Optimum LED colour spectrum FOR CLONES? 3500K, 4000K, or 5000K

[HydroLynx]

Looking at Samsung strips with LM561C for a veg + cuttings box.

I figure that colour quality seems to be less important than quantity, generally, but not when it comes to morphology, such as making new roots.

I find clones can develop roots faster (1 week instead of 2) than HPS compared to 4K MH

BUT these mid-power LEDs are more efficient with higher K, which may increase rooting time...

Then again even a 5000K led pumps out more red than a MH, or even HPS it seems, so it may matter less.

Who's tried and seen?

@CobKits @captainmorgan @Growmau5

 

[VegasWinner]

I use 5000k 80cri smd 3000k 90cri 50/50 mix with flexible strips. Clones love it

 

[Nugachino]

Does the added red help with rooting too?
If not then I'm still saying it's between 4000k and 5000k for anything outside of flowering.

 

[HydroLynx]

I use 5000k 80cri smd 3000k 90cri 50/50 mix with flexible strips. Clones love it

You rate the mix is more optimal somehow?

 

[HydroLynx]

Does the added red help with rooting too?
If not then I'm still saying it's between 4000k and 5000k for anything outside of flowering.

Yeah old-school lore says "More blue for veg and more red for flower" but for cloning using a lower K may produce better results...

 

[VegasWinner]

I have used 5000k alone 3500k alone and various t5 variations over time. I have found great roots in 1 week with a homemade qb board with 42 diodes in series with 8 strings in parallel four 5000k four 3000k driven with a 185h-c1400b driver at max of 150w in a 2x2 area. I also takes same clones in same 2x2 from cloner to hydro easily continuously

 

[Airwalker16]

Clones just need some light. anything 4k+ will suffice.

 

[zypheruk]

3000-3500 is all that's needed and will give what is needed from veg to flower. Is it really worth spending money on something just for veg. To me it's not but others will off course have their opinion.
As for rooting time a ph of 5.5 will produce roots quicker using 3000-3500k than say ph 6.0 and 4k-5k lights. There is more to roots than the lights. Make your own choice.

 

[Heil Tweetler]

3000-3500 is all that's needed and will give what is needed from veg to flower. Is it really worth spending money on something just for veg. To me it's not but others will off course have their opinion.
As for rooting time a ph of 5.5 will produce roots quicker using 3000-3500k than say ph 6.0 and 4k-5k lights. There is more to roots than the lights. Make your own choice.

I use 5k CFL photography bulbs from Amazon. They are 100actual Watt for like 12$ each. I made a lil rig that will take cutting from clones thru veg with 4 of those bulbs and a hunk of bent duct work.


"As for rooting time a ph of 5.5 will produce roots quicker using 3000-3500k than say ph 6.0 and 4k-5k lights" whats the science behind that?

 

[Yodaweed]

a T5 with some 6500k bulbs works best, clones don't like intense light.

 

[Abiqua]

Cfls are 60 lumens a watt and omnidirectional......pass

5k 80cri veros have been good for 4+ years at around 170 lumens per watt in my veg

 

[Nugachino]

Okay. Well I've got about 40w of CFLs above my clones. One 4000k. And one 5000k bulb. They seem to be fine under those. They're about 6" away from them too.

 

[nfhiggs]

Looking at Samsung strips with LM561C for a veg + cuttings box.

I figure that colour quality seems to be less important than quantity, generally, but not when it comes to morphology, such as making new roots.

I find clones can develop roots faster (1 week instead of 2) than HPS compared to 4K MH

BUT these mid-power LEDs are more efficient with higher K, which may increase rooting time...

Then again even a 5000K led pumps out more red than a MH, or even HPS it seems, so it may matter less.

Who's tried and seen?

@CobKits @captainmorgan @Growmau5

They seem to like the 4000K I use.

 

[nfhiggs]

I use 5k CFL photography bulbs from Amazon. They are 100actual Watt for like 12$ each. I made a lil rig that will take cutting from clones thru veg with 4 of those bulbs and a hunk of bent duct work.


"As for rooting time a ph of 5.5 will produce roots quicker using 3000-3500k than say ph 6.0 and 4k-5k lights" whats the science behind that?

A clone is basically starting out in a hydroponic medium. 5.5 PH will allow the roots to uptake nutrients better as they are forming.

 

[Airwalker16]

A clone is basically starting out in a hydroponic medium. 5.5 PH will allow the roots to uptake nutrients better as they are forming.

Not true. there's acruelly many micro nutrients that can't even be up taken below 6.0

 

[wietefras]

Not true. there's acruelly many micro nutrients that can't even be up taken below 6.0

In soil or in hydro? He's talking hydro and for hydro this sounds very unlikely since they advise to aim for 5.5 to 5.8.

 

[Airwalker16]

In soil or in hydro? He's talking hydro and for hydro this sounds very unlikely since they advise to aim for 5.5 to 5.8.

HYDRO

 

[Abiqua]

Okay. Well I've got about 40w of CFLs above my clones. One 4000k. And one 5000k bulb. They seem to be fine under those. They're about 6" away from them too.

I ran cfl's for ten years, great stuff, then.........pass

 

[nfhiggs]

Not true. there's acruelly many micro nutrients that can't even be up taken below 6.0

source?

 

[nfhiggs]

Not true. there's acruelly many micro nutrients that can't even be up taken below 6.0

Well, I guess you need to inform my plants of that, they don't seem to realize they can't uptake those micronutrients at the 5.5-5.8 PH they are sitting in.