18/6 - 24/0

GrnMan

Well-Known Member
What do you guys think about giving seedlings 24/0? Do you think 18/6 would be better for them? Or maybe 24/0 till they actually sprout their first set of leaves, then go 18/6?
 

s|ean

Well-Known Member
plants grown from seed under 18/6 usually show preflowers before plants under 24/0
 

BIGSIX

Well-Known Member
I use 18/6, in nature plants dont get 24hrs of light. I think they need the break.Also I was under the impression that during lights on the plants are devoting as much as possible to the "collection" and storing of energy, and that during lights out is when they use that energy and really do most of their growing
 

email468

Well-Known Member
According to Ed Rosenthal's "The Best of Ask Ed":
"Marijuana plants photosynthesize as long as they receive light as well as water, air, nutrients and a suitable temperature. Photosynthesis is the process in which plants use the energy from light (primarrily in the blue and red spectrums) to combine carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) from the air and water ( H2O ) to make sugar while releasing oxygen to the air.
Plants use sugars continuously to fuel metabolic processes (living) as well as for tissue building. The plant combines nitrogen (N) with sugar to make amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. They are the substance of plant tissue. When the light is off, the plant's metabolic processes, respiration and growth continue.
The marijuana plant can photosynthesize continuously, so it produces the most energy and growth when the light is on continuously. Continuous light does not stress the plant, which reacts to it somewhat mechanistically. Plants can suffer from the heat emitted by lamps, but will not undergo stress due to continuous lighting.
Plants under an 18/6 light/dark regimen are producing sugar only three quarters of the time. Leaving the light on continuously will result in bigger plants faster, which leads to higher yields."
so according to one pro - unless you have heat issues or want to save a few dollars on your electric bill, go with 24/0.
 

The Boy

Well-Known Member
It's just not natural though but it makes sense.
Plants don't really get tired, so I guess they don't need rest.
 

email468

Well-Known Member
Logan Edwards "Grow Great Marijuana" also advocates 24/0 unless you want to reduce heat and/or save some dollars on the electric bill.
 

FrostickZero

Well-Known Member
According to Ed Rosenthal's "The Best of Ask Ed":


so according to one pro - unless you have heat issues or want to save a few dollars on your electric bill, go with 24/0.
I would have to agree because in 1 month my girls have doubled in size using 107w CFL as on 26th this month
 

email468

Well-Known Member
Cool, I guess that answers my questions.

Thanks guys
i don't know if it does. Why should we put any more faith in Ed or Logan when others on this thread and forum say they see just as good if not better results than 18/6?

I mean I would think there are folks on this forum that have probably done more grows than either of the book writers, right?

to be honest, I quoted them because i don't know and i'm not sure the authors do either. I'll bet we could find a marijuana grow book that says 18/6 is better and give good reasons for it too.

I wish there wasn't so much misinformation and conflicting information out there. I mean it is a pretty well known plant. i wonder... do people disagree about the right and proper and best way to grow orchids? probably yes, huh?
 

email468

Well-Known Member
to be honest, i've tried 24/0, 20/4 and 18/6 and didn't note any real difference between them - other than grow box temps. but anecdotes aren't evidence.

oh how i wish for a peer reviewed cannabis growing research to be published and readily available ....

so i'd say go with what keeps you and your plants happy and healthy.
 

FrostickZero

Well-Known Member
to be honest, i've tried 24/0, 20/4 and 18/6 and didn't note any real difference between them - other than grow box temps. but anecdotes aren't evidence.

oh how i wish for a peer reviewed cannabis growing research to be published and readily available ....

so i'd say go with what keeps you and your plants happy and healthy.
I could do an experament once I get more room to find out what works the best
 

GrnMan

Well-Known Member
Exactly my thoughts guys. That's also why I created that thread about clear plastic solo cups. People always say not to use them, then I click on someones grow journal and see that they obviously have done well using clear cups!?

The light issue seems to be the same way. I got several sprouts going right now and I will see what happens. I think either way you go about it, you're going to get some ok results.
 

massbaster

Well-Known Member
aside from the "misinformation" as stated, would the general advice be to go 24/7 thru seedling/veg to 12/12 when ready to flower?
 

budnewbie

Active Member
i used 24/0 for the first 2 weeks of my plants and i noticed very little growth and a lot of stretching. i then switched to 18/6 and they started to grow better and leaves started to appear more frequently so i like 18/6. however this is my first grow, so that is just what ive noticed so far.
 
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