photoperiod manipulation for larger yeild

satan's dalmation

Active Member
Anlone ever try this?

larger yields

How do I manipulate the photoperiod for larger yields


[DISCLAIMER]: This information is provided as experimental data and not fact.

The only photoperiod manipulation from years of experiments that offered discernible improvements was this adjustment made for 1 or 2 calendar weeks at the point of maximum flowering rate: Daylength of 21 hours, 36 minutes with a dark period of 12 hours. To accomplish this, you need a 7 day, 24 hour digital timer. During a 7 day calendar week on Earth, the "sun" only cycles 5 times. This permits easily switching back to the regular 12/12 at your discretion. You may want to only alter during peak flower production to stimulate the plant's metabolism. Using this photoperiod throughout the flowering cycle will cause this:

A variety that takes 49 days of 12/12 to mature, won't see 49 - 12 hour dark periods under 21:36/12 until almost 10 calendar weeks have passed.

The total increase in light energy is almost 80%, which will produce larger yields, if all of your other enviromental conditions are kept optimal.

The total increase in flowering period is only 40%, half the potential room for improvement. This means you don't have to be perfect to win out.

Selective application of the 21:36/12 photperiod for only 1 or 2 weeks extends the wait only 2 to 4 Earth days, which makes up the missing 2 complete day and night cycles each week on Planet Ito. This permits the additional light energy to be provided without purchasing additional equipment or overloading existing circuits, which maximizes the existing system's capabilities. The main advantage is that matched with co2 and optimal nutrition, the plants metabolism will increase dramatically. I have only successfully tested this photoperiod for two weeks. The potential for a net increase of 40% over the entire cycle (80% increase in light energy vs. 40% longer wait) is worthwhile. Don't be afraid!

Day 1 - Sunday, 6:00am til Monday, 3:36am
Day 2 - Monday, 3:36pm til Tuesday, 1:12pm
Day 3 - Wednesday, 1:12am til Wednesday, 10:48pm
Day 4 - Thursday, 10:48am til Friday 8:24am
Day 5 - Friday, 8:24pm til Saturday 6:00pm
 

Jeffdogg

Well-Known Member
I'm increasing the light cycle by a half hour for the last 2 weeks of flowering (starting today actually) In a grow vid (THC Seeds one) a dude was saying it increases THC potency as well as helps produce a bigger yield.:mrgreen:
 

satan's dalmation

Active Member
as many problems as i had im scared to try it. was looking for some feedback from a someone with bigger balls than mine thats done it.
 

Jeffdogg

Well-Known Member
yeah it sounds interesting would like to hear some feedback on that way myself. But doing it the way I'm gonna do it from what I understand leaving it on that extra time (30 more minutes in my case) is gonna tell the plants the season is about to change (reaching the end of its life cycle) and kinda put em in over time I guess. we should keep up with this thread with our progress my light cycle change starts today 12:30/11:30bongsmilie
 

doctorchaos555

Active Member
I don't remember where I read this and don't even know if its an actual fact but there was something I read that explained how a plant recongizes when to veg and when to flower not based on how much light it gets, but how much dark time it receives. Theres a supposed chemical process that occurs at night and when the plant recognizes that theres a certain amount of night, then it should start flowering or whatnot. It's interesting because what if you doubled the energy that it absorbs in a "day"? Another interesting point is it can help find out more about photocycles for plant life on other planets cause well, plant life seems to start with the light cycles and its manipulation. Keep it up man, I'm subscribed. I got my baby under 12/12 right now waiting for sex signs. But when I find out it's sex and it's female, i'm gunna up the light cycle to maybe 24/12 or 18/12, or even 36/12, to see if the absorbing energy makes a diff. Also another thing I read is that plants grow at night with the energy they collect during the day. I'll let you know how my findings are as well.
 

noltnercr03

Well-Known Member
Have you guys really seen increased yields by having a control plant that goes the regular 12/12 or are you just doing it with the entire grow?
 

doogleef

Well-Known Member
I doubt seriously that it would increase yield or THC. A lot of people say a lot of things but that does not make them so. Messing with the light cycle causes stress. Stress in prime flower period is bad. Causes hermis in a lot of strains.

18/6 VEG
12/12 Bloom

Works for thousands of professionals.
 

satan's dalmation

Active Member
I veg 24/7 under floros. Im sticking with 12/12 for flower until i see proof that this will work. It is tempting though to get a higher yeild using the same equipment, just by setting the timers different. And i agree stress = BAD. I had to pull a lemon skunk that started throwing male flowers about 3 weeks before it was ready. only about 25% of pistisl turned and bam! yellow damn nanners. I kept them trimmed off everyday for about a week, but started getting to many. Didn't wanna risk missing one.
 

uwhcmw76

Active Member
I sounds like a solid idea and in theory should work if the 12hrs of darkness is what keeps it in flower, so I think that I will take 3 clones and give it a try on the next grow, besides I figure worse case scenario is the plant reverts back to veg and it sets you back a month but either way higher yields. do you think that it would be best to stage it up to that point or just go from 18/6 to 12/12 to 21.36/12? also where did that number come from 21hrs 36 min seems like a weird number why not just 21hrs or 21.5hrs
 

IslandGreenGuy

Well-Known Member
I've grown the same strain from clones now for the past 4 grows. I tried doing 13 hrs on 11 off last grow and I did see a slight increase in yeild. this could have been that I have become a better grower, but I think it may have been the lighting. My current grow is on 12/12 and will ending in a few days. Lets see what happens.
 

Jeffdogg

Well-Known Member
I've grown the same strain from clones now for the past 4 grows. I tried doing 13 hrs on 11 off last grow and I did see a slight increase in yeild. this could have been that I have become a better grower, but I think it may have been the lighting. My current grow is on 12/12 and will ending in a few days. Lets see what happens.

Cool bro, the vid I watched that told me about that said on some strains the light cycle can go up to 14 hours of light the last 2 weeks. I didn't wanna push it so I'm just doing 12:30 to try out :weed:
 

ihaveadream

Active Member
I don't remember where I read this and don't even know if its an actual fact but there was something I read that explained how a plant recongizes when to veg and when to flower not based on how much light it gets, but how much dark time it receives. Theres a supposed chemical process that occurs at night and when the plant recognizes that theres a certain amount of night, then it should start flowering or whatnot. It's interesting because what if you doubled the energy that it absorbs in a "day"? Another interesting point is it can help find out more about photocycles for plant life on other planets cause well, plant life seems to start with the light cycles and its manipulation. Keep it up man, I'm subscribed. I got my baby under 12/12 right now waiting for sex signs. But when I find out it's sex and it's female, i'm gunna up the light cycle to maybe 24/12 or 18/12, or even 36/12, to see if the absorbing energy makes a diff. Also another thing I read is that plants grow at night with the energy they collect during the day. I'll let you know how my findings are as well.
Yes plants collect light during the day and they actually do there growing at night. Just read it in biology book and it was talking about seeded flowering vascular plants or angiosperms.
 

spiked1

Well-Known Member
I've read this quite a few times, both here and on other forums,
It's been talked about over and over but I'm yet to see anyone
post that they have actually tried it, or results of any kind.
So for this reason I take it with a grain of salt.
 

Gdaddy

Active Member
In last months High Times they had an article about a "master grower" somewhere in Cali. He sets his lights to 13 on and 11 off about 2 or 3 weeks into bloom for about 2 weeks, he says the extra light along with a bloom enhancer like Big bud or something like it sends the buds into overdrive. He also kills the lights for 72 hours right before harvest, says it increases flavor and coloring dramaticaly. I don't know about the 72 hour thing, that kind of scares me, but I'm going to try the 13/11 thing.
 

satan's dalmation

Active Member
i would be more afraid of the 13/11 period than the 72 hours right @ the end. 72 hours of dark right before the plants transforamtion, what could go wrong in that ammount of time. I actually will do this in the next couple weeks as soon as the trichs on my durban poison are done growing. i just wish i had another one to pull at the same time to compare it to vs one that stayed in "normal" conditions for the 72 hours.
 

Jeffdogg

Well-Known Member
Finished 3rd night of 12:30/11:30, so far plants looking great. Their growth is quite noticeable on a daily basis still, and no signs of seeds :D
 

uwhcmw76

Active Member
i would be more afraid of the 13/11 period than the 72 hours right @ the end. 72 hours of dark right before the plants transforamtion, what could go wrong in that ammount of time. I actually will do this in the next couple weeks as soon as the trichs on my durban poison are done growing. i just wish i had another one to pull at the same time to compare it to vs one that stayed in "normal" conditions for the 72 hours.
not for sure but I think that the 72hrs of darkness is not for growth but to help the plant flush of chlrophyll since there is no light the plant stops making it and starts to also feen on reserve nutrients, also flushing it of other trace minerals
 
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