Low intensity light = Dark green leaves

grassy007

grassy007

Well-Known Member
I've now grown 2 one plant grows in a small tent with my $129 BestVA 1000w led. Both my grows soon had dark leaves thruout the grow. I thought it was an over abundance of nitrogen, but I was wrong. I kept the nitrogen feeding in check. I then read that a plant that's not receiving enough light intensity will produce more chlorophyll in order to try and absorb more light. I'm not growing a 3rd crop with this blurple light only to have the same thing happen. The plant grew fine, only with with dark green leaves and low THC content. A plant with dark green leaves DOES NOT necessarily mean an over abundance of nitrogen in the soil. I found that out after my second grow, so it had nothing to do with the strain or excess nitrogen in the soil.
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
Another sign of low light is very long petioles (the stems of the leaves).
 
Randomblame

Randomblame

Well-Known Member
This blurple unit use 420-430nm purple diodes, yes?
I've added 10% 425nm to my white COB veg light and have regocnized the same. The leafs also stays smaller than before and the whole plant growth more compact.
But it should also improve resin and terpene content which actually means a better endproduct.

Violet (380 nm to 445 nm)
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Studies have shown that when a plant gets visible violet light, the color, taste and aroma of the plant are increased.
In addition, the antioxidants of the plant are able to perform their functions more efficiently, which prevents the cells from being damaged in the plant.
In short, violet - Improves the "color", the taste and the aroma of the plants.
 
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grassy007

grassy007

Well-Known Member
wietefras said:
The plant also needs more nutrients when it gets more light (or vice versa). Did you compensate for that?
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More nutrients wouldn't have turned dark green leaves to lighter green in two separate grow attempts. That would end up just causing the leaf tips to burn. The only thing I can think of next grow without buying some other form of lighting would be to lower the light down more until it practically starts to burn the leaves. Maybe then, the plants wouldn't produce so much chlorophyll compensating for the lack of light intensity. I've eliminated all other factors. My cheap Chinese blurple LED light is more likely the culprit. What pisses me off is that I used the light on just one plant in each grow.

P.S. I'm going back to a photo period plant. Having the lights on 24/7 helped speed up the harvest, but at a considerably higher cost in electricity for the yield I got.
 
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Randomblame

Randomblame

Well-Known Member
grassy007 said:
More nutrients wouldn't have turned dark green leaves to lighter green in two separate grow attempts. That would end up just causing the leaf tips to burn. The only thing I can think of next grow without buying some other form of lighting would be to lower the light down more until it practically starts to burn the leaves. Maybe then, the plants wouldn't produce so much chlorophyll compensating for the lack of light intensity. I've eliminated all other factors. My cheap Chinese blurple LED light is more likely the culprit. What pisses me off is that I used the light on just one plant in each grow.
Click to expand...
Most plants under blurple light looks darker, it's because of the "light-mix". There is usually more than 10% blue/deepblue and this has multiple effects on stature, size, branching, internodial space, resin and terpene content and even on the color.
You could change the whole PCB/LED's against a Quantumboard if it fits or against a few 1ft. Bridgelux EBgen.2 strips. A lot blurple owners converted their light into a COB or strip build using the build-in drivers. Those strips are pretty cheap(5 bucks a piece) and really efficient(175/180lm/w).. 10-12 1ft. strips should fit well and you can use the build in driver.
And it's really simple, max. a few hours, not more.
Same driver and power draw but twice as many light!!!
Search youtube or the forum here, there are a few simple how-to's. If you interested and need help or links or what else here are many helpful members who are on hand to help and advise you.
 
grassy007

grassy007

Well-Known Member
Okay. I'll look into it. I just hate spending a lot of money for a small tent one plant grow. Another thing I noticed about my two harvests was that the buds smelled pretty much generically the same, even tho they were two completely different strains. The photo period harvest was a sativa and the autoflower was an indica hybrid. I could not get any unique smell from either during or after curing.

My BestVA 1000w cost me $139 about 6 months ago. Since then I've seen the price go to $99. Now it's $109.
I hate to ditch an LED that cost me $139, but I'm probably going to. For my 2 harvests I now feel like : "Fool me once..."(as the saying goes).
 
wietefras

wietefras

Well-Known Member
grassy007 said:
More nutrients wouldn't have turned dark green leaves to lighter green in two separate grow attempts. That would end up just causing the leaf tips to burn.
Click to expand...
I meant the other way around. That the lighter plants getting more intense light might have needed more nutrients? Or the dark plants under low light levels needed less. If you gave them the same EC then that would cause a difference in looks.

BTW burnt tips just means transpiration issues which can be caused by many reasons. I have had burned tips when I was trying to go as low as possible with the EC. Even around and below and EC of 1.0 they still showed burned tips at some point.
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
Oh yeah, that happens sometimes, when you grow two together they both end up pretty similar.

I have seen GML says he has had that happen to whole rooms
 
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