Best lighting for veg/cloning

Im 4 weeks into my first grow. I have one afghan and 3 great white sharks under a 600w hps. I'm looking into cloning and also have super silver seeds that I plan to use in the future. What is the best light for veging/cloning? I originally used the hps but several seedlings didn't make it through propigation and I'm wondering if I should have started with some blue spec cfls. I'm not too worried about the cost as much as I'm worried about getting the right light source...any advise is welcome. Thanks !!

Arctic grower said:

Im 4 weeks into my first grow. I have one afghan and 3 great white sharks under a 600w hps. I'm looking into cloning and also have super silver seeds that I plan to use in the future. What is the best light for veging/cloning? I originally used the hps but several seedlings didn't make it through propigation and I'm wondering if I should have started with some blue spec cfls. I'm not too worried about the cost as much as I'm worried about getting the right light source...any advise is welcome. Thanks !!

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You're def going to want to choose a 'High Output T5 Grow Bulb'. These ARE different than the standard T5 ballasts & bulbs you get at your local home depot. Those bulbs may appear to be the same, but they are not High Output. A lot of them are actually full spectrum, too, whereas the Grow T5's you will be using HO Blues & Reds, just like you would when using Metal Halides & HPS. T5's will come in 4-6-8 bulbs, if I am correct? Mine is a 6 bulb fixture, using 54 watt High Output bulbs (324 Total Watts) with slightly lighter lumen output than what 324 watts of HPS would put out, but this light will be gentle and runs EXTREMELY cool. For seedlings, cloning, and even 1-2 ft vegging plants, I was using 4 Blue bulbs and 2 Reds. I even did an experiment of flowering under this light with all Reds and while HPS or outdoor produces much more potent buds, it was a successful experiment none the less!

T5's are a MUST for veg rooms & starting plants, in my opinion

One Love!

Thanks mazar! I'll throw this out there since you seem to know what your doing. Initially on this first grow I used a damp paper towels to germinate then transferred over to rockwool. I had about half of the seedlings die. Two of them looked as though the roots pushed the stems up and out of the rockwool instead of digging thier way down. And a few of them looked ok for the first two-three days and seemed to just stop growing. Is this from the rockwool or could this have been from improper lighting, light, temp, etc?

yes t5 6500ks at first. then MH for veg. this is the best way


titties

No problem, love to help!

My best advice for you is to STOP trying to germinate directly from paper towel into rockwool cube. It will be hard for the seedlings to break thru their shell fully and emerge thru the cube, which is what is effecting your success rate, I believe. They also are not PH neutral, meaning the PH can change on you like crazy and either get too acidic or alkalinity and stress your babies. The cubes are also very susceptable to mold & fungus.

Google 'Rapid Rooter Starter Cubes'

They are cubes a bit smaller than rockwool that come in their pre-fit saucer/tray and are sized to fit a humidity dome. These cubes will give you the best success rate, ARE PH neutral, and are sponge-like and allow a great enviorment for seeds to start. You simply place the seed on top of the hole and lightly press it down. Not too deep, or it may not sprout. Place these in a dark enviornment, checking on them & misting frequently. The sec you see your first sprout come up, move them under a T5 or flouros. You don't have to do the whole dark/light thing, but it does slightly help with success.

99% of the hydro shops & nurseries I've been to carry those Rapid Rooter cubes and they're only $20 or so for the tray. Money well spent!

Did you use all your seeds in one shot or do you still have some on the side? Also, were these seeds given to you or purchased? Any idea about breeder?

Mazar i Shariff said:

You're def going to want to choose a 'High Output T5 Grow Bulb'. These ARE different than the standard T5 ballasts & bulbs you get at your local home depot. Those bulbs may appear to be the same, but they are not High Output. A lot of them are actually full spectrum, too, whereas the Grow T5's you will be using HO Blues & Reds, just like you would when using Metal Halides & HPS. T5's will come in 4-6-8 bulbs, if I am correct? Mine is a 6 bulb fixture, using 54 watt High Output bulbs (324 Total Watts) with slightly lighter lumen output than what 324 watts of HPS would put out, but this light will be gentle and runs EXTREMELY cool. For seedlings, cloning, and even 1-2 ft vegging plants, I was using 4 Blue bulbs and 2 Reds. I even did an experiment of flowering under this light with all Reds and while HPS or outdoor produces much more potent buds, it was a successful experiment none the less!

T5's are a MUST for veg rooms & starting plants, in my opinion

One Love!

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Really? - i have used the cheapest flourescent lights i could get. My homemade lamp is made from four regular flourescent bulbs. Two red and two blue bulbs. They each use 36 w and i find it very suitable for clones and this is the only thing i use for vegging too. Maybe it's not quite as effective as the T5 but it definitely is very cheap and works like a charm. Are the T5 really soo much better? - i will change my flourescents if T5's are really that good compared to pricing and effectivity.

Brimi said:

Really? - i have used the cheapest flourescent lights i could get. My homemade lamp is made from four regular flourescent bulbs. Two red and two blue bulbs. They each use 36 w and i find it very suitable for clones and this is the only thing i use for vegging too. Maybe it's not quite as effective as the T5 but it definitely is very cheap and works like a charm. Are the T5 really soo much better? - i will change my flourescents if T5's are really that good compared to pricing and effectivity.

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I've used the reg 36 watts you're talking about, and that was a quick lesson learned. The plants will stretch in all cases that I've seen. If you want stout, tight internodes that will translate at the end of your grow to tight, dense nugs, I say give them the best source all throughout. It's not to say that they can't get away with a lil stretching and go back to tight internode development when moved to MH/HPS or outdoor sunlight, but if you have the money to spend and are looking for upgraded veg lighting anyway, it's cost effective & worth it. I found my ballast on eBay for $125 free shipping and High Output bulbs in 2 packs for like $16. That's about how much hydro shops charge for one bulb, and then I think they are $200 plus for the ballast. Def order on eBay and save yourself some money, I usually wait 3-5 days and it's here.

Another point about the T5 is that it's multi-use. I actually just did my first complete T5 grow and suprisingly got some nice sized, sugary nugs. I'll post some pics later. It's not what you'd expect if you were growing under HPS or Sunlight, but still of good quality & flavor! That's simply something you could not achieve with those standard 36 watt flouros.

The seeds I purchased from overseas. So I'm very confident about the strains. I'll try the rooster starter cubes. I have additional seeds that I purchase but I'd like to finish this harvest and a clone harvest before I plant again. What's a good amount of time to veg. I was going to give these girls 6-7 weeks, I've got plenty of space to let them grow so space isn't an issue

Well im going to be the odd ball hear...
I love and perfer HPS for veg growth...
I use T5's for clones and some times for starting seeds, but like I said I perfer HPS.
MH is only good if you want lanky plants with thin stems. Sure MH makes them streatch fast but I personnaly like nice thick branchs that can hold big fat buds on there own with closer node spacing...

I posted these pics yesterday but I will do it again hear for ya...

This is a garden I started and veged all under 1000 watt hps with a standerd hps bulb...


Dice

Arctic grower said:

The seeds I purchased from overseas. So I'm very confident about the strains. I'll try the rooster starter cubes. I have additional seeds that I purchase but I'd like to finish this harvest and a clone harvest before I plant again. What's a good amount of time to veg. I was going to give these girls 6-7 weeks, I've got plenty of space to let them grow so space isn't an issue

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If starting from seed, they are technically "seedlings" for the first couple weeks. From there you can count out the 4 week minimum rule for VEG time, and then from there you can flower whenever. So yes, 6 weeks should fit the timeframe just right.

For clones, due to the fact that they carry the same age on as the mother they were clipped from, you can veg this for the recommended 2 weeks and then they will be ready to flower, so if you have seperate veg/flower rooms they can get a head start, or simply veg out a bit more while the seedlings mature.

Keep us updated!

In response to Dice!, I agree that HPS can be used all around and is the #1 artificial light source available for cannabis. Hands down. I guess a tip that a lot of newbies using any high wattage MH/HPS bulbs on seedlings, clones, or immature plants, be sure to keep the light approx 4 feet from your plants at first, and then you can gradually move it down over the course of a week or two to as little as a foot if you have proper cooling/vented hoods. 2 feet if they're open and just being fanned down. Whether light, nutrients, always introduce more intensity in gradual steps!

So I have the same question about vegging and generally about using HPS from seed.

Is it safe to veg seedlings (first 2 weeks from seed) and veg after the seedlings stage, if you keep 600 watt HPS bulb 4 feet from them at first like Mazar i Shariff mentioned in a previous post?

It is a bit confusing when you read that someone also uses 2 x 36 watt CFL or T8/T5 to veg. Of course it's more cheaper that way and you can put your lights just above your babies. BUT is it okay to veg with HPS from seed?

And my 2nd question would be : if you use CFLs , T8/T5 for the first 2 weeks from seeds (seedlings stage) and than you want to introduce HPS to your plants for a vegetative stage, how do you do that ? Mazir i Shariff said : be sure to keep the light approx 4 feet from your plants at first, and then you can gradually move it down over the course of a week or two to as little as a foot if you have proper cooling/vented hoods. 2 feet if they're open and just being fanned down. - everyone agrees with this ?

t5 is nice as u can switch out bulbs to make the best spectrum for veg or flower...can even switch of half of lights or just use a few bulbs for cloning...wen u switch from cfl to hid just dont put them in a hot spot..set of to the side but u should have no problems switching....gl

t5