plant and your at day 50...and its not blooming yet...you have some problems with the grow. If its in fact a auto..you could throw other auto plants in there (run the grow and bloom switch togetther) and enjoy the show.

I will assume you are growing a photo plant since it sounds like you have been it veg for 50 days. In order for your plant to bloom you need to change the light schedule to 12hrs on 12hrs off. (not just flip on the bloom switch on the led)
You can def start a new grow and have the plant under 12/12 for the whole grow (with decreased size and yield)....but most people do 24/0 - 20/4 - or 18/6 during the veg period.
Obviously you would need a separate light and a separate room to pull that off. Once you switch to 12/12 with a photo plant - any light exposure during the dark hours are gonna screw the plant up....big time.

Check out some youtube videos...there are many grows that hilight a Veg room, a Bloom room, and a Cloning room.

 

[akreso]

Thanks to both of you for the input. Glad to know with autos, I can run both lights at the same time and keep same schedule, currently at 20/4.

The plants (Polar Express and Cash Crop) - both are autos. Thecuch, I am surprised to hear you say there might be an issue with my grow. I have a grow journal going here:
https://www.autoflower.org/index.php?threads/another-ak-newbie-here-first-grow-ever.42106/

technically they are at about 45 days old. Here is a pic or two that I just snapped. clearly showing lots of budding starting. I just have not switched to bloom nutes yet as they still seem to be stretching a little bit. They are both about 18-20 inches tall.


I asked about the switch to bloom lights/nutes earlier this week and folks told me to be patient. So, given these pics and a glance at my journal, thecuch, I would be curious to hear your thoughts on if I should be worried. My gut tells me I am ok, but I am a TOTAL newbie at this.

Thanks to both of you for the input on question, though!

 

[HotBunz]

akreso,

Your girls look great. I think thecuch was under the impression that you meant that at day 50 your girls weren't in flower yet.

 

[akreso]

Thanks @HotBunz (best name on here!!). The clarification eases this newbie's mind.

That all makes sense. Vertical growth seems to have stopped, so I'm going to switch to bloom nutes this weekend.

 

[thecuch]

Ahhh yes...bunz is correct. Thought you meant that they wont flower. My bad. Your plants are looking real good.

As far as the light goes....30 days... then I switch the bloom button "on". The grow button also controls the fans on....so Always keep the grow and bloom on at the same time (dont shut the grow and leave only the bloom on). And feel free to start new seeds with both lights on...just cautious with the distance cause seedlings can be damaged.

 

[akreso]

Thanks @thecuch! Question on the fan. I had recently been running only the bloom light, but have a fan in the tent to help with temperature. Should I still run both veg and bloom lights "on"?

Good tip on the switching at day 30. That makes sense.

 

[thecuch]

Def leave the grow switch on. I wouldnt risk damaging the light because its not getting cooled properly.
Also, the plant will use all of those spectrums during flowering.

 

[akreso]

Sounds good! Thanks for the help and input!