Why 100% dark during 12/12 if the moon provides some light?

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guitarguy10

Well-Known Member
Just a question of curiosity because I already have my grow room 100% light leak proof but why is it so important that we don't allow our plants any light during their dark cycle when transitioning to flower if we are trying to mimic the sunlight period between seasons?

The moon reflects light from the sun the entire year, so plants are always receiving 'some' amount of light. Very little I know but not 0% like is suggested when flowering.
 
pulpoinspace

pulpoinspace

Well-Known Member
im no expert

but i know the moon doesn't provide much light. something like .05 lux compared to the 120,000 lux of the sun.
your pupils dilate and you can kinda see outside at night doesn't mean that plants are getting photosynthetically active radiation.

a light leak is different from the moon. a light leak could be direct sunlight, or a faulty timer switching a grow light on.
 
ChiefRunningPhist

ChiefRunningPhist

Well-Known Member
guitarguy10 said:
Just a question of curiosity because I already have my grow room 100% light leak proof but why is it so important that we don't allow our plants any light during their dark cycle when transitioning to flower if we are trying to mimic the sunlight period between seasons?

The moon reflects light from the sun the entire year, so plants are always receiving 'some' amount of light. Very little I know but not 0% like is suggested when flowering.
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I've added a night light and doubled my yields.











































Jk
:bigjoint:
They do get some light in nature and maybe the herm response that seems to ensue is a survival mechanism thats integral to their existence, although not beneficial to us when it comes to good herb lol just a theory.. I don't have a clue..
 
Roger A. Shrubber

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
part of it is conditioning. if a plant gets occasional, brief exposure to a light at night, it's probably not going to have any problems. if the same plant is kept in pitch black all night it's whole life, and then is exposed to even a brief light during it's night cycle, i think it will have a much greater chance to have an adverse reaction to it, as it's never been conditioned to that.
 
Kingrow1

Kingrow1

Well-Known Member
guitarguy10 said:
Just a question of curiosity because I already have my grow room 100% light leak proof but why is it so important that we don't allow our plants any light during their dark cycle when transitioning to flower if we are trying to mimic the sunlight period between seasons?

The moon reflects light from the sun the entire year, so plants are always receiving 'some' amount of light. Very little I know but not 0% like is suggested when flowering.
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Indoors you can easily exceed the moon and the advice helps new bees get it right first time.

My tent has constant light leak, after many many many grows its not so important and you see what plants can handle.

You would need more than leaks to recommence photosynthesis in a dark room.

At some point someone equated tiny light leaks to their plants turning hermie - never ever ever seen this and feel like were in mythville here.

:-)
 
Flowki

Flowki

Well-Known Member
Kingrow1 said:
Indoors you can easily exceed the moon and the advice helps new bees get it right first time.

My tent has constant light leak, after many many many grows its not so important and you see what plants can handle.

You would need more than leaks to recommence photosynthesis in a dark room.

At some point someone equated tiny light leaks to their plants turning hermie - never ever ever seen this and feel like were in mythville here.

:-)
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I'd kinda second that but it's one of those things that are not worth risking. It doesn't take a whole load of effort to black out a room, in the process it makes the room more air tight for smell, bugs and other things, so it's something that should be done regardless.

As far as a veg room, you don't have to be so obsessive (unless it neighbours the flower room) but the more light/airtight the more you save on heating and so forth, still worth doing.
 
WeedFreak78

WeedFreak78

Well-Known Member
Cannabis flowers because of a buildup of a hormone, florigen I believe. That hormone is also regulated by light exposure, light over a certain intensity destroys it. When light levels are kept below that intensity for 12 hours or more, the hormone accumulates and triggers flowering. I don't remember what the intensity levels are, but as long as you stay below it during lights off you're fine. There's a thread, somewhere, that has the info but I can't seem to find it.

I'm of the opinion if you have a 100% dark room, a minor leak will have more of an effect than a room that always has some minor light intrusion.
 
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paparov

Well-Known Member
It might seem a little bit strange and I don't know if it's only my experience. I have had hermies in the past from lightleaks in indoor grows. On the other hand I have also grown some plants in my balcony in the past. It's over a central road with many traffic lights. Their light does not reach my balcony but still it's never totally dark in the night up there, it's far from pitch black. I have never had a single photoperiod plant hermie on my balcony, not even one seed.
 
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