TOO MUCH light?

S

Shiitake

Well-Known Member
Ok, I have an odd question:

Is it possible to have TOO MUCH (as in harmful) light for these plants assuming you do not create any heat problems?

I have a very small garden (18" x 18" footprint with plants less than 24" tall at maturity).

I am currently using a 150 HPS lighting system with a supplemental 4800 lumen CFL array, which seems to work pretty well on a garden this small, but I was thinking of upgrading to one of those quad-band 90 watt UFO LED systems that are supposed to be the equivalent off 400-watt HIDs (I have heard good things about them)?

My reasoning is primarily to reduce heat as my garden is completely enclosed and operating at over 83-85 degrees (which is at least 5 degrees higher than I would prefer) and I cannot easily increase the ventilation further to reduce the heat.

I know this more powerful light would run significantly COOLER than what I have now (particularly because the ballast on the HID lamp is attached to the light and not separate outside the grow area), so HEAT should not be an issue in my grow with the new light.

Could a light this powerful actually be TOO much light in a garden this small (as in harmful to my plants - I don't necessarily care if my plants can't USE all the light as long as they are not harmed by the excess)?
 
C

chitownsmoking

Guest
no such thing has too much light.....now too much heat from all this light is another storey...
 
S

Shiitake

Well-Known Member
Highgrow420 said:
Not to say that the lighting set-up he has here is overkill. I'd say its no where near overkill.
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I know my CURRENT lighting system is fine for such a small garden. Are you talking about my current lighting or the NEW one I am proposing?

The 90 watt LED is recommended for a 9 sq foot garden (3'x3' like a 400 watt HPS) and my garden is only 2.25 sq feet (18"x18") - that's why I am concerned.

Could a 400 watt HID hurt a garden this small if there were no heat issues?
 
cantoke

cantoke

Active Member
Highgrow420 said:
I've heard differently. I've heard of plants being Bleached by light. turning leaves white and killing the plant.:?:
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I think i read something in a Uncle Ben post or somewhere about to much light intensity bleaching the chlorophyll out of the leaves but i think it takes massive light and heat. But i have never done it, only burned em from being to close
 
indyman

indyman

Active Member
Get the light, and keep a fan going,check out how much light is on my plants it even makes my camera go crazy 28800 lumens per plant.
 
headworm

headworm

Member
Heat kills plants, not light. If a plant can't use a certain amount of light to make energy and food, it won't. It will take what it needs. That is all. If said light is cooled properlly, then it cannot hurt the plant.
 
K

kend

Member
I know this thread is old, but for future generations: light bleaching is for real. Put a 1000 watter too close and watch the top leaves turn light yellow. If you have yellow leaves (and light is very close) move it up and give them a couple of days and watch the green come back.

It is important to understand that this has nothing to do with heat -- just too much light.



For those of you who don't trust my experience: check out my post count. This one takes me to nineteen !!
 
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