What yields more? Penetration vs Coverage

xIPhobiaIx

xIPhobiaIx

Active Member
If I have the ceiling height than is it better for yields to get a powerful HPS or COB led, or Blackdog type LED and penetrate deep into the canopy and grow taller plants or still go wide with the QB or bar style lights and grow wider but shallower plants??? (aka scrog, lollipopping, etc.)

Thanks!
 
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xIPhobiaIx

xIPhobiaIx

Active Member
Rurumo said:
You can't beat a nice even canopy loaded with bud sites. They should be close enough together that "penetration" won't make much of a difference. I'd go with the bar lights.
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I hear ya just but throw in some side lighting with good penetration and height and you got a well budded tree. Seems hard to beat.
 
HydoDan

HydoDan

Well-Known Member
More bud sites = higher yield, no larf.. If you build the proper canopy, penetration is negligible..
All the energy goes to the canopy.. I've tried it both ways.. My cobs drop off significantly at 16" so you don't get much penetration..
 
flipwon

flipwon

Well-Known Member
Sounds like you want to hear a certain answer, but are getting another. I also agree with them.

Just started my first scrog and am very happy at week 1 flower already compared to some of my other grows.
 
xIPhobiaIx

xIPhobiaIx

Active Member
flipwon said:
Sounds like you want to hear a certain answer, but are getting another. I also agree with them.

Just started my first scrog and am very happy at week 1 flower already compared to some of my other grows.
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Nope not at all.
Just I know most people do not have high enough ceilings to have actually tried both ways in comparison. Guess I am looking for someone to state they have done both so it can help me settle it in my mjnd.

Not saying the above have not. Just no one has stated as such.
 
PopAndSonGrows

PopAndSonGrows

Well-Known Member
Definitely "coverage"

Outdoor growing is a fantastic example that "penetration" does lend to yield, but only so much. It's the plant training, the addition of topsites that ultimately brings the better yield.
 
Flowki

Flowki

Well-Known Member
If using multiple cob or led units in the 100-200W range, you will get both coverage and depth due to the over lap angles. Strips will be far better at coverage due to the lower W per unit stretching out over the space, but it will drop off in intensity much sooner, a little like the old cfls or t5s.

Cob or led in that range are more flexible imo. It isn't always possible to keep a perfectly flat canopy and some of the strip style units don't look very adjustable for that situation.

I would add though, if I was going to use hps again I'd go with large parabolic hoods and coverage.
 
xIPhobiaIx

xIPhobiaIx

Active Member
A.k.a said:
You could grow them tall and wide and then do staggered harvests. Take the tops off when they’re done then the ones below will be exposed and ripen up.
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Interesting... I have never heard of that method.
Flowki said:
If using multiple cob or led units in the 100-200W range, you will get both coverage and depth due to the over lap angles. Strips will be far better at coverage due to the lower W per unit stretching out over the space, but it will drop off in intensity much sooner, a little like the old cfls or t5s.

Cob or led in that range are more flexible imo. It isn't always possible to keep a perfectly flat canopy and some of the strip style units don't look very adjustable for that situation.

I would add though, if I was going to use hps again I'd go with large parabolic hoods and coverage.
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Very insightful and begs the question... what do you use?
 
Flowki

Flowki

Well-Known Member
xIPhobiaIx said:
Interesting... I have never heard of that method.

Very insightful and begs the question... what do you use?
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Previously I used cob 200W units, but the 300W hlg units are what was going on renewal. Although the hlgs are better leds, I did prefer the extra amount of units at 200W.
 
MidnightSun72

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
xIPhobiaIx said:
Indeed but using it just as a reference. Not sure what you mean by bro science.
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He means like penetration as a concept doesn't fucking exist.

Light follows the inverse square law. It gets weaker by the square of the distance. Once it hits an object, it reflects. The intensity at the light source and distance will dictate how much light you have before it hits an object and reflects the corresponding wavelength.
 
Star Dog

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
I've grown with both mostly hid but I've dabbled in led over the last year from what I can see both are similar in terms of depth, the nugs were denser lower down the plant with led.
Lol due to bleaching with led I can in fact get my hid closer than the led, I use the hood Flowki mentioned a 1mtr parabolic, the heat goes more horizontal than vertical with them.
Screenshot_20201016-102223.png
660w and need 18" with a 240w led in flower, god give me strength you couldn't make it up lol.
 
xIPhobiaIx

xIPhobiaIx

Active Member
Flowki said:
Previously I used cob 200W units, but the 300W hlg units are what was going on renewal. Although the hlgs are better leds, I did prefer the extra amount of units at 200W.
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Right, age old question of many smaller lights vs bigger coverage lights. My thoughts would be the better ppfd spread would come from multiple smaller lights but there are LEDs now such as the Photontek 1000w CO2 light that have amazing high ppfd coverage. Just the expense vs cheaper COB's etc. might not make sense. Hell there are now LEDs where the bars can rotate to provide the spread needed.
 
Milky Weed

Milky Weed

Well-Known Member
xIPhobiaIx said:
Right, age old question of many smaller lights vs bigger coverage lights. My thoughts would be the better ppfd spread would come from multiple smaller lights but there are LEDs now such as the Photontek 1000w CO2 light that have amazing high ppfd coverage. Just the expense vs cheaper COB's etc. might not make sense. Hell there are now LEDs where the bars can rotate to provide the spread needed.
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Only 4 interest free payments of $370!
 
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