A few questions transitioning into 12/12 and lights

maygem12

Active Member
Hello all, I had a couple of questions which I could use some direction on.

When you first start to bloom by switching to 12/12, are there major differences to bring out the initial bud sites when using different types of light(cfl, T5, MH, HPS, etc)?

Right now I am using 250 HPS to bloom but I feel like CFLs could do JUST as good a job a HID system to bring out the buds, but once the buds come out, HPS systems would do a much better job at feeding the actual bud sites the high intensity light they need.

My idea is to have a 3 stage grow
-3-4 weeks for a cutting in a bubbler under a couple of 100watt CFLs to develop roots that are about 2-5 inches long which would then go
-3-4 weeks in a blooming 12/12 CFL or MH/CFL bubbler to bring out the intial bud sites while still encouraging strong vegetative growth with low stretching during veg/bloom transtion
-6-8 weeks in the final stage of the bloom when the bud sites could soak up all the high intensity light from a 250 HPS

So to sum it up,

-Does using different lights when beginning 12/12 blooming really make a difference until the bud sites actually come out?

-What do you think about my 3 stage grow and the timing of each stage?

Any input/links/comments would be appreciated. Thanks and stay fly everyone.
 

fat sam

Well-Known Member
i think its a little to much trouble for no rewards, a hps is the best for flowering and the only reason to add cfl's would be for side lighting....but they seem to make the buds sort of stretch out...almost like they are growing horns, under an hps the plants will make all the bud sights they can, they start out at the nodes but eventually the flowers grow down between them and form a big mass so its not necessary to try and force more sights out of them, i have always found that the more you try to stray from the norm the more you stress the plants and end up with hermies
 

BCtrippin

Well-Known Member
When switching to 12/12 turn the lights OFF for 36 hours, then resume 12/12 under your flowering lights. HPS is ideal. Actually 3 : 1 HPS to MH is "ideal" but HPS works great on its own for flowering.





:peace:
 

maygem12

Active Member
i think its a little to much trouble for no rewards
1. 3 harvests as opposed to 2 and it would be perpetual in all 3 stages
2.reduces stretching
3. I feel like plants do not need HPS until actual bud sites show.<-----------

This is where I need the main help on. I want to know if there is any difference when using 2 weeks of CFL to bloom the initial buds as opposed to 2 weeks of HPS to bloom during the start of the 12/12 phase.
 
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