How Much Light Proofing Necessary During Flower?

I have a few successful grows under my belt and know that it's not good to stress plants with light during their 12 hours of darkness during flowering. But at my new place the garage where I am growing is old and there are a few cracks here and there where a little light seeps in. Due to the installation of the bulky automatic garage door it makes accessing some of the small cracks and crevasses where light seeps in nearly impossible. Also it will be tough to block out light with panda paper/black plastic too b/c the garage door tracks are positioned in such a way that it makes it really awkward. It is about 98-99% dark in the garage. Will that be dark enough?

Also, I am going to need to use a small space heater through the winter which emits a small amount of light via the front grill turning red to indicate it is on and hot (safety) that I can't tape up or cover.

Obviously, I'm wondering how much this small amount of light exposure will stress my girls when it's time for flower. I don't want hermies! Thanks for any experienced feedback.

The darker the better, but just think of nature. Not really pitch black at night when you figure in the moon/stars.

ObieOnce said:

Not really pitch black at night when you figure in the moon/stars.

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Exactly, which is why I asked the question. Anyone out there have a definitive answer?

i dont see it really affecting the plants, although hermies may occur if the light hits the plants.

I hope that the garage isnt near any neighbors. One constant light leak can arouse a lot of interest.

Krypt said:

i dont see it really affecting the plants, although hermies may occur if the light hits the plants.

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I'd say hermies are a pretty big problem...

Krypt said:

I hope that the garage isnt near any neighbors. One constant light leak can arouse a lot of interest.

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Not an issue, I live at the end of a private drive and my nearest neighbor is a block away. Good looking out though, thx.

THseaman said:

Exactly, which is why I asked the question. Anyone out there have a definitive answer?

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Hey man, I would be safer than sorry. Unregulated light changes in the environment can cause hermies, along with other things. Just make the area as dark as possible when the lights are off.

Maybe put up a make shift wall of blankets or something to help keep more light out and away from the plants. Black sheets will do the trick............maybe, just a suggestion.

u didnt give a pic or enough info to properly answer your question, thats why i didnt say it was a very big deal.

Krypt said:

u didnt give a pic or enough info to properly answer your question, thats why i didnt say it was a very big deal.

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yeah, it's hard to articulate the situation with words. basically I have an automatic garage door that blocks me from forming an air/light tight seal at the garage door. There is about a 1/64" crack going down the sides of the garage door where the weather stripping doesn't block it all out. I can't get my fingers into the small access crack from the inside where the leak is to duct tape it off and applying duct tape to the outside would be a little obvious. And, the rails that the wheels move on when the door opens/shuts is blocking a clean path for a wall. You can see pics of the garage on my grow journal link. I think it shows the area I'm talking about...

this pic kind of shows the situation...