Temp sensors Cover or Not?

Apalchen

Well-Known Member
So my gavita temp sensor for my light controller came with a small cone shaped cover for the temp sensor. I recently got a trolmaster controller and it does not have a cover. So obviously the temp sensor reads a bit higher on that. Also I have a laser thermometer to check leave temp. I'm on week 3 of flower and I think I want to be around 82 degrees to utilize the c02 but I'm unsure whether that should be leaf temp or air temp. And also I'm unsure whether or not to make a cover for the trolmaster temp sensor, the plants feel the same radiative heat right so is it better covered or uncovered?

I believe the covered sensor prob gives me the best air temp and I think that's what I should go by, but looking for some reassurance I'm not running too hot or cold.
@Renfro @Dividedsky

Added some pics Day 17 of flower. About to leaf strip in a few days.
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There are a lot of variables, RH%/VPD plays a part, what light source are you using also plays a part. Higher temps with dry air will be problematic where it won't be with higher RH%.

The biggest thing to pay attention to is your plants. Are they happy? I have noticed that some sativa dominant strains really like it hotter than many indica dominant strains. There is no exact number that is best. The range of what is acceptable is very wide, 77F - 83F is the range I consider acceptable for LST's. So if running a sativa dominant strain with CO2 enrichment you will likely be up around 82 - 83. If running an indica dom with CO2 it might be more like 80 - 81.
 
Hi there It's the air temperature that's important but you also have to keep the lamp far enough from the radiated heat, my radiated heat is 82f/28c the air temperature is 25c/77f

Whatever your doing isn't to far from the mark its nice tidy garden you have there.
 
It’s leaf surface temperature that is important, that is what VPD is based on. Use your infrared thermometer to determine the leaf surface temp and then you can dial in your equipment to get the ambient air temp where you need it to be for ideal leaf surface temps.

For example, under 1000w HPS you might need the ambient air temp at 78-80F in order to get leaf temps around 83F. For LED you might need ambient air temps at 85+F in order to get 83F leaf temps.
 
Thanks for the replies guys, I have never liked my infrared thermometer I think it was just a cheap one but it's not consistent. I'm gonna find a new one asap.

I think I will make a cover for the trol master temp probe. It's reading higher (85)than the leaf temp I'm getting with the cheap infrared(83). While the covered sensor is reading 80.

Plants seem happy, I love this time of flower they seem like they have grown considerably every time I'm in the room.

@Renfro do you leaf strip? Ive been going pretty heavy with the leaf stripping for years now(day 21) and get good results, but people on this forum seem to think it's crazy. My canopy is really full so I'm thinking I'll go hard again but you have more experience than I do so was wondering what you thought.
 
@Renfro do you leaf strip? Ive been going pretty heavy with the leaf stripping for years now(day 21) and get good results, but people on this forum seem to think it's crazy. My canopy is really full so I'm thinking I'll go hard again but you have more experience than I do so was wondering what you thought.
Defoliation? I'd like to do it more than actually gets done. It's a bitch in my grow lol. There are more places I can't get to than places I can. I will post later in my journal some pictures that show what I mean lol
 
Defoliation? I'd like to do it more than actually gets done. It's a bitch in my grow lol. There are more places I can't get to than places I can. I will post later in my journal some pictures that show what I mean lol
I was using stakes before this, a lot of my grow is gonna be super hard to get too I'm gonna have to crawl under and reach back up thru to get to it. I plan on buying rolling tables within the next few runs but for now I have to be a contortionist and there is prob still some spots I can't get to as well as id
like.
 
Thanks for the replies guys, I have never liked my infrared thermometer I think it was just a cheap one but it's not consistent. I'm gonna find a new one asap.

I think I will make a cover for the trol master temp probe. It's reading higher (85)than the leaf temp I'm getting with the cheap infrared(83). While the covered sensor is reading 80.

Plants seem happy, I love this time of flower they seem like they have grown considerably every time I'm in the room.

@Renfro do you leaf strip? Ive been going pretty heavy with the leaf stripping for years now(day 21) and get good results, but people on this forum seem to think it's crazy. My canopy is really full so I'm thinking I'll go hard again but you have more experience than I do so was wondering what you thought.
It's the leaves that do the work, they collect light, transpire and absorb co2, that's my view though it could wrong.
There's a member just now doing a side by side comparison, one untouched, one with leafs removed and one with only the bottom third de leafed it'll be interesting to see the final results.

@Apalchen for a probe shade i use a toilet roll tube cut in two with a slot cut to fit the probe in.
 
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It's the leaves that do the work, they collect light, transpire and absorb co2, that's my view though it could wrong.
There's a member just now doing a side by side comparison, one untouched, one with leafs removed and one with only the bottom third de leafed it'll be interesting to see the final results.
I've been stripping leaves a long time, but I can tell you a side by side like he is doing isn't gonna prove anything. I have done things both ways and can tell you for sure there isn't much benefit to extreme defoliation unless your plants are really crowded. If you have space all the way around a plant you don't need to take off near as much leaf. I've read that thread I don't think I commented on it cause they always turn into arguments and he had already started doing it and I didn't wanna be discouraging.

I just asked renfro about it cause his canopy is so thick. But then the more I think about it he has so much side lighting it's not really comparable.

I went super hard on leaf strip last time and hit 2.3lb per light with no c02 and on a very mixed seed run. And I defoliated super hard. So I'm thinking I will again, as much as I can anyways with the trellis being 5 ft wide. I gotta try to do the wall sides from underneath.

I dream of way to hang right over the canopy and be able to reach down, lol.
 
I don't have a problem removing leafs as such it's the main fan leafs I don't touch I believe they done the lions share of the work but I'm happy to learn if that isn't the case ?
My view is only based on a one time experiment of removing the fan leafs to let light in, it wasn't great for me?

Thanks SD
 
I've posted these pics In another post about defoliation but since you asked here is my best description of what works for me.

This is my last run before the strip notice how full the canopy is, it's actually too full. If it doesn't look too full you won't have as much problems with light penetration.
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Half way done with the strip, see how many tops each plant has and how branches in general.
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Few days after the strip is over and plants are fully recovered. Notice how much bigger the small leaves left at the bud sites are getting already, BUT they don't have that long stem the original fan leaves had that work like umbrellas keeping light from Inside a thick canopy.
Screenshot_20200817-135429.png

I pulled 14lbs from 6 lights and every plant in here was from seed with over 10 different strains and my run was far from perfect. My mothers were still small from the move and were in quarantine before going in new building so had to run seed. Good news is found a some new prospective mom's.
 
Thanks for explaining that I appreciate it, the shorter leaf stems and them getting bigger along with the weight you are getting has got me re considering my view???

I've just got back into growing after a few years break once I get back into my stride I'll experiment with it.. Thumbs

Thanks SD
 
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