24/0 versus 18/6
- Thread starter Autodoctor
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Nutty sKunK
Well-Known Member
Very interesting, thanks for sharing.
Ive always ran at 20/4 just because it felt right to have a night cycle.
It’s that old saying isn’t it? Quality over quantity
twentyeight.threefive
Well-Known Member
That was kind of funny to listen to. She's head of R&D for a microbe company. States they need rest so microbes aren't possibly starved.
What if you don't have an active microbial biology in your medium?
Cannabis are C3 plants and do not require a dark cycle in veg. As long as they don't exceed their DLI then they will not be stressed.
Budzbuddha
Well-Known Member
She was most likely drunk … to me auto plants dont give 2 shits which cycle one chooses - it is moving to end of life right from germ anyways.
Nutty sKunK
Well-Known Member
Good points.
What media wouldn’t have microbial activity? Hydro? Is it completely sterile? Would need tests to come to a conclusion if there are any.
Veg is all about establishing itself in the media. It takes time to build a microbial relationship. That’s why microbes are sourced from 200-300 year old oak trees etc.
You are forced to give a dark period in flower anyways (photoperiod) so they will indeed have time to focus on their rhizophere just when abundant terpenes are being created.
Regarding autos you have what 10-20%+ ruderalis genes present and the rest are photoperiod.
My plants react to the dark. They droop as they know it’s time for rest. This rest is when they can establish a better microbial culture In your media.
Regardless. This is the truth;
We are taking a natural plant and placing it under unnatural conditions.
Take away all unnatural conditions in the world (Mankind) and everything is perfect and in harmony.
But at the end of the day it’s your plant. Do what you want. Always keep an open mind to improving your ability to produce quality buds. Otherwise you become ignorant and stuck in the past.
We are still learning the ins and outs of this mysterious plant so not one person knows it all
Budzbuddha
Well-Known Member
Cycle play happens among a few growers too .
Example : For giving auto ( a better chance ) to root out / longer light cycle upfront. Some run say a 24/0 - 20/4 during autos short veg stage to get as much growth as possible…. Then once it moves to preflower and stretch it is “ dropped to 18/6 “ to power the flower cycle to harvest ….. plant is blooming and thinks days are shorter when it is blooming.
Saves electric in long run and plants respond pretty well to it. Kind of my little way of running autos outside of common beliefs plus it keeps lights from excessive wear and tear. So much so since i run perpetuals like this - i am running led boards 6 years without replacement.
Think Gas lantern technique but for autos .
Example : For giving auto ( a better chance ) to root out / longer light cycle upfront. Some run say a 24/0 - 20/4 during autos short veg stage to get as much growth as possible…. Then once it moves to preflower and stretch it is “ dropped to 18/6 “ to power the flower cycle to harvest ….. plant is blooming and thinks days are shorter when it is blooming.
Saves electric in long run and plants respond pretty well to it. Kind of my little way of running autos outside of common beliefs plus it keeps lights from excessive wear and tear. So much so since i run perpetuals like this - i am running led boards 6 years without replacement.
Think Gas lantern technique but for autos .
Nutty sKunK
Well-Known Member
Do you mean 18/6 before or after stretch? I would’ve guessed that it would trigger it to stretch more due to lack of light?
BlazeUno404
Member
This is the question that brought me here and there seems to be no clarity on the issue other than peoples feelings and it’s fucking annoying. Mephisto grow guide from 2017 says they run 24/0 and here I am trying to veg a photo mom along side my autos and I’m afraid of going 20/4 and messing with my photo. If the 4 hours of dark isn’t scientifically documented as being beneficial then why do it? Same thing with defoliating autos. No science that says it works really just people’s feelings meanwhile the experts on plants say it can only hurt the plant. And if you look outside at the bushes nobody defoliated any of that shit and it grew just fine. I hate the internet
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Three Berries
Well-Known Member
More light more plant. Last grow in tent (2nd so far) 8 weeks and they were out growing the tent at 20/4 hr schedule, I switched it to 12/12 for another week as the flower room was busy.
Oldreefer
Well-Known Member
Yes. After 20 yrs, I've found no reason other than bragging rights, to do it any other way. To compensate, just run more. Does fine.
EndGreedMakeSeeds
Well-Known Member
From personal experience, my seedlings and clones don't really thrive under 24/0, as soon as I throw a little 4 or 6hrs dark cycle in, their health and growth seems to pickup a whole lot for that explosive veg phase.
Also saving 25% energy use doing 18/6 vs 24/0 if energy cost is an important factor
Also saving 25% energy use doing 18/6 vs 24/0 if energy cost is an important factor
Agree. I watched the vid a few weeks ago and that was the only justification. Left me with the same question that you raised but that issue wasn’t raised. This is a marketing video.
lusidghost
Well-Known Member
I've always kept my vegging plants on a 24hr light cycle. I've had mother plants under constant light for several years at a time.
hk720
New Member
I have this too.
This is not true.. Plants do not need dark periods. I have ran 24/0 for years with no problems.
Photos and Autos | The Recommended PAR levels for Photos and Autos
For photoperiod plants on a 12 hour flowering cycle we recommend an average PAR intensity of 900 µmols/m²/second for home growers and up to 1,400 µmols/m²/second for expert and commercial growers. Autoflowering plants on a 20 hour light cycle require a lower PAR intensity of about 550...
migrolight.com