Revolutionising the traditional light cycles and photo periods

Alex Kelly

Active Member
I have read about such light cycles a number of times over the years and one question always popped into my head more than any others. That is, since light degrades THC and most THC is produced during hours of darkness when plants run on stored energy and they shut down most plant functions and allocate increased amounts of energy for THC production and for growth, IF the additional amount of THC that is lost through light degradation during the increased length periods of light can be made up for in a normal 12-hour period of darkness on top of the amounts that can and would normally be made?

Someone might get increased growth and yields but they might also end up with a lower quality herb than they would otherwise have. In a normal light cycle they might end up with a lesser amount but what they have might be more potent.

Until someone other than someone doing this sort of thing in a basement says it is the bee's knees I will stick to the conventional light cycles.
I have to think that it is possible that in giving the plant MORE light it may focus MORE energy on producing THC during the night cycle when there is no light. Possibly making up for the loss of time spent in the dark.
 

Alex Kelly

Active Member
Ya and now that I think about this a little more, if you were to still give your plant a 12 hr dark cycle and just extend the light cycle to 18+ hours, it would still have the same amount of time to produce thc AND possibly be more focused on producing more THC because of the more time and larger amount of light that the plant is receiving. Any thought???
 

steverthebeaver81

Well-Known Member
I think that this is an experiment that needs good controlled testing. Im too lazy, so it wont be me, but it does sound intriguing.
 

lowerarchy

Active Member
Hey cerealkilla, questions for ya:

what's your gram/watt ratio and how long do you flower for when you do your 20/12?

what's your gram/watt ratio and how long do you flower for when you do 12/12?
 

boarderofsnow

Well-Known Member
LOL, my plants have their roots in perlite/vermiculite, are fed nutrients from a bottle, are lighted from an hps lamp, and as isolated as I can make them from non-me life forms. They may as well be orbiting Neptune in a space capsule for all Mother Nature has to do with them.
Haha just bumped into this thread.. Very good point! haha
 

Wolverine97

Well-Known Member
I don't doubt that it would work, but I fail to see how it could speed up finishing time. You have fewer dark periods over the same given timeframe (say, 55 days). How would this speed up maturation? Even if the extended photoperiod accounts for faster finishing, you're paying a lot more in electricity over the given timespan than you would w/ 12/12 cycles. Meh...
 

yermom

Member
LOL, my plants have their roots in perlite/vermiculite, are fed nutrients from a bottle, are lighted from an hps lamp, and as isolated as I can make them from non-me life forms. They may as well be orbiting Neptune in a space capsule for all Mother Nature has to do with them.
THANK YOU. So tired of the old school hippie BS about natural this and organic that. How do you think the strains most of you are growing were produced, Rainbows and Love? All these naturalists are growing strains that are genetically selected, inbred, mutants. Ant then feed them with molasses, which of course plants in nature eat right? You tell me where the ditch is that the 1st wild Super Lemon Haze was found in. Nothing is natural in any home garden anymore. The sooner people realize that, the sooner we can get the scwagg off the streets and the science lab, medical quality stuff into the hands of people that need it.
 

cerealkilla

Member
winter is coming and so i will be able to use extended light hours once again, my grow will be posted pics and all. my wattage at the moment is 490 watts to one plant small wardrobe grow 400 hps 90 ufo led. my flower cycle times are relatively close only about a week between the two different methods only the method in question will produce bigger healthier flowers limit reaching and produce a more potent product. i dont care for scepticism thats what holts progress in its tracks. i dont care if no one tries this method i am only putting the idea out there food for thought.
thanks for the replies though and keep em coming!!!!
 

yermom

Member
I have read about such light cycles a number of times over the years and one question always popped into my head more than any others. That is, since light degrades THC and most THC is produced during hours of darkness when plants run on stored energy and they shut down most plant functions and allocate increased amounts of energy for THC production and for growth, IF the additional amount of THC that is lost through light degradation during the increased length periods of light can be made up for in a normal 12-hour period of darkness on top of the amounts that can and would normally be made?

Someone might get increased growth and yields but they might also end up with a lower quality herb than they would otherwise have. In a normal light cycle they might end up with a lesser amount but what they have might be more potent.

Until someone other than someone doing this sort of thing in a basement says it is the bee's knees I will stick to the conventional light cycles.
It's my understanding that degradation doesn't begin until after the plant dies. So extra light during it's life wouldn't matter. But that's just my understanding. I'd be curious to read more on this point though. I too will be sticking to the standard cycle until I see some evidence. I have enough experiments going on, I don't need another variable.
 

yermom

Member
I don't doubt that it would work, but I fail to see how it could speed up finishing time. You have fewer dark periods over the same given timeframe (say, 55 days). How would this speed up maturation? Even if the extended photoperiod accounts for faster finishing, you're paying a lot more in electricity over the given timespan than you would w/ 12/12 cycles. Meh...
I would hope that it DIDN'T speed finishing time. Seems plants would suffer from a shorter life cycle. If it only affected yield and quality but finished in normal time, that would be impressive.
 

Wolverine97

Well-Known Member
It's my understanding that degradation doesn't begin until after the plant dies. So extra light during it's life wouldn't matter. But that's just my understanding. I'd be curious to read more on this point though. I too will be sticking to the standard cycle until I see some evidence. I have enough experiments going on, I don't need another variable.
That's not true. The terpenes, THC, etc can degrade for many different reasons. Intense light exposure, over-ripening, poor drying/curing etc...
 

Wolverine97

Well-Known Member
I would hope that it DIDN'T speed finishing time. Seems plants would suffer from a shorter life cycle. If it only affected yield and quality but finished in normal time, that would be impressive.
Not trying to be a dick, but what would be the point? If it didn't speed up maturation time, and actually took longer to finish this way (using much more elec $ along the way), why wouldn't you just save that extra time over the course of a year to grow another complete cycle at normal day/night intervals?
 

homebrewer

Well-Known Member
looks nice but you have a room full of stems, anyway if ya wanna grow stems be my guest.
Oh, and those 'stems' turn into buds when you're not looking for a 'secret' to growing a good product. Day 36 below. Update in the journal in my sig this Monday, tune in, you'll probably learn something ;) :lol:.

 

MediMary

Well-Known Member
Check out post #17 by the guy who can't back up his 'experiment' with pictures and compare it to mine below. Day 22 of 12/12 as nature intended.

Oh, and if you've ever been to Amsterdam, you'd know the 'Dutch' don't produce anything special.

Newb ownership, nice homebrew

that^ vs this
 
Top