looking for a veg lighting opinon

[1ManMafia]

What is best amount of lighting 18 hours or 24 hours for Veg?...

If 24 is better is it significantly better?...
I ask because I'm trying to keep the electric bill down if you know what I mean.

I'll be running 3 1000 watt lights... Maybe 4 600 watt lights? Then I'll sex clones but once I WEED out all the males I'll be able to drop off to probably 2 lights... I'm looking at germinating 40 - 50 seeds with the hopes of 20 - 30 females.

[lowrydergrower775]

alright now many people have different opinion i grow autoflowering and 12/12 strains also now i know alot of people like to think 18 on 6 off is good because they say a plant has to sleep and rest sometime but on the other hand theres people that think 24/0 is the best because its constant light ive done both and havent notice a difference also some people do 20/4 for veg hope this helps atleast a tad

[sweetnug]

Dude clones are female. Why would you ever turn off the lights. That makes no sense if you have 3 1000s use em all. You dont need to have the light collecting dust.

[1ManMafia]

Sweetnug have you noticed a big differnce between 18 and 24? Because I have heard some people say 18 is better and some say 24 is better, but if they are the same why not lower your electric bill and save on your bulb life?

If the max light is the best then that's what I'll aim for but if it's only going to make a 1% - 2% difference between 18 and 24, I'd rather go 18...

[Stoney Bud]

Hey 1MM, the discussion of 18 or 24 has been going for a lot of years. I don't think anyone will ever prove one way or the other which is best.

I've always used 24/7 for vegging because after doing the math on my little grow of two 400 watt HPS, the difference in cost is only a few dollars. Heck, I lose that much in the couch every month. hehe

As for the "plants need rest" thing, that's never been proven with MJ as far as I know, either.

I would say just go with what you are most comfortable with and that will be the right way for you.

Good luck man!!!!

[1ManMafia]

Okay but when I do pick one it's best to stick with it?... The plants develop rythms right?... Would it cause them stress say if I keept it 24 for awhile then switched it to 18 for awhile then back to 24?...

[Stoney Bud]

Okay but when I do pick one it's best to stick with it?... The plants develop rhythms right?... Would it cause them stress say if I keep it 24 for awhile then switched it to 18 for awhile then back to 24?...

The stress thing might be a factor. Yes, I would advise you to stay with whichever one you pick.

My plants have all had lousy rhythm. I try to dance with them but they're really really bad at it.

They do sing well tho'...

[sweetnug]

24 hours is all I usually use but you will not find a large difference. Don't change it during the cycle, they don't need that stress. Sometimes if you have to do 18/6 because you need to keep the temp. down. I have done that to give warm resevoirs a little break. Use whatever fits your grow

[eyeslikedonuts]

'Sup guys :ciao:. Changing the light schedule up and down and up and down will produce hermies and thats an undesired trait. stick with that ever u feel comfortable with. Ive heard 20/4 is good because it lets the plant use up stored energy and when the lights come on, they're ready to absorb as much as they can take in. peace, e :bong2:

[jb247]

According to Jorge's RX "Cannabis grows faster when it receives 18 hours of light and six hours of darkness. From my personal experience, plants grow about 10% more when they receive 24 hrs. of light as opposed to 18.

You have to ask yourself if giving plants 25% more light is worth getting 10% more growth. For example, if you're growing vegetative plants with a 400-watt lamp, it costs $0.72 per day to run the lamp 18 hours a day and $0.96 to run the same lamp 24 hours a day. It will cost an additional $0.24 per day to get plants to grow 10% more. Security issues aside, for me it is worth $0.24 a day to get 10% more growth.

Remember, to achieve the extra 10% growth, plants must have perfect conditions and suffer no stress whatsoever."

Personally, I like to give my plants that are 1-2 weeks old 18 hours a day, then when they are beyond that they go to straight 24 hours...

Hope this is of help to someone...Jorge has been doing this for alot of years and has taught me much of my growing philosophy...

Peace...j.b.

[1ManMafia]

According to Jorge's RX "Cannabis grows faster when it receives 18 hours of light and six hours of darkness. From my personal experience, plants grow about 10% more when they receive 24 hrs. of light as opposed to 18.

You have to ask yourself if giving plants 25% more light is worth getting 10% more growth. For example, if you're growing vegetative plants with a 400-watt lamp, it costs $0.72 per day to run the lamp 18 hours a day and $0.96 to run the same lamp 24 hours a day. It will cost an additional $0.24 per day to get plants to grow 10% more. Security issues aside, for me it is worth $0.24 a day to get 10% more growth.

Remember, to achieve the extra 10% growth, plants must have perfect conditions and suffer no stress whatsoever."

Personally, I like to give my plants that are 1-2 weeks old 18 hours a day, then when they are beyond that they go to straight 24 hours...

Hope this is of help to someone...Jorge has been doing this for alot of years and has taught me much of my growing philosophy...

Peace...j.b.

So Jorge does think 24 on will increase your yield by 10% compared to 18/6?...

Is there a big difference in growth in the first few weeks if you use only 18 compared to 24?... What is the main benefit, for your 18 for the first 2 weeks then switching to 24? Just electrical costs? It doesn't cause stress to the plants?

[sweetnug]

No stress at all. I believe jorge though there aren't too many people that have that much experience. When I have used 24/0 its always been great. You may see a 10 dollar difference with those extra 6 hours.

[Firepower]

i did the 24 hr cycle with my babies and then changed to the 18, i personally found the 18 better for me, the growth was more noticeable when i did the 18, i had mine under 24 hrs for their first month and then switched,.
Pick a schedule now, try it for 2-3 weeks and then slowly change to 18 try that for 2-3 weeks and then make your own choice on your end results.

This question has become more preference than anything.. Good Luck.. :aok:

[Amon1011]

I must disagree I was using 18/6 for about 4 wks then when I found out that 24/7 was only bad b/c of the electric bill I switched. I don't know if it was souly the lights but in the next 2 wks they increased size very noticeably.

[sweetnug]

Either one will create a great product, this is a personal opinion ???? It will forever be an ongoing ?

[Stoney Bud]

The 18/6, 24/7 debate has been going on for 30+ years.

It boils down to what you think is best.

Good luck to all of you!