Ok so ill be starting a grow soon and i was curious for some opinions which is better for vegging and why do you think its better? 24/0 or 18/6 -- the bubonic plague
18/6, I always thought that it was during darkness that the plants did their actual growing. or that they needed the darkness to do somesuch shit like that =P That could be totally wrong though lol.
Do some research before posting. It had been posted that cannabis does NOT store CO2 and use it during the dark. It processes CO2 all the time, I have kept 2 batches veggin on 24/0 and they like it.
The folks at Advanced Nutrients did a scientific study on this topic. I saw the results on one of the Urban Grower shows. They found a 24/7 (always on cycle) out performed any other cycle they could come up with for veging. It showed a relative slow down in growth for every hour in the off position. The study was done with a few hundred plants in a controlled indoor lab at Advanced Nutrients in Canada. It just did not seem right to me at first. Seems like god wants plants to sleep. Then I tried it. I had to reduce my veg cycle by four days. Even though it feels unnatural to us, the plants will cycle faster if the lights are left on. I reluctantly changed my mindset and switched to the lights on for veging. It is the best way. So if you want to grow weed slower use the advice in the posts above mine. R.
That's the first definitive answer I've seen to this question in awhile that had studies to back it. Consider your rep plussed.
a four day advantage, to me, isn't worth the money it costs to leave te lights on. you could also use 16/8. i have and it works fine for veg.
If you want faster growing, use 24/0. Studies have shown that a dark period isn't necessary for growth
I used to veg 14 days total, now I got it down to 10 (by keeping the lights on). So I have saved about 30% of my total veg time. It comes out to about the same savings as 18/6(25%) except I get my plants past veg in less time. So 29% less time in veg or 25% less on the utility bill. I guess you would have to make that choice on what works well for your situation. R.
Hi Everyone. I have used 24/7 and 18/6 lighting for the vegging period. I can see no difference in the final product, only difference is my electricity bill is less on the 18/6 reigeme. oil beef hooked.
We run 24/7 and notice shorter veg times. If you can afford the extra $20 in elec, i would suggest do it....
I have noticed very increased growth under 24/7 light. I only switch to 18 hours in the summer when I get heat issues.
The cycle in my grows start at 24/0 for 10-14days and then to 19/5 to finish veg. My experience is healthier looking plants that can be sexed very early in veg (always before week 4 veg) Where I live the electric is not cheap, so 5 hours off for my equipment to rest and plants/electric bill to respond positively, and most importantly to me, being able to sex before week 4! Don't want males taking up prime lighting..
percentages confuse me... here it is simply 14 days vegging at 18 hours light: 14 x 18 = 252 hours of veg light and 10 days vegging at 24 hours light: 10 x 24 = 240 hours of veg light so yeah, you save money by leaving the lights on.. i have seeeen the light!! lol
i like 18/6 because that way i don't have small leaks of light at weird hrs of the night that neighbors could see...but if that isn't a problem, then 24/0 might be better.
Thank you all for the wealth of information on this topic I have decided to go with 18/6 for my first grow because i am not living by myself and my dad is a jew about electricty (sp) and i want to keep it down But i am definitly going to expirment with this and see what results i get thank you all -- the bubonic plague
ok, this is a basic biology question. the way plants grow is by producing sugars that make up the cell walls of the cells. no sugars, no new cells, no growth. photosynthesis only happens when light is being absorbed into the cholorphyl. look up the carbon cycle. basicaly the plant takes in co2 and h2o and breaks a hydrogen off the water (releasing oxygen) to keep up a proton gradient the makes ATP for the cycle to run. breaking the hydrogen bonds in the water takes energy, this energy comes from light reacting with clorophyl, specificaly because of the nifty little magnisium atom at the center. when certain bands of light hit clorophyl a or b the electrons jump to new energy levels, and release energy when the drop back down, and water receives this energy where it is spearated. the cycle takes the co2 and turns it into something eles, then adds more co2 and turns that product into glucose. from there it turns into polysacharides such as sucrose and cellulose, which it uses to build its cells out of. no light no cell growth. 24 hours 7 days a week is the best method for plant growth. period.
think about it this way: if a plant requires, lets say 300 hours of light, to finish vegging under 24/7 light, it'll take 13 days (12.5) under 18/6, it'll take 17 days (16.67). On your electric bill however, 300 hours is 300 hours, same bill either way... even if your bill is lower the first month, the rest will still add on later, you'll pay the same no matter what. I use 24 hours of light because during veg, the amount of light/day doesnt matter, the only thing that matters is the total amount of light, period.