16/8 light cycle?

Frame

Active Member
I've been doin this 16-8 light cycle my plants are 9 inches tall. Is this light cycle good? And I know roots form during dark periods, is this why my roots are already coming out the bottom in 5 gallon pots?
 

JoshTheMadTitan

Active Member
No, at least I haven't heard of it. What you want is 1-3 months of vegetative growth with light on 18 hours a day minimum, but I prefer 24. Then when you are satisfied with the size (not they will still get much bigger) put the lights on 12/12 for flowering growth.
 

Frame

Active Member
Could I change and add 2 more hours, when I wake up before I turn the lights on, I see the plantation are up. Will it stress them, and they are currently in the stages of forming pre flowers... Should I do 18 6 for another few weeks or do 12 12
 

STLbudz

Well-Known Member
Flowering is up to you how big you want your plant,ive notice the longer the dark is during veg the lankier its gnna look 24 hrs works great the first couple weeks of veg but i like 20/4,its all on what works best for you try a grow 1 way then do something diffrent or add something and look at the diffrence yourself, the light scheadule you have is cutting it pretty close if you had/have a strain sativa dominant it could kick into flower
 

phillipchristian

New Member
Can I add more light to my 16 8 light cycle.
Any light cycle that has 16 hours or more will keep your plants in the vegetative state. Most guys either use 18/6, 20/4, or 24/0 nowadays for a bunch of different reasons. In my experience, the more light you give them the faster they will grow. Some guys like to give them a little rest or some are trying to save on electricity. Adding more light won't hurt your plant and will only make it grow faster till it is time for flower. Figure your plant will grow another 150% of her size when you switch cycles. So a 2' plant will probably grow to 5' in flower. All this depends on strain and environment as well.

Don't worry about the roots coming out the bottom of your pot. A 5 gallon pot is plenty for your plant all the way through flower unless you are planning on growing a plant 7'+ The roots are just showing now and they ca sense the light and air. They will not grow out and all over the floor. They will start to fill out the pot.
 

vilify

Well-Known Member
you can add hours in veg with no issues.

i run 18/6, have tried the main 3, and even with less above ground growth than 24/0, i have not seen a drop in yield running 18/6.
whether that is from improving my growing process or from the larger root mass i receive on 18/6, who knows.

i just play around and do what works.
 

STLbudz

Well-Known Member
Yea i agree from experience they do grow faster with more light, i do 20/4 to cut on all that energy,when your vegging you can pretty much switch the light schedule whenever you feel like it. Once youve entered flowering phase i would avoid messing with the light due to hermie or shock
 

Frame

Active Member
Thanx everyone, I will be adding another 2 hours at the beggining so dawn is still at the same time. Thanx
 

phillk6751

Well-Known Member
I've been doin this 16-8 light cycle my plants are 9 inches tall. Is this light cycle good? And I know roots form during dark periods, is this why my roots are already coming out the bottom in 5 gallon pots?
The roots probably coming out if you leave water sitting in the drip tray, the roots seek water but will auto prune when they reach air
 
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