Crazy idea that includes 1000 watt outdoor

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outdoor2018

Member
so I’m worried about my plants flowering early when I put them out and I have an extra 1000 watt air cooled hood.
It’s not a big grow area.
10x20 so I’m thinking of just throwing that 1k watt in the middle of the outdoor grow.

So I’ll put my plants outside end of March; and then turn the light on at lets say 5pm and then turn the light off at 8-9pm

Would this idea work?
 
ganga gurl420

ganga gurl420

Well-Known Member
outdoor2018 said:
so I’m worried about my plants flowering early when I put them out and I have an extra 1000 watt air cooled hood.
It’s not a big grow area.
10x20 so I’m thinking of just throwing that 1k watt in the middle of the outdoor grow.

So I’ll put my plants outside end of March; and then turn the light on at lets say 5pm and then turn the light off at 8-9pm

Would this idea work?
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Yeah that should keep then from flowering...but ... If it rains will your light be okay?
 
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waterproof808

Well-Known Member
1k doesnt have enough spread to light a full 10x20, the lower branches on the outside edge will most likely flower because light will not penetrate that far.

Instead, you can just get an outdoor string light extension cord and a bunch of regular LED (5-10w) bulbs so you can spread the light out over your 10x20 area. It doesnt take alot of light intensity to keep plants from flowering and you will save a bunch of money not using an overpowered indoor light when you can accomplish the same thing with regular household light bulbs.
 
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outdoor2018

Member
projectinfo said:
It's like throwing a lite bulb into a bonfire.

Don't waste your time, the sun is pretty strong lol
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Yeah I’m not trying to use the light for them to grow more, I’m trying to accomplish them not flowering early,

Because when I put them out on March 30th I’ll only have 12.5 hours of daylight and I’m afraid that will force them to flower,
So I’ll run the lights from 7pm till midnight adding another 5 hours of light
So it would be 17.5/5.5
 
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outdoor2018

Member
waterproof808 said:
1k doesnt have enough spread to light a full 10x20, the lower branches on the outside edge will most likely flower because light will not penetrate that far.

Instead, you can just get an outdoor string light extension cord and a bunch of regular LED (5-10w) bulbs so you can spread the light out over your 10x20 area. It doesnt take alot of light intensity to keep plants from flowering and you will save a bunch of money not using an overpowered indoor light when you can accomplish the same thing with regular household light bulbs.
Click to expand...
So basically string them 3 feet from the outside parameter?
 
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waterproof808

Well-Known Member
You just want to distribute the light more evenly so you're not leaving anything in a shadow. If you have a bunch of plants around just one single light source you will eventually just be lighting one side of the plant as they grow bigger, and potentially have parts of your plant start to flower.
 
thumper60

thumper60

Well-Known Member
outdoor2018 said:
Yeah I’m not trying to use the light for them to grow more, I’m trying to accomplish them not flowering early,

Because when I put them out on March 30th I’ll only have 12.5 hours of daylight and I’m afraid that will force them to flower,
So I’ll run the lights from 7pm till midnight adding another 5 hours of light
So it would be 17.5/5.5
Click to expand...
If u run a 1k over a 10-20 to extend day u will be fine nothing should bud unless running autos
 
thumper60

thumper60

Well-Known Member
waterproof808 said:
You just want to distribute the light more evenly so you're not leaving anything in a shadow. If you have a bunch of plants around just one single light source you will eventually just be lighting one side of the plant as they grow bigger, and potentially have parts of your plant start to flower.
Click to expand...
hes just extending day for a few weeks comeon wakeup lol
 
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outdoor2018

Member
thumper60 said:
If u run a 1k over a 10-20 to extend day u will be fine nothing should bud unless running autos
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Exactly what I was thinking,
The only problem I have now is let’s say by some chance it does rain(5-8% chance) in the month that I’m extending day,
How would I go about waterproofing my light
 
OldMedUser

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
outdoor2018 said:
Exactly what I was thinking,
The only problem I have now is let’s say by some chance it does rain(5-8% chance) in the month that I’m extending day,
How would I go about waterproofing my light
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Get some white Xmas light strings if you can find them and string them through the plants. They only need to come on for a while in the early morning and later in the evening so get a timer. Yo really just need a light to come on for an hour during the dark period to keep the plants in veg mode and it doesn't have to be a strong light like a 1000w one. Just enough to break up the dark period for a bit. Commercial greenhouse growers have used that technique for a century to keep flowers from blooming until close to whatever season they are needed to be sold.

Good luck!
 
too larry

too larry

Well-Known Member
An even cheaper way to keep outdoor plants in veg is to run lights for one hour at midnight. Like waterproof said, a string of lights would work best. As far as rain goes, they do make outdoor bulbs. Just cost a little more.
 
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outdoor2018

Member
too larry said:
An even cheaper way to keep outdoor plants in veg is to run lights for one hour at midnight. Like waterproof said, a string of lights would work best. As far as rain goes, they do make outdoor bulbs. Just cost a little more.
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I like this idea, but I’m concerned it’s causing stress on the plants and if I do this for 2 months could be bad.
Thoughts?
 
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waterproof808

Well-Known Member
outdoor2018 said:
I like this idea, but I’m concerned it’s causing stress on the plants and if I do this for 2 months could be bad.
Thoughts?
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Nah, they will be fine. Alot of us Hawaii growers grow this way, all year long. I prefer more like 2-3 hours personally even though some say its not necessary.

I honestly see better growth when I veg outdoor and interrupt the dark cycle, vs. vegging indoor under t5's. I have to be conscious about electricity here because utility rates are ridiculously high.
 
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outdoor2018

Member
waterproof808 said:
Nah, they will be fine. Alot of us Hawaii growers grow this way, all year long. I prefer more like 2-3 hours personally even though some say its not necessary.

I honestly see better growth when I veg outdoor and interrupt the dark cycle, vs. vegging indoor under t5's. I have to be conscious about electricity here because utility rates are ridiculously high.
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Would the string of lights matter? Like between an led bulb or incandescent?

Found 48feet with 18 11watt s14 incandescent bulbs, would that be enough light?
 
too larry

too larry

Well-Known Member
outdoor2018 said:
Would the string of lights matter? Like between an led bulb or incandescent?

Found 48feet with 18 11watt s14 incandescent bulbs, would that be enough light?
Click to expand...
11 watts is not very much. You would be better off with some CFL's if the LED's are too pricey.
 
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