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Figuring out grow light usage

C

Chipmunk

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Hello all! My name is Chipmunk. And my 1st post ever. I read a lot about growing ganja indoors and Nebula is far above most in my opinion. I am 75 yrs old and have been smoking ganja for 65yrs. I have been growing outside for many of those years. I have been growing inside for @3yrs. Can someone explain to me how to use the following grow light, let's say data points in conjunction with each other? Grow light wattage, distance from canopy and LUX numbers. My brain tells me this is one too many data points. If someone thinks they can straighten out old Chipmunks ganja filled brain over his issue I would sure be thankful!
 
Hello dmpmfd. If this info helps you explain what I'm looking for then here it is. I use 2 tents a 32in x 32in and a 2ft x 4ft. For soil I use coco loco and FF ocean forest 50/50 mix. In the small tent I use a spider farmer sf2000 and the larger tent has a Hygrow plate style grow light, 480 watts dimmable, the LED from this light has a bit yellow tint compared to the bright white light from the spider farmer. Hope this helps you answer my question. No others have commented. Thanx Chipmunk
 
Hello all. This is Chipmunk again. I guess what I am getting at is this. If I set my grow light at let's say 50 watts/sqft then that will equal a certain LUX number at the canopy. If that LUX number is not acceptable then I have the choice of changing the wattage or the light distance. Does this mean the wattage I chose is not good because I had to change it to get acceptable LUX numbers? Now let's say I set my grow light at 50 watts/sqft and the recommended distance from the canopy. If this LUX number is not acceptable this way does that mean the recommended distance is not correct? Which way do you think is the way to go? I think the only two points I should pay attention to is wattage and LUX numbers and the distance will just be what it is. Thank you
 
Hey Chipmunk, those lights sound fine for your tents. I ran a Spider Farmer 2000 in a 2×4 for a couple of years with good results. I don't use lux, I've always used ppfd. The main thing you're looking for is light intensity at the canopy. If you don't have a meter you can download the photon app to use your phone as a light meter. The numbers are available everywhere but rule of thumb is 300-400 for seedlings, 400-600 veg, 600- 800 for flowering. You can dim the light or adjust height, whatever works to get the canopy in the sweet spot. Also the light company website should have ppfd maps for different heights. I know Spider Farmer does. Good Luck 👍
 
Thanx Orggrwr. That is what I was thinking. The important data point is the light strength at the canopy, and I guess monitor leaf temperature. It does not matter how you get there just get there!
 
Hello Orggrwr. Chipmunk here. I may have to purchase a ppfd meter. I purchased the LUX meter based on Nebulas recommendation. Thanx again
 
Hi Chipmunk You may have already gotten what you need, but take a look at the info at this link. https://www.growweedeasy.com/led-grow-lights-too-much-or-not-enough-light

Without trying to explain the differences between LUX, PPFD, and UMOLS which are all ways to measure light intensity and spectrum, focus on PPFD for the measurement you're looking for. You can use LUX but then you need to convert that measurement to PPFD. I'd have to let the internet help me with that, as IDK the formula.

Seedlings 100-300 PPFD, Vegetative state 300-600 PPFD and flowering stage 600-1000 PPFD. Umols are a measurement of light produced by your lamp. PPFD is a measurement of light density. The light density is what you need to know.

Lots of people recommend using the Photon app for the phone. I tried that but opted for the Phantom Photobio light meter instead for about a buck 20 on Amazon. Using those PPFD ranges as a guide you have options as to how to get there, raise and/or lower the light, increase or decrease the light intensity, or any combination thereof. As others have suggested, use the light meter readings in addition to watching your plants. Let us know how it goes.
 
Hello all. Chipmunk here. You people are great and seem to be all on the same page. I purchased the LUX meter based on Nebulas recommendation. I get it that she is wanting to keep cost down. I will purchase a PPFD meter so I can step up my game since that is my intent. The phone thing might work for some but I'm old and electronically challenged. I just use a flip phone for talk and text. That will make some chuckle! As mentioned, before I have a lot of experience growing outside and find this inside growing a bit more challenging in my opinion. I am able to consistently grow 1.5 oz/sqft of grow tent space but I know I can improve and that's why I am here! Thanx to all! Too bad we can't role our favorite smoke and pass it around with each other! I am a purple Indica fan and I do love my Purple Urkle for sleep!
 
Chipmunk again. Is this statement close to accurate- If I want to grow 1 plant under my grow light then 12in away is a good distance to dial in PPFD numbers and if I have multiple plants under the grow light I may want to change the distance to 18in and dial in PPFD numbers from there? Thanx again!
 
Distance from canopy is the same for one plant or however many you put under the light. Start with the manufacturers recommendation for distance from canopy, if you know it, and go from there. You want the light and canopy to be flat and level.

I've gravitated towards manifolding. That helps create a flat canopy. Someone pointed out in another thread that outdoor plants don't need a flat canopy because the sunlight spectrum needed for MJ isn't limited. Indoors the penetration of the light is good but no where near the power of the sun. Having a flat canopy helps.
 
Thanx golfnrl. I am experimenting with 4-8 main colas now. The manifolding structure is easy enough by itself, I think. It is the trimming that is hard for me to nail down! Thanx
 
Chipmunk said:
Hello all! My name is Chipmunk. And my 1st post ever. I read a lot about growing ganja indoors and Nebula is far above most in my opinion. I am 75 yrs old and have been smoking ganja for 65yrs. I have been growing outside for many of those years. I have been growing inside for @3yrs. Can someone explain to me how to use the following grow light, let's say data points in conjunction with each other? Grow light wattage, distance from canopy and LUX numbers. My brain tells me this is one too many data points. If someone thinks they can straighten out old Chipmunks ganja filled brain over his issue I would sure be thankful!
Click to expand...

Bro don’t overcomplicate lux and watt charts too much or your brain gonna melt 😭 just keep decent canopy distance, watch the plant reactions, then slowly crank intensity up. Plants tell you faster than charts sometimes tbh.
 
Hello sweetazbro. Chipmunk here. I think your spot on! I was a chemist in my other life, so I gravitate to that kind of thing. I have much time on my hands anymore and read a lot about the subject. I do have some experience and talent w/growing ganja. I was wanting to step up my game more but maybe I was just stepping in it you might say! Sometimes I just need a reality check. Thanx to all!
 
Hello all. Chipmunk here. I have a question for all you auto flower fans. I have no experience growing the autos. I think they have come a long way, so they have sparked my interest as a grower to try my hand at it. Hey it might make me a more well-rounded ganja grower! Do you have 2 or 3 good pointers that will get me thru a good grow or just forget about it? HAHA! I will be trying to grow 3 plants- LSD, Mephisto 24 Carat and Banana Purple Punch. I will be growing in my 8sqft tent using a Hygrow 480 watt dimmable. I'm thinking about using 3gal fab pots filled with Coco Loco and Ocean Forrest 50/50 and about 20% perlite. Thanx
 
Autoflowers are often recommended to beginners, personally I think this is a mistake and they should be grown once you have an established system that works every time. THey are on a clock from day one and any mistakes cannot be fixed. They can certainly be good and I’ve had some good results with them but I have moved away from them because they are inconsistent for me. They can be fast to harvest and 18/6 lights all the time has advantages but I still prefer photos.

There are many ways to grow good weed and nothing is more debated than growing Autoflowers my suggestion is follow NebulaHaze journal
https://www.growweedeasy.com/nebulas-auto-flowering-cannabis-grow-journal
 
Hello Smallgrow. Chipmunk here. I strive for consistency with my grows. I don't tolerate strains that aren't consistent. I will finish the auto grow but I imagine I will be like you and get over the auto thing quick. Thanx for your honest opinion!
 
I started with auto fems because it took the knowledge part of growing to a minimum. As long as i didnt drown them and they got some light they wud make buds. I did everything wrong i possibly could and still got some decent weed outta them. As for consistancy you can have 2 plants from the same batch of seeds grown exactly alike end up totally diff. auto or photo no way of telling by looking at the seeds
 
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