Hi everyone! Random question - would it be beneficial at all to slowly wean an 18/6 lighting schedule for veg to a 12/12 for flower over a week? Example - Day 1 lights on 5am, off 9pm. Day 2, on at 530 off at 830 and so on for a week or two and then switch bulbs to 2700k for flowering 12/12 cycle? Reason I ask - would it be less stressful to alter the dawn/night cycle and light color temperature over time rather than one day the plant's cycle is completely changed? Thanks in advance, Hornchen
Hank Alveraz has made several posts on this issue, on this forum, have a look, but No I disagreed with him, as I have spent years on the equator, where sun rise and sun set happen in just a couple of minutes, and it didn't affect Mj at all. peace "V"
i was cruising the forum and came across this thread. in general change is good, especially when its for the better. it creates improvements, and naturally moves its surroundings forward in a positive way. change is also stressful. which is ok. but it comes down to balance. introducing new (or changes in the current) farming factors/tactics/techniques (environmental/physical/food/light/co2 etc) should all be done slowly so you can monitor the results, and adjust accordingly. gradually introducing changes- like 12/12 lighting, will allow the plant to adjust, without causing excessive stress. tapering the light schedule down as flowering approaches is something ive been implementing for a while. i noted that the ladies vegged different at 24/0, 20/4, 18/6 and so on. it makes sense too. the photo period is crucial because it is how they determine the progression of the season. at 24/0 the plants goals (growth patterns, structural development etc) are different than when they are under 18/6. yes both photo periods induce a vegging plant, but one (24/0) has her thinking its early in the year (as to develop roots). while @ 18/6 or even 16/8 tells her its a little later in the season (develop bud sites, strengthen branches). easing them into flowering will also reduce excessive stretching.
Changing the lights gradually is not necessary and the plants are not stressed by changing directly from long days to short days. All this does is lengthen the time for flower initiation. When you are ready to flower, adjust the schedule to 12/12 and forget about it, make it easy on yourself. PW
i read in an Ed Rosenthal book where he said he had a friend that vegged plants starting at 18/6 and cutting an hour of light each week until getting to 12/12.
Ive done it plenty of times, neither way is better or worse for the most part, just depends what you like. Some landrace sativas and such can herm just from the large switch, though thats another reason to run them 13/11 to 11/13 as well.