Experimenting with supplemental light

[Corso4Life]

Any thoughts on using supplemental sidelights to increase yields on lower branches??

2’X2’X4’ grow cabinet with 300w led and 45w led supplemental sidelight. Lights during flower: 8h15m on/15h45m off

Lights during veg: 12on-5 1/2off-1on-5 1/2 off

General Hydro nutes and Cal-Mag thru veg, same in flower with some added supplements (Terpinator was added to transition water). Temp during veg approached 88 degrees, so a frozen gallon water bottle is swapped out every morning to keep temp down and rh up a lil during lights on. temp is about 75 with 45%-50% humidity

[DoctorJohnson]

Love that rotisserie plant you've got there! Cannabis never seems to get enough light so as a rule more is better. Flame on!

[Campesino]

Nebula wrote an article on this not too long ago... Figured I'd share that link

http://www.growweedeasy.com/do-i-need-side-lighting

I agree with DoctorJohnson that more light is generally better, but additional overhead lights seem to be the better option.

Corso4Life You have easily the least orthodox light schedule I have come across... Care to elaborate on your thinking behind it?

[Corso4Life]

Kind of a long story made short. I was selling glass at a Michigan Cannabis Cup a couple years ago and the guy at the booth next to me who came off as a complete tool was pushing this. Thru further Google searches and such I found that he had in fact written a book on this. The points of his argument: a plant needs no more than 7 hours of light while in flower to thrive and grow. Anymore time with lights on is wasted energy, the plant needs rest. The veg schedule is based on 12 hours of uninterrupted light followed by 5 1/2 hours of darkness, then light comes on for 1 hour (to keep plant in veg), followed by 5 1/2 off again for rest, then repeat. Again, I was not a fan of this guy but after repeating himself all day, it was etched in my mind. At the time I was growing much larger than I am now and I experimented with a few plants before switching over completely. My electric bill dropped from $1600 to just under $1200 just from this schedule. My plants seem to have better stacking, better yields, and I have seen absolutely no negative effects from this schedule.
If I can find the link I will post here for any follow up you’d like to do. For the life of me, I can’t remember the guys name....

[Campesino]

I had read similar things about light needs during flowering, coupled with the fact that light degrades THC. However, DrPhoton made a powerful argument that more light during flowering will always be better than less (within photo-period constraints). I'll look into this, thanks for sharing.

[Corso4Life]

It is called “gas lantern technique” or “12-1 lighting” and pops up on Google.

[Corso4Life]

I believe this dictates how it is done, I have merely experimented with my flower cycle and find the 8on/16off is just best for my grow...

[Corso4Life]

Sorry for all the additional posts, the guys name is Joe Petri, he has a website dedicated to this, it is www.growlikejoe.com. Lol, I told you he’s a tool. But he does know how to grow some good weed, his Durban Poison took 2nd in THC content at just under 30% at the Cup I saw him at....

[DrPhoton]

Cannabis may benefit from rest but they surely do not need it. I have seen various light schedules and this one always intrigued me. In order for it to be better, it would mean photosynthesis runs at a higher efficiency during lights on. Which is just not likely. Your yield would not be effected if you are using photoperiods as you are restricted to the requirements of flower induction. You will only notice a difference in the time it takes to vegetate.

Photosynthetic efficiency is affected in some plants with continuous lighting. However in plants that do respond well to continuous lighting, they will photosynthesize for as long as essential materials are provided.

My article on "Light Cycle Debate" may interest you.

[KingKush]

My electrical bill is high DrPhoton I just might give this a whirl next round and see what happens.

Proof is always in the pudding, no matter if the recipie makes sense or not.

[DrPhoton]

Sure why not, never hurts to experiment.

[Corso4Life]

DrPhoton I am just getting back to growing and I’m still experimenting with this after 3-4 years. I’m new to a small cabinet, so I’m still adjusting some things. I would like to hear what you think about the sidelight though. Do you think I would be better off with more light on top or do you think there’s something to the sidelight with the “rotisserie plant”? One thing is for sure, this is turning to be the bushiest small plant I’ve ever seen!!!

[DrPhoton]

Sidelighting is a definite no for me. The surface area of leaves is low from the side, as they are positioned horizontally facing the top. Side lighting is an ineffective method. Any additional lighting should be added from the top.