Question about the Veg and Flower switches on my lights.

[growsomebuds]

Hi all, I just bought two Viparspectra LED lights. Both are 450 watt equivalent. What I don't know is whether I should have both the Veg and Flower switches on during the veg stage? Also, I'm only growing two plants in a 3' x 3' area. Do you thing I need to be running both of my lights during the veg and flower stages?

[DrPhoton]

You can have the light on full spectrum but it would probably be best to only use the veg spectrum for early stage of growth. When the canopy starts occupying a good amount of space and you are near flowering, you can think about using full spectrum.

My article on using light efficiently might benefit you.

[growsomebuds]

Thanks, I have your article bookmarked for reading later. Until then, you wouldn't turn of the veg switch when it comes time to enable 12/12 lighting? My plants were only "born" a handful of days ago, so for now, I just use 3 A19 style LED bulbs in the 6500K range to get them going. Then I'll meve them to my tent w/ the big boy lights. lol Do you think that's a good way to start my plants out? Or should I just shut up and read your article?

[DrPhoton]

Yes starting off with lights of lower photon flux is a good way to maximize light utilization efficiency. This is what i detail in my article.

Most lights run veg and bloom on seperate circuits, as a result veg or bloom on their own use less power than when used together. Most manufacturers recommend using both switches during flowering.

Ask away if you wish for more information.

[Redwasp]

I always used both switches. Never tried one. But yes you can easily use one of those lights for veg. Switch to both lights in flowering.

[Campesino]

I have those lights and have run them just as DrPhoton advised you.
When they all fit under one light I just use one (Veg switch only)
Once I transplant up and they can't fit under one I add the second (Veg switch only)
I flip the bloom switch on about 7-10 days prior to the flip, which is when the canopy is pretty much full.
I run mid/late Veg at 21" and Flower closer to 15", but in discussion with DrPhoton I think I will work both of those closer to 18" in the future. I am flowering at 15", and some a little closer actually, now, because there is just no more room to raise lights - no problems yet, but I'd like to be 16-18"

[Redwasp]

Great lights by the way. Work very well.

[Campesino]

Yes, Agreed!
Very happy with the lights.

[growsomebuds]

Thanks, gentlemen, you're really helping me use these big boy lights properly, since I'm a 1st time owner of lights like these.

[Redwasp]

On my 2x4 tents i can use one all the way through veg. My first grow I finished with one. Got 6 ounces. Second grow i used two and got 12. Tent full in veg stage just not enough light for flowering. 2 lights doubled the yield. Trying different stuff all the time so. But i was very happy both times.

[growsomebuds]

On my 2x4 tents i can use one all the way through veg. My first grow I finished with one. Got 6 ounces. Second grow i used two and got 12. Tent full in veg stage just not enough light for flowering. 2 lights doubled the yield. Trying different stuff all the time so. But i was very happy both times.

Hi, Redwasp, what kind of light did you use? How many plants were you growing? And what kind of veg/bloom lighting were you employing during the veg and flower stage?

[growsomebuds]

Should I have a plastic bottle over each? I had a CFL over the plant w/ temp gauge, and a 6500K LED over the other plant. And the one on the left was born 3 days after the right one. Makes me think I should start my plants under CFL bulbs. Now that their both out and proud, should I change to a 18/6 light schedule? So far, the lights have been on 24 hours/day.

[growsomebuds]

I have those lights and have run them just as DrPhoton advised you.
When they all fit under one light I just use one (Veg switch only)
Once I transplant up and they can't fit under one I add the second (Veg switch only)
I flip the bloom switch on about 7-10 days prior to the flip, which is when the canopy is pretty much full.
I run mid/late Veg at 21" and Flower closer to 15", but in discussion with DrPhoton I think I will work both of those closer to 18" in the future. I am flowering at 15", and some a little closer actually, now, because there is just no more room to raise lights - no problems yet, but I'd like to be 16-18"

Some clarification; How many plants are under your lights? When it's time to flip the bloom switch on, is the veg switch switched off?

[Campesino]

How many plants = 6 = too many
Never run Bloom switch alone. Either Veg only or Both. Never Bloom only.

Check out my current grow journal and you will see for yourself why 6 = too many! I am making it work, but it is a lot of work! There is a method to my madness, but I don't recommend others to follow this route! 2 plants in a 3x3 is a good plan!

[Redwasp]

First grow i didn't know better. Grew 4. So not alot per plant. Remember yields are directly correlated to how much light each plant gets. Second grow went to 3 plants but 2 lights. Yield doubled. Now dont think that adding more light keeps working that way as eventually they are oversaturated. All future grows I went to 2 plants under 2 viperspectrum 450 watt leds in the 2x4. I get more from 2 well cared for plants than i did with 3 or 4 that lacked in light or room. I now use those setups for autos and use1000watt hps/mh for my photos. We will see. Will give yields on my latest auto in about 20 days after cut/dryed/cured. Only about 7 inches tall guessing 7? Its green crack.

[Redwasp]

Sorry guessing 7 ounces as its all buds and takes more than half the 2x4 tent maybe more. And with the light and room they are hard as rocks.

[growsomebuds]

First grow i didn't know better. Grew 4. So not alot per plant. Remember yields are directly correlated to how much light each plant gets. Second grow went to 3 plants but 2 lights. Yield doubled. Now dont think that adding more light keeps working that way as eventually they are oversaturated. All future grows I went to 2 plants under 2 viperspectrum 450 watt leds in the 2x4. I get more from 2 well cared for plants than i did with 3 or 4 that lacked in light or room. I now use those setups for autos and use1000watt hps/mh for my photos. We will see. Will give yields on my latest auto in about 20 days after cut/dryed/cured. Only about 7 inches tall guessing 7? Its green crack.

Thanks, man. I have two of the same lights as you. I have a ~3 x 3 foot grow area, encompassed by 3 walls I covered in mylar. I'm only doing two plants.

[Redwasp]

Take care of them, train them, top them, check ph, use proper nutrients, and treat them.like your babies and will be very very happy in the end.