During flowering, how dark do the dark cycles have to be?

OK................ so........ if they need 100% darkness or not... what does having 100% darkness do for the plant?
IMO.. and I have not researched this...

the plant see's 12 + hours of darkness (I am sure some ambient light from the moon or even having it exposed for a few minutes to an hour is not going to make the plant change it's cycle either way)

anyhow...

what I think is happening is the plant sees the darkness and reacts to this by trying to flower faster, obviously during the 12 hours of light it is growing and I am sure as these 2 things happens it makes the trichomes multiply to do as it would in nature and try to get as sticky as it can to get any possible male pollen that might be floating around...


just a guess seems plausible to me??>>>+<<<

They dont need 100% darkness but if you dont have 100% darkness you take the following risk:

1) Increased Bloom time (Slowed production of flowers)
2) Decreased Yield (Decreased production of flowers)
3) Decreased Potency (Decreased production of resins)
4) Won't Flower at all
5) Could cause some plants to herm (Light Stress)

With that being said, I have grown quite successfully with slight light leaks before with no problems whatsoever, by slight light leak I mean that around the plants is pitchdark as in no light is touching the plant but the room around them is maybe slightly luminated from artificial light seeping thru a small crack or something - still not bright enough to see your way around the room and maneuver in the dark without aid of a lighter/flashlight (and I have 20/20 vision)....


If your growing in a small cab or tent or something then full 100% dark is essential but if your in a large room then if there is a leak at the corner of the room that doesnt illuminate the plants is generally gunna have no effect especially if in your room you light the whole thing up with excess lights (like you have 3 1,000 watts in a small room) - so if you use a big room with tons of big lights you can get by with like 98% darkness if your not illuminating the plants.

but just to be safe you should do everything in your power to eliminate any light leaks - I know I said I have grown with light leaks succussfully but I have also grown with light leaks and had serious problems because of it - I once had a hybrid take 16 weeks to finish because of a really minor light leak (2" crack 10ft above the plant with artificial light being 10ft from that crack and facing the other direction with the hood blocking most of it)