18 vs 24 hour light cycle for veggie stage
- Thread starter carlito
- Start date
Purple Hayze
Active Member
well ive kinda done both 24 hours basically meens its constantly doing phototsynthesis and growing gradually and 18 is i think better because that way in the 6 hours of darkness in has time to use its energy for growing rather that photosynthesis and it will not hit ur electric bill like a ton of bricks haha. yeah but in its dark hours is when it will grow best. but ive done both and they work fine eether way so do wat u want but me personally would go with 18 on 6 off 
hmmm yeah what you guys are saying both make sense, but in my mind there's a contradiction hope you guys can clear it out for me: if plants need sleep and the 6 hour of darkness is good for their growth, then how come the 24hr cycle yields more plant growth?
maybe 24hrs is better for the early veggie stage whereas 18 is better for just before floweing?
btw i'm still in the early stages and electricity isnt a problem to me right now cus i'm still using the CFLs
maybe 24hrs is better for the early veggie stage whereas 18 is better for just before floweing?
btw i'm still in the early stages and electricity isnt a problem to me right now cus i'm still using the CFLs
mogie
Well-Known Member
The amount of time your garden should be exposed to lighting depends on what 'cycle' your garden is in:
The 'Vegetative Cycle' of your garden starts with the sprout of the seedlings and can be continued indefinitely. In the veg cycle your garden will require a minimum of 16-18 hours of light and 6-8 hours of darkness daily. Since a given amount of light can only do so much, equal production can be realized in a smaller space with less plants, where the light is concentrated and the plants can grow more efficiently. Using more light helps additional co2 uptake.
Since a plant can be kept in the 'Veg cycle' indefinately, many growers cultivate 'Mother' plants. This plant is used for clone starts and never produces buds, only new growth.
The 'Flower Cycle' or 'Bud cycle' is typically equal amounts of light and dark, 12 hours on, 12 hours off or 12/12. This produces a change in the plants metabolism simulating Fall, shorter days....less light.
This is the cycle that the plants will show their sex. Usually, you'll be able to determine the sex within the first 2 weeks of 12/12. By the 3rd week most plants have developed healthy bud sites or pollen sacks.
The plants will continue on the 12/12 cycle until harvest.
The 'Vegetative Cycle' of your garden starts with the sprout of the seedlings and can be continued indefinitely. In the veg cycle your garden will require a minimum of 16-18 hours of light and 6-8 hours of darkness daily. Since a given amount of light can only do so much, equal production can be realized in a smaller space with less plants, where the light is concentrated and the plants can grow more efficiently. Using more light helps additional co2 uptake.
Since a plant can be kept in the 'Veg cycle' indefinately, many growers cultivate 'Mother' plants. This plant is used for clone starts and never produces buds, only new growth.
The 'Flower Cycle' or 'Bud cycle' is typically equal amounts of light and dark, 12 hours on, 12 hours off or 12/12. This produces a change in the plants metabolism simulating Fall, shorter days....less light.
This is the cycle that the plants will show their sex. Usually, you'll be able to determine the sex within the first 2 weeks of 12/12. By the 3rd week most plants have developed healthy bud sites or pollen sacks.
The plants will continue on the 12/12 cycle until harvest.
ThePretender1982
Well-Known Member
Easily...that's the whole premise behind keeping houseplants.
FirstTimeGrow
Well-Known Member
I just compromise at 4/20. lol
ThePretender1982
Well-Known Member
What about a 14/8 schedule for rooting? IMHO that'd be a good way to let root development take place.
Of course I dont have much experience with this, I'm growing from seeds.
DJSKYSHROUD
Active Member
new to growing plant bout 10cm tall what is the best step to take from here elec no problem live in south africa started by throwing seed in pot plant
growing naturally.want to move it in doors.please any help will do email me at brokentalisman@hotmail.com.have loads of seeds and space to use
growing naturally.want to move it in doors.please any help will do email me at brokentalisman@hotmail.com.have loads of seeds and space to use
Should I use 24/0 lighting if I want to have above soil plant growth and slower root growth, therefore allowing me to flower in a smaller pot and finding out the sex before transplanting the plant to a larger/final pot?
For example, let's say I start off with 8 seeds that sprout and only 1 of them is going to end up being a female...why waste all your time and money planting into a very large pot until the sex is known. Once the sex is known, will planting into the larger pot allow the plant to grow very rapidly in the flowering stage to still allow the plant to produce a great bud production?
For example, let's say I start off with 8 seeds that sprout and only 1 of them is going to end up being a female...why waste all your time and money planting into a very large pot until the sex is known. Once the sex is known, will planting into the larger pot allow the plant to grow very rapidly in the flowering stage to still allow the plant to produce a great bud production?
katfishjohn
Active Member
The plants photosynthesize as long as the light is on. As long as the light is on, they are using it and continue to grow. Cannabis does not need a dark period during the vegetative growth cycle. Cutting the light period to 18 hours rather than letting it run continuously is just wasting time and space.
katfishjohn
Active Member
32 days? holy moly! 24 hrs veg for two weeks.. I always had great results! I can imagine vegging for a whole month!! cheers to you!
hibitydibity3048
Active Member
i was just changed the light period from 22 on 2 off, to 18 on 6 off. and within one 24 hour period i noticed increased growth.
Did you end up staying with 22/2 or 18/6? I started my sprouts with 24 on and left like that through 6" tall
but the stalks are extremely flemsy and I imagine the roots are hurting or non existent if darkness is beneficil for root growth. Most can't even keep the leaves supported and they just lay on the ground. Not sure if that was related to a bad pH solution or 34 on lighting. pH has been corrected for a week+ now though. Anyone think adding a night cycle would help in my situation? Or perhaps start from scratch? 
TIA!
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stucklikechuck
Well-Known Member
anyone else use 20/4?