Quick Question for auto lighting

[Stinky_auto]

What's up guys stinky here!
So I have a quick question that I'm sure one of yous have an answer to.

I'm growing two white widow autos right now in ffof soil. I won't go into much detail here but will be setting up a grow log soon.

So I have a light hood that holds eight 2' long t5 high output bulbs.


I also have a 600W dimmable ballast with an air cooled hood and works with both MH and HPS bulbs.
Now we can get to the question.

Keep in mind that I obviously want to get as much dried bud as possible. How quickly should I start using the HID lighting. I know that the T5s are best for seedlings and that they can be used throughout the vegetative stage. But will using them for that long reduce my yeild ?


For this grow I switched to the MH bulb after only 1 week so they were still seedlings. I wonder if I'm wasting energy or if this will increase my final yeild and growth rates. Anyways any input would greatly help especially from those who have experience with this.

Thanks in advance guys. I'll be starting my grow log tonight or when I wake up and will post a link here for anyone interested. I have three more seeds but am just testing the waters with the two I've already sprouted.

Here is one of them

 

[Seedlin]

Dude how old is that seedling? Mine are 10 days and not as meaty. I like your light question but I can't answer because this is my 1st and 2ns auto grow. I have always grown photos. I didn't use anything but cfl's until I switched to 12/12 mainly because clf's ran cheaper than my 1000w MH. I have 1 400w now, but my ballast died so I'm running about 800w of cfl's to veg under..

 

[Stinky_auto]

I'm at about 15 days now with the larger one and 10 days with the small one. I think that it would probably be best to just use the MH in vege then HPS for flower and not use the tubes at all. Still very unsure though. Hopefully someone will come along and clarify. I was actually worried that my plants were growing too slowly. They just seem small considering they are supposed to be done so quickly but I have very little experience so idk. Thanks for the reply man will let ya know when I get the grow log started

 

[vostok]

I'd still be under the T5 for a minimum of 2 weeks, see this as the consolidation phase, getting the roots and everything ready for the big blast under the Mh
...its like Get SET... GO, and use the T5 for the get set stage.. they will rock, ensure you have ample venting even a little pc fan to move that 02 at the leaf set

ps ensure you have an even balance of kelvin at the T5 say 2x 2700k and 2x cool whites at 6500k
for correct internodal spacing, as you will soon be under only one set kelvin of about 6500k, then later under the hps it 2700k

 

[ruby fruit]

This is only.my second ever auto..i have a 4 bulb t5 set up and used the 6500k for 2 weeks.then i swapped out 2 bulbs for 2700k so i had a mix.then after 2 more weeks i just had 4x2700k this t5 was run 24 hrs and i have now put it outside to finish for the last week.or two its at about day 50 not real big just a bit of fun

 

[ruby fruit]

I would say from this exp vegging with a t5 for 3 weeks max then the hps should give you a nice yield you would think
.gd luck

 

[vostok]

way too cold at night check them red stems

 

[Stinky_auto]

Thanks for all of the info guys. I'm putting the T5s back in there right now. I'm glad you told me about using both spectrums of light. I have 4 red bulbs and 4 blue. I was actually only using the blue ones for the first few days with the red turned off. I was under the impression that red wasn't good for them right now and that they would strech. Also using the T5s. Will make it way easier to keep the proper temps. This does lead me to wander if it's ok for me to switch back to a 24 hour light schedule.

 

[Stinky_auto]

View attachment 3500021 View attachment 3500023 This is only.my second ever auto..i have a 4 bulb t5 set up and used the 6500k for 2 weeks.then i swapped out 2 bulbs for 2700k so i had a mix.then after 2 more weeks i just had 4x2700k this t5 was run 24 hrs and i have now put it outside to finish for the last week.or two its at about day 50 not real big just a bit of fun

Nice!

 

[ruby fruit]

way too cold at night check them red stems

Its been like this since week one its a dark devil auto from sweet seeds
Meant to be purple even black sometimes.
Its only been outside for less than a week.
If i had those red stems etc on my first auto id be worried but i didnt on the la diva

 

[ruby fruit]

Thanks for all of the info guys. I'm putting the T5s back in there right now. I'm glad you told me about using both spectrums of light. I have 4 red bulbs and 4 blue. I was actually only using the blue ones for the first few days with the red turned off. I was under the impression that red wasn't good for them right now and that they would strech. Also using the T5s. Will make it way easier to keep the proper temps. This does lead me to wander if it's ok for me to switch back to a 24 hour light schedule.

I run 24 hrs but i have hear more than once 18 is a nice figure

 

[tekdc911]

Its been like this since week one its a dark devil auto from sweet seeds
Meant to be purple even black sometimes.
Its only been outside for less than a week.
If i had those red stems etc on my first auto id be worried but i didnt on the la diva

its totally normal ive had it on green strains even most grow out of it some dont

 

[tekdc911]

as much light as you can afford ..... alot of folks just pop em and toss them under the HPS

 

[ruby fruit]

its totally normal ive had it on green strains even most grow out of it some dont

I have 3 more under the t5 around 2 weeks old ive been away but ill check tomorrow..be interesting to see if they all end up the same..id love to get the pheno thats all purple no green

 

[vostok]

Its been like this since week one its a dark devil auto from sweet seeds
Meant to be purple even black sometimes.
Its only been outside for less than a week.
If i had those red stems etc on my first auto id be worried but i didnt on the la diva

I stand corrected and thanks, I add this one to my list, ...heres the bit in the sales blurb!..
...Sweet and fruity aroma with hints of incense and delightful citrus tones. During flowering, around 80% of the plants acquire purple or reddish tones in the buds and some of them even develop purple leaves too. After harvested and dried the buds gain a very dark purple tone, almost black.

 

[ruby fruit]

I stand corrected and thanks, I add this one to my list, ...heres the bit in the sales blurb!..
...Sweet and fruity aroma with hints of incense and delightful citrus tones. During flowering, around 80% of the plants acquire purple or reddish tones in the buds and some of them even develop purple leaves too. After harvested and dried the buds gain a very dark purple tone, almost black.

All good i realised when u stated what you did that i should have mentioned the strain.
I had someone over the other day who argued with me i must be giving it icy cold water under the t5 its changing colour he still wouldnt change his mind when i explained to him the strain...i gave up when he didnt know what an auto was lol

 

[vostok]

Dude you gotta post this one to a blog ...easy ?

does veging with T5s reduce yeild or growth rates compaired to HID lighting?.

Most veg lighting is done with the likes of T5/T8 even Mh, its the cool white
(6500k) thats needed at this stage for cellular growth, & leaves, for stem growth its both warm white(2700k), and for bud its mostly warm white or red(2700k)

so grow ya plants with a lean towards the cool white in your case T5 with 50/50 (2700&6500k)
and later in bud hit them with 100% HPS or light in the 2700k rate ...study kelvin

the above gives correct internodel spacing, otherwise you may get squat poor plants,6500k or stretched plants, 2700k ....good luck

 

[Stinky_auto]

Definately need to read more into the Kelvin scale. I have read into it quite a bit and thought I understood it. This time maybe I shouldn't get stoned first

 

[Stinky_auto]

Yea I understood Kelvin I think that one of us just misunderstood each other