Extra led lights under canopy
- Thread starter Andyvan55
- Start date
swedsteven
Well-Known Member
Dont all or nothing
Gagetowndog
Member
I did the same thing with my 600hps. I added one 300 cheapo off brand LED and it is a world of difference. Not many underdeveloped buds like I always get in dimly lit areas. The plants have an overall better look to them, healthy. I have been growing indoors for years in the same place, so I could really tell if it was better, and it was. No I didn't get extra pounds, more like 1/2 oz. for a guess. I have four of the 300 that I am trying with other light combinations. Eventually I will go all LED of good quality. One quirk I have seen is that if you mix LED with HPS or MH it doesn't seem to make much difference where the LED is placed. Top, bottom side, I have tried them all and came to the conclusion that as long as the LED is pointed in the general direction , it will help a lot. I have a LOT to learn about LEDS, I will post my results.
I suggest Bridgelux or Samsung strips for side lighting. I have one in each corner and plan to add more.
GBAUTO
Well-Known Member
If you're serious about adding usable photons to your space, then this would be a perfect solution.
Gagetowndog
Member
I found out that light form the LEDs don't make the soil dry like HPS and MH. Sorta like LEDs doesn't make my temperature read artificially high. A direct HPS or MH light on a thermometer will make it go up a lot, the LEDs on the thermometer barely move it, I tried both separately. I figure it will be easier to flush, as the water evaporates but the nutes don't. I have a lot to learn.
GrowLightResearch
Well-Known Member
I would start with four, or twelve 11" Bridgelux Gen2 strips. 1, or 3 strips on each wall.
Or four 22", one on each wall.
Or four 22", one on each wall.
Moflow
Well-Known Member
Will there be an efficiency hit using side lighting?
I do not know.
The reason I ask this is, if a plants leaves are pointing upwards to the overhead light ,photons coming down are hitting more photo receptors on the top of the leaf than photons from the side .
The side light is firing photons out , only some are hitting the dark side of a leaf , the rest the underside.
What happens to a photon as it hits a leaf?
If the photon is reflected instead of absorbed will it continually bounce about the grow room until it strikes the plant on its dark green upper side?
Gagetowndog
Member
First harvest will be in in a couple of weeks. I can check weight after that and compare. I do see that the LED grow has more uniform buds than the HPS, less giant buds and less small buds. The buds seem tighter than usual. Very nice trichomes on the LED grow. I have no idea how it will turn out, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
The leaves are good at positioning themselves where is best, side lighting tends to lay leaves flat almost parallel with the walls (getting side and top lighting) Otherwise how are vert grows using HID so good.
Gagetowndog
Member
I'm still checking out LED lighting, seems I water apx. half as much. Also I seen some spots on a plant with two weeks to go till harvest. This scared the h*ll out of me due to an outbreak of spider mites that I had a few years back ( they were so big and plentiful that you could have fed a family of six for a month.) . I neemed the leafs that looks spotted, knowing full well that the lights would burn the leafs because I neemed with the lights on. Well I was wrong, no burn yet after a day. The LEDS don't seem to burn nemmed leafs.