I have run my autos with a 6-2 schedule with no apparent problems.
Thanks
I actually just read this:
"There is a lot of research that suggests that cannabis plants can only
process a certain amount of light per day. After that level has been reached, the plant can no longer absorb more light, and any additional light is essentially wasted. By breaking the light cycle into multiple 6 hour periods, the plant is able to rest and process the light it has received. When the lights come back on 2 hours later, the plant will be ready to process additional light, allowing you to get the most plant growth out of every minute your lights are on.
At a
biological level, cannabis’s inability to grow more once it has received a certain amount of light can be attributed to the way the plant processes carbon dioxide (CO2). A majority of the mass accumulated in cannabis is associated with the amount of CO2 found inside plant cells. While under light, cannabis tries to prevent CO2from leaving its cells by cutting off transpiration. However, this prevents new CO2 from entering into the cell, blocking new growth. When the lights are turned off, and no photosynthesis is occurring, the plant is able to absorb new CO2 into its cells.
Additionally, when plants are exposed to 18 straight hours of intense light, they become stressed. Signs of stress - droopy or curled leaves - will usually appear towards the end of the light cycle. While
some stress can be beneficial to plant growth, too much stress can cause harm to your plants and prevent them from reaching maximum growth potential.
Giving plants 6 hours of intense light at a time not only puts less stress on the plants, it also spread out the load on your cooling system over a longer period of time. The cooling system works the hardest when lights are on. By turning off the lights for 2 hours at a time throughout the day, your cooling system will get a break between light cycles, allowing the room to be cooled to desired temperatures before the lights come back on. With a properly sized cooling system, this benefit will be minimized as the system will be designed to handle the heat load throughout the entire light cycle.
While there are many approaches to Veg light cycles for cannabis, a 6/2 schedule allows for maximum plant growth. A 6/2 schedule allows plants to process more intense light, prevents plants from becoming stressed and puts less stress on your cooling system. It’s a win all around. Give your plants a break every 2 hours and you’ll be amazed at the results."