16 Hours MH, 8 hours sunllight?

Milo1798

Active Member
I was wondering if anyone knows if it would be a problem changing a plant from 18 hours of light under a 400 watt MH by adding 6 hours of sunlight and no dark time? Is this a good idea because the plant will be getting as much light as possible in the veg state? Or is it better not to change the light cycle that it's currently on? Anther option is to keep it on 18/6 and make 6 of the 16 hours sunlight. I basically want to know if sunlight is better than MH, i'm sure it would be, and if there is any danger in switching. The plant is about 10" Shiva Shanti from sensi-seed in Amsterdam. I also planned to switch to HPS when i start to flower.
 

DubRules

Well-Known Member
i did this for a while. it seemed to make the plants get thicker stems and grow faster. i would give them some dark time to stimulate root growth. maybe do 12 of mh then 6 of sunlight and then 6 of darkness. you need some dark in there somewhere..
 

frmrboi

Well-Known Member
I basically want to know if sunlight is better than Mh, i'm sure it would be and if there is any danger in switching.
Yes it's better, and there's no danger except you need to harden them off by gradually introducing them to the sunlight which has a damaging level of UV.
 

Bud Frosty

Well-Known Member
I've done this quite a bit while already on 24/0. My biggest concern was draggin any pests back into the veg room.
 

MrFishy

Well-Known Member
Oh yeah, inside growers should never bring any plants inside unless they want insect issues. It's risky enough lettin' the dogs back in after they've been running through the fields.
IDK, but it seems to me that our common pests are small enough to ride the breeze inside, fitting easily between almost any window screen.
That's why I stop my inside crop during the summers, opting to grow a few mothers outside instead, so I can revive the strain thru clones come September. A whole lot easier ridding a cutting of pests than an entire plant, or ten!
 

Jtoth3ustin

Well-Known Member
i wouldnt bother. that seems like alot of work. especially if you had a 30 plant crop cycle like me. thatd be alot of uneccesery moving..... just get a 1K Watt HPS.. put it in a 4x4 room, and you almost have an equivalent lumen output as the sun around 7000 lumes per sq. foot. when the sun is 10000...idk.. to each there own.. Pe@ce..
 

communistcannabis

Well-Known Member
useing sunlight to grow is fine, make sure its direct sunlight. and as far as 24hr of light goes i know many people who do it, but i don't favor it as i feel it stresses out the plant and the light being on 24hrs is not good for the light i aslo heard alot of the root growth happens during the dark cycle

watch out too no one sees the girls in the sun
 

Jtoth3ustin

Well-Known Member
yea. those 24/0 light cycle seems kinda redundant.. you want your ladies to grow real quick. but with no good root system.. i have heard though the 24/h dark period is good during the transition to flowering.... its supposed to make it less stressfull and pop quicker... idk. just things ive heard. i do things like momma nature intended.. Pe@ce...
 

frmrboi

Well-Known Member
i have heard though the 24/h dark period is good during the transition to flowering.... its supposed to make it less stressfull and pop quicker... idk. just things ive heard.
I noticed Dr Greenthumb quotes the total time to flower of his strains if you did start with 24 hours darkness, hmmmm ?
 

KaotnyKush

Active Member
I'd think the plants would love it.

FWIW, I've used 24 "on" for three dozen years.
+REP TO MrFishy for being 36 years deep:razz:

A world of experience.You inspire me MrFishy.....

No expert but I started my grow on 24h switched to 20/4 after a couple weeks. Saw an improvement in growth.....
Have a mother I cut and wanted to fill her out as quick as posible, Had her on 24 growth seemed slow. switched to 20/4 she started bushing quicker....Could be tripping....but i am now swiching to16/ 8...figured the count down would be more nature like......what about seedlings and floros/cfls do they need a dark period?1love:joint:
 
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