Sinner D
- 150
- 43
I started cultivation in Nov. of last year. Like many of us, I did it "flying by the seat of my pants". I think that learning by trial and error is just par for the course when it comes to growing Cannabis. I've learned much from this site, as I have from many free publications from my local hydro store, and buying a few books too. But recently, I learned first hand that everything that I had read about a HID bulb losing a percentage of it's brightness and effectiveness was in fact true.
I purchased my first 400 Watt sodium bulb back in the middle of January. It wasn't the most expensive bulb, with an output of 54,000 lumens, but I couldn't afford an extra $20.00, or in some cases $40.00, for another 2,500 to 6,000 lumens. As the highest digital 400 Watt bulb (that I've found) is 60,000 lumens and costs roughly $60.00 when purchased online. At my local hydro store, the price is much closer to $100.00.
Of course, we only get what we give when it comes to an indoor garden, but for a starter I've been happy with my first two harvests being over 2 ounces per plant and in some cases closer to 3 ounces. That's after being dried. But after 4 months I started to notice a difference. I started seeing my cola's lose girth. I haven't changed much in the way of nutrients. I've added some AN Overdrive during week 5-6 of flowering, and sometimes some Kool Bloom from GH, or Bloom Booster from BCuzz. But never have these had a negative effect of course. However, I don't think that they can do their job as well with a reduction in the light output. By the six month mark of using my cheap ass $18.00 SHID bulb, I went ahead and ordered a new one. It's quite obvious with the lack of size gained in week 3 through 5 of bloom, (not the lack of flower density or terpine production) as opposed to my first two harvests, that it was time for a new bulb two months ago!
So the new one is on the way, and I know now that at my 4 month mark is when I need to see to it that the bulb is changed. However, in the near future, I want to purchase a new 600 Watt digital ballast set up. My question to all who may have read this is: Have you found that this is also the case with higher wattage fixtures, ballasts? Do you have a favorite brand of bulb that you like because you don't see a reduction in output the same as you have with another brand? And what can I expect with not only optimal training, medium, nutrients, and atmosphere, but a higher wattage fixture in the way of yield? Let me have it!! I want to know what my fellow farmers, novice and pro alike know in the way of optimal lighting in respect to different bulbs and equipment.
I purchased my first 400 Watt sodium bulb back in the middle of January. It wasn't the most expensive bulb, with an output of 54,000 lumens, but I couldn't afford an extra $20.00, or in some cases $40.00, for another 2,500 to 6,000 lumens. As the highest digital 400 Watt bulb (that I've found) is 60,000 lumens and costs roughly $60.00 when purchased online. At my local hydro store, the price is much closer to $100.00.
Of course, we only get what we give when it comes to an indoor garden, but for a starter I've been happy with my first two harvests being over 2 ounces per plant and in some cases closer to 3 ounces. That's after being dried. But after 4 months I started to notice a difference. I started seeing my cola's lose girth. I haven't changed much in the way of nutrients. I've added some AN Overdrive during week 5-6 of flowering, and sometimes some Kool Bloom from GH, or Bloom Booster from BCuzz. But never have these had a negative effect of course. However, I don't think that they can do their job as well with a reduction in the light output. By the six month mark of using my cheap ass $18.00 SHID bulb, I went ahead and ordered a new one. It's quite obvious with the lack of size gained in week 3 through 5 of bloom, (not the lack of flower density or terpine production) as opposed to my first two harvests, that it was time for a new bulb two months ago!
So the new one is on the way, and I know now that at my 4 month mark is when I need to see to it that the bulb is changed. However, in the near future, I want to purchase a new 600 Watt digital ballast set up. My question to all who may have read this is: Have you found that this is also the case with higher wattage fixtures, ballasts? Do you have a favorite brand of bulb that you like because you don't see a reduction in output the same as you have with another brand? And what can I expect with not only optimal training, medium, nutrients, and atmosphere, but a higher wattage fixture in the way of yield? Let me have it!! I want to know what my fellow farmers, novice and pro alike know in the way of optimal lighting in respect to different bulbs and equipment.
