Light Question

[Purplehaze]

Hello everyone, I have a question, how long do you leave your lights on for

seedlings/clones??

 

I have a separate 4x4 small room that I use for seedlings clones, and 2 mother plants. I have a 8 bulb T-5 fixture and I have it on 18 hours.

 

The more I read, seems 24 would be better for the seedlings and clones, would the mothers be to unhappy?

[Guest Happy Guy]

18. Every plant needs a break.

[Afi]

I have found 24 hrs. to work good but I have tried everything in between 16 and 24 hrs. will work fine.

Peace, Afi

[metadoneth]

I have run my veg at 24hrs before but now I stick with 18hrs of light... that's my preference! Mother plants would be fine under 24hrs of light tho... its just nice to have a ahort period where your equipment can cool down and everything can get a lil rest but either way you would be fine!

[Guest Happy Guy]

I have run my veg at 24hrs before but now I stick with 18hrs of light... that's my preference! Mother plants would be fine under 24hrs of light tho... its just nice to have a ahort period where your equipment can cool down and everything can get a lil rest but either way you would be fine!

Good point on giving the equipment a rest... including your electric meter! LOL Why pay 25% more for what might stress your plants AND your equipment?

[treehugger]

First off, most wear and tear on electronics and bulbs is associated with thermal cycling associated with turning the devices on and off, so whilst you will save watts, you aren't doing the equipment any great favor.

 

Insofar as the plants preference, it is a little more complicated than the fact that a dark period is a healthy part of the normal life-cycle of most plants. Relative light intensity is a critical consideration, as low light levels can trigger flowering even with 24/7 lights on. Also, mature plants exhibit an exuberance to flower that only a "light's on" policy can deter. The more you consider, the better you get...

[S_C]

If vegging under floros or CFLs, I'd go with 24 hours, HID lights 18.

[Uncle Bud]

Most breeds on marijuana don't start to flower until there is 12 hours of darkness, some need a bit less. So unless you are growing a strain that is from the equator, 14 hours of light is more than enough.

[Purplehaze]

I appreciate all the feedback, I decided to bump the room to 24 and see how the plants like it.

 

With using the T-5, I need all the growth in veg. to move them along to flower, as S-C stated.

[garyfisher]

Wtih T5 I would go 24 hours a day. You wont regret it.

[Purplehaze]

Wtih T5 I would go 24 hours a day. You wont regret it.

 

I did bump them to 24 under the T-5, you are right in just few days, I can see that the plants like it

 

Thanks again for all the input