Want to know how to save some money on electricity? Instead of 24 or 18 hours light try 3 on 3 off, using a multiple event timer. You're only using a total of 12 hours of light but the growth is the same as 18 or 24. It may actually be better. How can less be better, you might ask? I read one particular book about horticulture where they did an experiment and found that a "light break" (dark period) of 1-3 hours produced more growth than a continuous light cycle. This is because the plant's photosynthetic system becomes saturated after absorbing strong light for some time and the short dark period takes it back down to where it can most efficiently use light again. The maximum boost was obtained with 1 hour of dark but 3 hours was only slightly less effective. After 3 hours darkness it quickly drops off and by 4 or more hours the growth is less than with continuous light. So by using a 3/3 cycle you get at least as good growth as with longer light cycles and you use less power and water.
I haven't yet tried this during flowering phase but I just tried it for veg with some NL seeds and it worked great. By 5 weeks I already had to top them. The internodes were not long at all either, very short at first and then 3" maximum when they got bigger. I was using two 150w HPS in a 3'x1.5' cab. Now at 5 weeks growth I'm going to try 2 on 3 off 2 on 3 off 2 on 12 off. You would expect a plant grown with only 6 hours of light per day to produce practically nothing but I predict a bumper crop. Of course, if I see slow growth or excessive stretching I'll swich to 12/12 but if it works I'll be using half the power of a normal grow for the same or possibly even increased yield.
out start flowerin depends on you how big do you want them to get? when you get to that point go down to 12/12 and flower on bro! peace out
