Not that anything is scientific, but I recently took 2 clones of the same strain, one under 24/0 light, while the other under 18/6 light during the veg state. There was a major difference in the amount of roots and the depth that they went in the pot. Same environment, Same Temp, light etc etc etc. A small root system required more frequent light watering, while I was able to water the plants, even though, the bottom of the pot was very moist, the roots simply never went down that far. On an 18/6, the entire pot was full of a root system, required less watering, larger plant, healthier looking and bigger bud. There are many debates over 24/0 and 18/6, I wanted to determine this for myself. Do what ya want, I'll run 18/6 from now on.
From what I understand, plants stop photosynthesis during night and focus energy into root development. That's a nice little experiment you ran. I did have some plants under 24/0 have some massive root systems and others of the same strain did not. If you want to make this a more legitimate experiment. Try it again with more plants at once or run the same thing a few more times and see what you get. Good job! I'd Rep you but I can't from my phone. Experiments like this really help the growing community. Thank you
Definitely repeat the test. Right now, it could just be coincidence. It'd be wise to run 5-10 test plants in each category, then compare results.
It does follow the theory tho that plants root more during their night period than the day. What nutes were you giving them? Was there a difference in the size of the plant above the soil? Difference in size, color, texture, overall health of the plant?
there is no such place on earth with 24 hours of day light except for the north and south poles where nothing grows except for some moos etc. so it is obvious that a plant needs a night cycle.
Plants don't naturally grow indoor without any sunlight but we can use artificial light and they still grow so why should we have to follow the light schedule of the sun if it isn't involved? I understand and agree for the most part. I had my vegging plants under 24/0 with no problems and now I have it 19/5 to save electricity but no difference in growth rates or health look if the plants
by growing indoors we replicate the natural conditions. i.e using various lights, supplying essential nutes, maintaining suitable temperature, humidity etc. etc. according to where that plant has initially developed. by switching to 12/12 we can induce flowering - thus replicating autumn season we do almost everything the same way as nature does so why should we veg a plant in some crazy 24/0 light conditions?
That's true but a plant has to go by the schedule of the sun. What if plants don't need a night period but are forced to because the sun can't be shining light on them all the time. Again, I agree with you for the most part but I think plants can have 24/0 without any problems. Do you have any proof or experience in the difference between 24/0 versus 18/6? Or that roots grow at night? I've heard people say that a lot and it makes sense but I haven't seen any proof. Don't plants tend to stretch/grow more at night than during the day? They build up and store the energy and then use it at night? Correct me if I'm wrong please. Just want to know the truth thanks for discussing this with me. I love these kinds of talks about growing techniques or theories and I hope you're not thinking I'm trying to fight with you. I'm more playing devils advocate because I think plants should probably have a dark period but I'm not positive because I have no proof to either side, you know?
i like to discuss things as well. finding out something new that i didn't know before or knew but was wrong. such things broaden our horizons. this is one thing how we differ from say plants i googled for a few minutes to find out the answer to this issue and found an answer on yahoo. the answer is ''Yes, plants do need darkness to grow. First, in the photosynthesis process itself, there is a reaction known as 'dark reaction' pathway or lately known as 'carbon reaction' pathway where the free energy of ATP and reducing power of NADPH, are used to fix and reduce CO2 to form carbohydrate. This is very important process to release Oxygen into the air. This happened in the dark or at night. '' here is a link to full answer: Do plants need darkness to grow? - Yahoo! Answers it is not very academic and has no sources but i find it quite convincing
That makes sense as to why plants smell more at night than during the day. If you slowly decreased the amount of light from 24/0 or 18/6 to 12/12 does that help stop the initial stretch plants go through during the beginning of flowering?
hmm... had to read your question several times before i got it do you mean a slow transition such as 18/6, 17/7, 16/8 ... , 12/12 ? to answer this we have to know whether that stretch is caused by sudden transition or not... i don't know.. it may be but i don't think so... thinking logically in nature there is actually a slow transition rather than immediate. do plants that grow outside tend to stretch less during their flowering mode?
Well I know from my plants they stretch a lot during the first week or so before they show pistils and I'm wondering if its from the sudden 12/12 light cycle