Do you need a Blue Light?

During veg I am using my red HPS light, but is that a bad thing? Do I actually need a blue spec light for veg?

They help

HPS will take you through the whole grow no probs but you might have more plentiful growth in veg if you did use an MH light. so use it if you got it and if you dont, dont worrie about it you'll be fine.

IslandDelight said:

They help

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How? This grow video uses HPS lights the whole time.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6583702968043014177

Not just a blue light such as a GE blue party light, but a light that emits blue wavelength such as a metal halide. It is not necessary though, a lot of people use HPS from start to finish with more than excellent results. Blue wavelength is used more than the red wavelength during vegging, and will cause your plants to be more compact. Using the hps will just make then stretch more which isn't a huge issue. If you're concerned, dangle a few 6500k cfls around the plants within 2 inches of the foliage, possibly closer if it does not burn them. Also remember that the degree kalvin is not as important as the actual nanometers of the spectrum, but 6500k cfls tend to work well.


Good luck!

if you have a digital ballast you might as well just buy a MH too. It'll cut down on the use of your HPS as well so you won't have to replace it as often

if you do a minimal amount of research you will find that during the vegatative state, plants use the blue spectrums(around 6500k) for photosynthesis. During blooming they use the orange/red(2700k). This maximizes growth. You can use the 2700k for all periods because it produces buds, if you try to bud a plant using 6500k you will be more than disappointed

Thanks for clearing that up. So the only real advantages to have a 6500K light is to cut down use time on my HPS and the plants in veg will grow a bit better?

chasmtz said:

if you do a minimal amount of research you will find that during the vegatative state, plants use the blue spectrums(around 6500k) for photosynthesis. During blooming they use the orange/red(2700k). This maximizes growth. You can use the 2700k for all periods because it produces buds, if you try to bud a plant using 6500k you will be more than disappointed

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have you tried it? run a hortilux daylight blue and you might change your mind. hps will always give larger yeilds but halides will give better cannabanoid production. Ive used both(still use hps as supplemental light) and prefer my smoke under the halides. but to add i have always had issues with serious streaching when i run my 1k hps anywhere closer than 18 inches from the canopy even when canopy temp is only mid seventies.

BTW allot of people are running 10k halides for the last two weeks of flower now for the evtra UV they put out