THC increase under LEDs...

Is there any side by side grow journals or other testing that shows an increase in potency vrs. HPS? I've read some chatter that LEDs can pull an extra 3 percentage points from a plant. Does anyone have personal experiences to support this claim?

Personally - I think the potency is mostly dependent on genetics. The amount and quality/type of light determines the yield.

This is where I bet that stat/saying comes from. I was apart of this grow, so I will say that it was true fore sure. But no one else has confirmed or disproven those findings. So honestly it's not a fact of growing but a fact of the single grow. But I personally do bielve that if more test were done it would be proven. I think that led's have the best potential to create a happier and healthier plant...that will in turn express it's self to the fullest with resins, oils, and terpenes. This all adding up in the end to higher thc and potency.

This grow is the only actual thing I know of and I think is what people reference....
[video=youtube;d76ZF1hMaPg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d76ZF1hMaPg[/video]

I did a cfl vs hps grow. results were the same . only difference was the hps yielded more . the plants were 25 % taller slightly more yield . also placed black lights last 2 weeks of flowering . quality increased slightly . but for potency I cant say. I have seen led grows I have not been impressed I hate led the plants always look sick to me. have never personally owned led.i have seen out side grows. quality always lower dirt bugs. rain . cant control the humidity. I think the led will not over pass hps or t5. what makes the thc is the genetics.

that video is saying there pulling 4 ounces a plant with led and hps. the number of plants pictured with the number of lights I think that's total bull shit.

kinddiesel said:

that video is saying there pulling 4 ounces a plant with led and hps. the number of plants pictured with the number of lights I think that's total bull shit.

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I was there bro...real deal

It was 48 plants...24 per side. that's about 2 zips a plant.
The LED side was closest to the door and we had to move plants out to work. Maybe that's why it seems like less in there. Notice how the hps side looks like it has more but they are equal.

You have to spend 859.00 on a 156w led panel and for the same amount I can get almost 5 600w iPower Digital Dimmable Grow Light System for Plants - Cool Tube Sets.
LED will have to come way down in price.

green.green said:

...
I've read some chatter that LEDs can pull an extra 3 percentage points from a plant.
...

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3% points of what ? This is a real question... 3 % points.... of what total percentage of what?

diet coke said:

You have to spend 859.00 on a 156w led panel and for the same amount I can get almost 5 600w iPower Digital Dimmable Grow Light System for Plants - Cool Tube Sets.
LED will have to come way down in price.

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There are plenty of panels for cheaper than that with more wattage. Area 51 Lighting has two models that are 160 and 190 for >$600. You can build your own rig with the new CREE 3050 led's and have 100W for ~ $80. Plenty of people are doing that instead.

Sand4x105 said:

3% points of what ? This is a real question... 3 % points.... of what total percentage of what?

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percentage of increase of thc not yield. Read the name of the thread

A quality 190 watt LED runs around $500.

And if an LED grow can pull higher GPW there are power savings to factor in.

diet coke said:

You have to spend 859.00 on a 156w led panel and for the same amount I can get almost 5 600w iPower Digital Dimmable Grow Light System for Plants - Cool Tube Sets. LED will have to come way down in price.

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5 of those will cost around $1500 + fans, ducting, replacement bulbs, replacement ballasts, plus extra cost of electricity. With lower quality buds. In the long run over a 5 year span you will spend $3000 more for the same coverage. Led costs more upfront , but in the long run its much cheaper

hyroot said:

percentage of increase of thc not yield. Read the name of the thread

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NO... I get that % of THC.... how is the % of THC really measured in the plant, and why does anyone believe the reports?
So, I ask again, % of what? THC is in every MJ plant... your % may vary... How much THC.... No, that's not it right?
Higher % of THC.... or higher % of grade of THC...
Answer me this....

Well if under hps your buds pull 20%. The theory under quality led it will be 23%. Only go to a reputable lab with people that have phd's working there. There are bullshit labs ran by growers and stoners that have zero education or any background in that science. There are reputable labs that are properly ran by scientists.

I think the school of thought around this subject comes down to one (or both) of two things: targeted spectrum and less heat. By targeting the spectrum, such as including more UV, it is believed that thc levels can increase - much in the way that mountainous genetics are exposed to higher levels of UV due to the elevation. Also, too much heat may potentially decrease quality/thc. I could be totally off-base with this, but that was what I gathered from readings and conversations with others.

My school of though is matching up with this the best we can, or replicating sunlight (FS+uv+ir) as best we can. If we give a surplus of those high absorption peaks with the balanced RH and enviro......

View attachment 2939429

I have run a few test grows with UVB from reptile fluoro tubes. The effect was that the trichs turned brown in the areas with the most UVB. Right off the bat that seems like a negative. My friends consistently prefer bright trichs. The way I see it (in most cases) a bud is done when the pistils are mostly or all brown. If the trichs turn brown before the bud has matured I consider that less than ideal.

There is a definite increase in trichome density and terpenes in LEDs buds vs HPS buds. I have run identical cuttings under both many times and the results are consistent and repeatable. My LEDs do not include UVA, the 450nm blue gets the job done.

Whether or not the LED contains more THC is difficult to verify with subjective testing but LED buds are consistently preferred. I suspect the increase in trichome density and terpenes includes an increase in cannabinoids.

I have the California Lightworks 400w panel with UVB bulbs, and I can say my bud quality is much better, but I get less yield overall. The scent, taste, and high are all better. If you want production/high yields then use HPS. If you want the highest quality bud in town, go LED.

Also about the UVB browning, you should only use UVB the last 2 or 3 weeks of flowering. I see crystal boosts from my UVB and they are clear, as long as I don't over do it.

I didn't get any premature browning from my uv. I used the Arcadia t5 with the highest output of uv. Also kept it much closer than recommended. Very unscientific, but I can only see it helping, everything was healthy and the nicest overall development I've seen in a while. Really sticky, really smelly, hard to say on strength increase without a test. In the future ill do a run without it, but I have a strong feeling it did nothing but help.

also worth noting I ran it from day 1 flower all the way through at six hours mid cycle