Lightning help for non-weed setup

[cobshopgrow]

have you evaluated the needs for your crops?
i think basil is maxed out at 80ppfd or so

i would make sure to be able to go really low, means 10-100% dimming and maybe not the most powerfull fixture in that case.

 

[end_of_the_tunnel]

have you evaluated the needs for your crops?
i think basil is maxed out at 80ppfd or so

i would make sure to be able to go really low, means 10-100% dimming and maybe not the most powerfull fixture in that case.

Or shadow with taller, more "light-hungry" plants. Like tomatos and peppers.

 

[cobshopgrow]

basil is hard to kill, even in winter on a dark window.

good note
tomatos are hungry for light, they probably take it all.

 

[OneHitDone]

hey guys,

first of all thanks for all the wonderful information i already could find on this forum. i am a complete newbie to led lightning. hopefully i've gathered enough information to be able to articulate my questions. also sorry for my english, it's not my native language.

some important details of my setup: first of all i am not interested in growing mj in the foreseeable future (read a few years, so if the lightning is optimal for them also, good, but it's not a priority, i expect technology to change in that timespan anyway), but just trying to start with hydroponics vegetables. hopefully this is not a problem, but i've found that i can gather way more detailed information from places like this, compared to other hydro sites (this may also mean i am way overdoing it). if everything goes well i think i would try some fruiting vegetables, so that may affect the light choice (eg temperature, see later).

so as this is my first time i plan to start with lettuce, basil and other non flowering/fruits and mostly easy leafy greens. i also don't have a tent and i plan to have my system in our living room in open, next to a white wall, but no other reflecting materials and hopefully without any ventilation/fans needed. my space is a 120 cm x 40 cm (~ 4 ft x 1.3 ft) growing area and a 60 cm x 30cm (~ 2ft x 1 ft) seedling/propagation area organised in a single row (so it's roughly 180 cm x 40cm or ~ 6ft x 1.3ft ~ 8 ft2). as for the budget, i don't have strong limits, obviously i want it to be as cost effective as it can be (i live in central eu so most likely digikey) and build complexity also matters (i am an engineer, but i am a software guy, so i can look-up, re-educate and copy, but i have my limits), i am not sure what is realistic but i am hoping for something 1-200$ tops.

searching around the forums it seems to me that recently the recommendation generally is to use F series strips. i've also read that i should shoot for around 30W / ft2 (does that hold also for lettuce/leafy greens or more like cannabis? flowering plants like tomato pepper?), that would mean around 240W for my entire area, but basically this as far as i got, and i have some (possibly dumb) questions, which are obviously connected, like what/how many and what size strips should i use, which temperature should i go for, should i go for multiple (eg different) or single, on what amper should i drive them, etc.

thanks

First of all welcome to the forum brother
I know how exciting it is to get into the planning and tinkering around building of custom led light fixtures. Very neat and interesting stuff.
There is still a major elephant in the room and you will notice that none of the replies thus far address it - SPECTRUM.....

I would encourage you to check out my lettuce grow challenge thread and pay close attention to the plant quality the folks who attempted where able to grow. Also, pay close attention to who some of those folks are and the fact that they quickly ducked out on the challenge yet continue to sell led lights hand over fist without ever producing a quality result to put on display.

All COB Users - Lettuce Grow Challenge!!

I would like to challenge any and all here on RIU that are growing with cobs to grow a few heads of lettuce under their lights. Come on guys and gals, I know you have some extra rockwool cubes, rapid rooters, germination mix and all that laying around. Grab yourself a pack of bib or romaine...

www.rollitup.org

Good luck in your venture!

 

[lukio]

love this vertical hydro set up. im also thinking about building a lil spot for leafy greens out of influx L09

 

[loco41]

So I'll start by saying I have only put together a couple of board lights so far and have no experience yet with any strips. That said, I wanted to get some strips to try out, so i bought 20 of these https://www.futureelectronics.com/p/lighting-solutions--light-engine-led-assemblies--light-engines/bxeb-l0560z-40g2000-c-c3-bridgelux-6115970 for $130 shipped to my door in the US (had them shipped to a friends house since I live in an apartment and don't like having large packages dropped off if I can't receive them, but they have already arrived 4 days since the order). The 4k 90cri seemed like a well rounded choice in my opinion for a broad range of applications. I would love to set these up in a small 2x3 tent with two levels to grow some greens/starter plants for the outdoor garden. I don't have the space nor am I in the proper setting to expand on my mj grows and will continue to use my highlights boards for that, but eventually would like to do some comparisons of the different spectrums/led style of lights I have, but I'm still a little ways away from settling into a more permanent place.

First of all welcome to the forum brother
I know how exciting it is to get into the planning and tinkering around building of custom led light fixtures. Very neat and interesting stuff.
There is still a major elephant in the room and you will notice that none of the replies thus far address it - SPECTRUM.....

I would encourage you to check out my lettuce grow challenge thread and pay close attention to the plant quality the folks who attempted where able to grow. Also, pay close attention to who some of those folks are and the fact that they quickly ducked out on the challenge yet continue to sell led lights hand over fist without ever producing a quality result to put on display.

All COB Users - Lettuce Grow Challenge!!

I would like to challenge any and all here on RIU that are growing with cobs to grow a few heads of lettuce under their lights. Come on guys and gals, I know you have some extra rockwool cubes, rapid rooters, germination mix and all that laying around. Grab yourself a pack of bib or romaine...

www.rollitup.org

Good luck in your venture!

I'll have to jump back on that thread. I just planted some kale and spinach in some planters alone with some cover crops of clover/fenugreek/chamomile a few days ago (a random melon of some sort seems to have sprouted as well from some of my worm bin ewc). I have them under 2x 3000k v1 qbs in a 2x2x4ft tent. Last post I put in that thread was under some cobs, so we'll see how this one turns out.

 

[end_of_the_tunnel]

First of all welcome to the forum brother
I know how exciting it is to get into the planning and tinkering around building of custom led light fixtures. Very neat and interesting stuff.
There is still a major elephant in the room and you will notice that none of the replies thus far address it - SPECTRUM.....

I would encourage you to check out my lettuce grow challenge thread and pay close attention to the plant quality the folks who attempted where able to grow. Also, pay close attention to who some of those folks are and the fact that they quickly ducked out on the challenge yet continue to sell led lights hand over fist without ever producing a quality result to put on display.

All COB Users - Lettuce Grow Challenge!!

I would like to challenge any and all here on RIU that are growing with cobs to grow a few heads of lettuce under their lights. Come on guys and gals, I know you have some extra rockwool cubes, rapid rooters, germination mix and all that laying around. Grab yourself a pack of bib or romaine...

www.rollitup.org

Good luck in your venture!

Good point. Do not think there is one spectrum that suits all types of plants. Again, maybe larger plants could possibly be used to "shade" and also "filter" the output to shorter species. Lots of room for experimentation.

Personally think home food production using leds is most economic for fast growing salad greens. I wonder if the hot pepper enthusiasts have forums discussing indoor cultivation? Maybe some of them have expanded indoor experiments and have useful data on growing other plants?

This is where ratios of blue:green and red:far red would be handy to research for specific crops. The information is out there for food crops. Manufacturers could bump up interest and improve sales if they were serious about providing the data on ratios.

 

[OneHitDone]

Good point. Do not think there is one spectrum that suits all types of plants. Again, maybe larger plants could possibly be used to "shade" and also "filter" the output to shorter species. Lots of room for experimentation.

Personally think home food production using leds is most economic for fast growing salad greens. I wonder if the hot pepper enthusiasts have forums discussing indoor cultivation? Maybe some of them have expanded indoor experiments and have useful data on growing other plants?

This is where ratios of blue:green and red:far red would be handy to research for specific crops. The information is out there for food crops. Manufacturers could bump up interest and improve sales if they were serious about providing the data on ratios.

Show me a crop that won't grow quite well under Metal Halide or even HPS with a bit more elongation as a sole lighting source
I personally am not buying all of this "crop specific" spectrum concept. Particularly in a light intended for veg.

 

[lukio]

Which do you struggle with @OneHitDone ? i'll grow the same just to prove a point if you like? im serious. if i fail then i'll stop beasting ya, if i smash it then you have to shut up about led deficiencies?

fair?

 

[end_of_the_tunnel]

Show me a crop that won't grow quite well under Metal Halide or even HPS with a bit more elongation as a sole lighting source
I personally am not buying all of this "crop specific" spectrum concept. Particularly in a light intended for veg.

We already have examples of different crops and response to spectrum. The online journals are absolutely littered with such. Just search.

For hobby growers, we can get by on basic lighting. If we grow outdoors we use the sun. Different crops, different seasons. Daylight changes.

Aside from the OP's thread, I am interested in trends and adoption. Crop specific spectrum, as you put it is a thing. I bet even traditional short grow-cycle plants can be "quality enhanced" by spectrum changes.

Just like the weed guys that veg under halide, and move onto HPS for flower, spectrum is a factor.

Leafy greens do not require the same amount or spectrum of light that fruiting plants do. Flavour, texture - all can be influenced and manipulated by spectrum. I bet searching for information would throw up indicators.

 

[OneHitDone]

Which do you struggle with @OneHitDone ? i'll grow the same just to prove a point if you like? im serious. if i fail then i'll stop beasting ya, if i smash it then you have to shut up about led deficiencies?

fair?

Head on on over to the lettuce challenge thread and show us what your best Led's got Big Dog. Remember, we Americans measure our lettuce in inches not mm's

 

[lukio]

Head on on over to the lettuce challenge thread and show us what your best Led's got Big Dog. Remember, we Americans measure our lettuce in inches not mm's

dont get me started on how retarded using inches is. So when i grow this lettuce for my rabbits... are you gonna quit being a dick in the led section?

im gonna need that in writing.

 

[OneHitDone]

dont get me started on how retarded using inches is. So when i grow this lettuce for my rabbits... are you gonna quit being a dick in the led section?

Haven't been a dick. Just discussing factors that will greatly improve products in the led market.
Who know's maybe you will see something you have been in complete denial about being a real issue.
Either way I've got not beef with you and it's just about sharing info and experiences with other growers

 

[lukio]

Haven't been a dick. Just discussing factors that will greatly improve products in the led market.
Who know's maybe you will see something you have been in complete denial about being a real issue.
Either way I've got not beef with you and it's just about sharing info and experiences with other growers

so telling every new guy leds cause deficiencies and foxtailing isnt being a dick?

 

[lukio]

how about insulting that poor fellas family?

promoting sCammie?


look, im up for the lettuce but youve gotta stop being a dick.

 

[OneHitDone]

so telling every new guy leds cause deficiencies and foxtailing isnt being a dick?

Sorry if the truth hurts you in some way

how about insulting that poor fellas family?

promoting sCammie?


look, im up for the lettuce but youve gotta stop being a dick.

Come down off your high horse
#1 your seriously standing up for the guy stealing forum members money? Any dumbass that's not smart enough to make sure their family picture isn't in the background of photo's posted on an international cannabis forum deserves much worth than my sarcastic comment it received.

#2 again - come down off your all mighty high horse. Where did I ever "PROMOTE" said product?? Testing something and promoting are two vastly different things. It's time for Lukio to start being honest on the forums and not continue to spread false truth's

 

[lukio]

LOL! we all saw what happened mate, theres no denying it. There are whole pages with various people talkin about your behaviour - thats not a debate.

So youre always gonna be an led troll. BLESS

im calling you Yodaweed from now on.

 

[DarkWeb]

Good point. Do not think there is one spectrum that suits all types of plants. Again, maybe larger plants could possibly be used to "shade" and also "filter" the output to shorter species. Lots of room for experimentation.

Personally think home food production using leds is most economic for fast growing salad greens. I wonder if the hot pepper enthusiasts have forums discussing indoor cultivation? Maybe some of them have expanded indoor experiments and have useful data on growing other plants?

This is where ratios of blue:green and red:far red would be handy to research for specific crops. The information is out there for food crops. Manufacturers could bump up interest and improve sales if they were serious about providing the data on ratios.

@morugawelder sent me this link........THEHOTPEPPER.COM....might have something in there. I have peppers growing now and have grown out lots of different things but all under MH, CMH or HPS. One day I'd like to build some leds but lots of other things on the plate now.

 

[OneHitDone]

LOL! we all saw what happened mate, theres no denying it. There are whole pages with various people talkin about your behaviour - thats not a debate.

So youre always gonna be an led troll. BLESS

im calling you Yodaweed from now on.

I guess your weed is pretty good - keeps you in your own space. Let's call it Lukio's World

I'll be setting up a Lettuce Grow Challenge soon. You're welcome to strap on a set and join in if you are really the Big Dog Know It All you seem to think you are.
Would give you the ultimate bragging rights and the handful of us that feel led spectrum needs enhancement beyond plain white 80cri diodes will definitely eat crow if you come out on top

 

[lukio]

I guess your weed is pretty good - keeps you in your own space. Let's call it Lukio's World

I'll be setting up a Lettuce Grow Challenge soon. You're welcome to strap on a set and join in if you are really the Big Dog Know It All you seem to think you are.
Would give you the ultimate bragging rights and the handful of us that feel led spectrum needs enhancement beyond plain white 80cri diodes will definitely eat crow if you come out on top

i'm annoyingly tempted, ya big whoppa!

stop talking newbs out of led and i'll consider it