Question on supplemental lighting...

i'm getting all the pieces in place for my greenhouse grow and would like to know what type of light would be best to add a few hours of light during veg. i will be getting about 9-10 hours of sunlight and would like to extend that to about 15-18 hours during vegetation. i'll be starting off with no more than 4 plants.

will a t8 shop light suffice?

what about a hanging lamp by each plant? CFL or MH?

what is recommended for the best grow in this case?

i've searched through the forums and couldn't find a direct answer to this question.

Do you mean direct sunlight ??
After that 9-10 hours, is greenhouse totally dark ? :S
The light depends on your budget, you can start with cfl. MH highly recommended.
If you do not able to buy high pressure sodium and mh. Then, buy only high pressure sodium

SOMEBEECH said:

MH and atleast 18hrs of light,or there gonna freak out and flower.
What do you plan on flowering with......


BEECH

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i figured flowering would be handled by the sun? 10 hours of direct sunlight should be enough for flowering, right? i've been reading 8-10 outdoors is sufficient. i know 12 is preferred, but i thought that was for indoor grows?

this mmj greenhouse is using t8's overhead and cfl clamp lights on each plant...

http://www.marijuanagrowershq.com/grow-like-a-pro-big-sluggers-outdoor-cannabis-garden/

lepis22 said:

Do you mean direct sunlight ??
After that 9-10 hours, is greenhouse totally dark ? :S
The light depends on your budget, you can start with cfl. MH highly recommended.
If you do not able to buy high pressure sodium and mh. Then, buy only high pressure sodium

Click to expand...

yes, direct sunlight. it would be dark, correct.

i didn't know if mh would be necessary since they will be receiving the direct natural sunlight for approximately 10 hours??? will there be a notable difference in plant quality? i know indoors the clear choice is MH and HPS

obviously if i can get by [and not lose quality] with a t8 and some cfl clamp lights i'd like to go that route.

thanks

oghost said:

yes, direct sunlight. it would be dark, correct.

i didn't know if mh would be necessary since they will be receiving the direct natural sunlight for approximately 10 hours??? will there be a notable difference in plant quality? i know indoors the clear choice is MH and HPS

obviously if i can get by [and not lose quality] with a t8 and some cfl clamp lights i'd like to go that route.

thanks

Click to expand...

mh and hps is better because cost you less in the long term -electricity-
yes, great difference. The important thing is color spectrum,
blue for vegetative stage
red for flowering
I use cfl for clones or seedlings, cfls emit blue color.

there might be some problems if you want to use cfl for whole life cycle.
-uneven growing
-stretching
-difficulties to induce flowering
Of course, you can eliminate these problems if you use enough bulbs
want to try it, then do it. This is best way to learn

@ OGhost - The Clip on CFL and overhead T12's on the MGHQ greenhouse were not used to increase light for flowering but to extend the length of day in early spring to prevent clones from flowering when planted before the natural hours of daylight were long enough. 8-10 hours of full sun is more then enough to flower your cannabis outside or in a greenhouse. You will not need any additional light for normal flowering. If you want to simply add hours of light to keep plants from flowering, you don't need HPS or MH lights. Remember, the light is not to help the plants grow, but simply to make it not dark. I have had the best luck with Clip on 60 watt incandescent lights not more then about 12 inches from the tops of the plants.