is plant rotation really necessary?

andy s

Well-Known Member
I've been told when growing vertically its best to rotate the plants in order to get even light distribution but would it really make a difference? Leaves never block light they absorb it and use it for food.
If that's the case you wouldn't have to trim to get nodes to open up
 

andy s

Well-Known Member
If you have one light centered over them that doesn't move, it's a good idea to rotate. If it's one plant, dont worry about it
 

Agronut

Well-Known Member
OMG! WHAT?! The only obvious benefit gained from rotating your plant is stretch and growth. The side with the light will develop faster. I have never experienced an increase in flower (bud) production and its not likely you will either. The only two realistic reasons ,in my experience, for rotating is: (1) you need the stretch for training later on or, (2)you intend to throw those bad girls outdoors later. Otherwise, the bud growth will be maximized daily on the side with the most intense light . Go ahead and try a side by side comparison. Rotate two plants during veg. then switch to flower . Continue swinging one round and round and the other press relatively flat and against the wall with the branches restrained and spread evenly to maximize the light coverage. Please report back with dry weight. Proper training and minor pruning is of course always advised. Results will vary in relation to system situation and possibly bias. "Common sense".........never mind , decided not to touch this one this time.
i’m not entirely vertical, but i hang a 400w HPS in the center of 5-6 plants during flower only; the HPS is supplemental/vertical to boost the 630w CMH fixture that is horizontal above all the way through veg and harvest. So, i’m flowering under 630w CMH horizontal reflector (dual spectrum) + 400w HPS vertical to side light in a 5x5 tent. I rotated plants religiously during my first and second grows, but NEVER after that....and growing the same strains, I could not tell a difference between rotated/non rotated plants. In my experience if your total lumens are intense enough, and you have an few hundred watts HPS bathing your girls from pot to top, your plants will fatten on all sides. Rotating seems to be a massive waste of time, but someone who has done side-by-side may be able to prove or disprove.
 
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