I'm wanting to understand lighting

[phillyguy]

Im a total novice at indoor growing. I have always grown outside so the sun decided light for me. When I grew outside praying to me was happy and reaching for more light. I have read. With indoor lighting praying can mean a fast growing plant. It also said it could be a sign of to much light and would hurt your leaves. This makes no sense to me. How can it be both? Anyone clarify this for me?

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

Good question! It is confusing. You'll get a lot of ideas about light and how leaves respond to it.

It's complicated by the differences that depend on the life stage of the plant. New leaves tend to pray until they're fully developed, so it's a sign of healthy growth. Healthy mature leaves will be horizontal or perpendicular to radiation from the light. Leaves will also show signs of not being healthy, such as if they have too much light, they're too hot or the humidity is too low. Those are just examples. I start the light low and increase it till the leaves tell me they don't like it. When they do, I reduce the light.

 

[Imzzaudae]

Any LED Grow light 100w - 200w at least 24" above your plats tops. No closer!

Any LED Grow light 300w + 30 inches above plant tops max power setting 65% no need for more light you
will just burn your plants.

This will help you as well. Ron

 

[phillyguy]

Good question! It is confusing. You'll get a lot of ideas about light and how leaves respond to it.

It's complicated by the differences that depend on the life stage of the plant. New leaves tend to pray until they're fully developed, so it's a sign of healthy growth. Healthy mature leaves will be horizontal or perpendicular to radiation from the light. Leaves will also show signs of not being healthy, such as if they have too much light, they're too hot or the humidity is too low. Those are just examples. I start the light low and increase it till the leaves tell me they don't like it. When they do, I reduce the light.

What does complaining look like?

 

[phillyguy]

Any LED Grow light 100w - 200w at least 24" above your plats tops. No closer!

Any LED Grow light 300w + 30 inches above plant tops max power setting 65% no need for more light you
will just burn your plants.

This will help you as well. Ron

Thank you very much for the video!!

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

What does complaining look like?

Ah! That gets to the heart of the matter, doesn't it?

One of the challenges of growing marijuana is some indications (or symptoms) can have multiple causes. Leaves curling at the edges, for example, are usually a sign of light stress, but can also be caused by high heat or low humidity. Another example is how magnesium deficiency resembles light stress.

Complaining leaves, in my opinion, are anything other than healthy-looking leaves. I learned most of what I know by looking at pictures of problems here and elsewhere on the Internet. Of course, I also have had my own share of problems.

 

[phillyguy]

Well height from plant to my light is about 25 inches. The light can go no higher. My light is a Mars hydro TS3000 a 450 watt light. Through the entire grow so far I have not been above 25% worried it is too much. Right now the light is roughly at 25%. Without a meter it should be barely over 100 watts.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

Well height from plant to my light is about 25 inches. The light can go no higher. My light is a Mars hydro TS3000 a 450 watt light. Through the entire grow so far I have not been above 25% worried it is too much. Right now the light is roughly at 25%. Without a meter it should be barely over 100 watts.

I suspect light power might be oversold. I have a 240-watt light that has never been above 60%. Keep in mind that the plants can use more light as they age. So, start low and gradually increase it.

I have a wattage meter on one of my lights. I think the peak wattage during flowering that I've ever used has been about 130 watts (at the outlet). Your 25% is about 112 watts, which in my experience is a lot of power. There are other factors than wattage, though.

How old are your plants?

 

[phillyguy]

I suspect light power might be oversold. I have a 240-watt light that has never been above 60%. Keep in mind that the plants can use more light as they age. So, start low and gradually increase it.

I have a wattage meter on one of my lights. I think the peak wattage during flowering that I've ever used has been about 130 watts (at the outlet). Your 25% is about 112 watts, which in my experience is a lot of power. There are other factors than wattage, though.

How old are your plants?

It's an auto in flower.
This is where I get frustrated. I'm told to get highest watt light I could afford. Is this for photos being SCROGED or SOGED? Why the hell have high wattage lights if it's never to be used? This makes no sense to me.

 

[cannafarmer420]

It's an auto in flower.
This is where I get frustrated. I'm told to get highest watt light I could afford. Is this for photos being SCROGED or SOGED? Why the hell have high wattage lights if it's never to be used? This makes no sense to me.

Yikes whoever you were listening to ditch them and listen to @LoveGrowingIt . It depends completely on your coverage area, not the highest you can afford. People sometimes talk out of their asses.

 

[Natep]

Look at your plants right before lights out. If they look like they are praying. They want more light.

 

[phillyguy]

Look at your plants right before lights out. If they look like they are praying. They want more light.

This sounds good.
It's funny everyday at 2pm it starts praying . Light comes on at 5am.

 

[phillyguy]

Yikes whoever you were listening to ditch them and listen to @LoveGrowingIt . It depends completely on your coverage area, not the highest you can afford. People sometimes talk out of their asses.

I have read it several places on the internet. Was told 600 watts is a starting point and 1000 watts was prime. That's why I bought this light. I have a 100 watt Viparspectra I could have used. I bought it before reading and being told this. I am going to hopefully go to a 3x3. This light is supposed to cover 5ft veg 4 bloom. I plan on hopefully growing 3 at a time. Obviously this is still more than I need.

 

[cannafarmer420]

I have read it several places on the internet. Was told 600 watts is a starting point and 1000 watts was prime. That's why I bought this light. I have a 100 watt Viparspectra I could have used. I bought it before reading and being told this. I am going to hopefully go to a 3x3. This light is supposed to cover 5ft veg 4 bloom. I plan on hopefully growing 3 at a time. Obviously this is still more than I need.

Any ass hole with a computer can write on the internet and yes i include articles on sites. The 100 watt is for a 2 x 2, you could use 2 vipraspectre and be fine in a 3 x 3. The 1500 2023 edition is like 60 bucks on Amazon after discounts. I would just use both, they will daisy chain if you want to. But up to you it would handle a 3 x 3 fine. My 1500 is more than enough in my 2 x 2.

 

[phillyguy]

Any ass hole with a computer can write on the internet and yes i include articles on sites. The 100 watt is for a 2 x 2, you could use 2 vipraspectre and be fine in a 3 x 3. The 1500 2023 edition is like 60 bucks on Amazon after discounts. I would just use both, they will daisy chain if you want to. But up to you it would handle a 3 x 3 fine. My 1500 is more than enough in my 2 x 2.

Why would I buy a light if mine is more than capable?

 

[cannafarmer420]

Why would I buy a light if mine is more than capable?

You have a 100 watt vipraspectre right? You need another to cover the 3 x 3 space that you said you were going to

 

[Choppr]

Was told 600 watts is a starting point and 1000 watts was prime. That's why I bought this light. I have a 100 watt Viparspectra

You stated 1000 watts was Prime! then said you bought a 100watt how is that more than capable? lol (by your own definition you're 900 watts shy of more than capable)

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

30 watts per square foot of tent floor space has been used as an estimator for LED lights, but I think it's a bit high. Based on that, for a 3x3 tent, which is 9 square feet, 270 watts would be recommended. A 240-watt light for a 3x3, at 27 watts per square foot, probably would be adequate. I have a 5.5 square foot tent with a 130-watt light, so it has 24 watts per square foot. I have it at 30% in early vegetation.

This is where I get frustrated. I'm told to get highest watt light I could afford.

I probably bought more light than I needed when I started. I have two lights in their shipping boxes. I console myself with the thought that I have spares readily available.

Is this for photos being SCROGED or SOGED?

I'm not sure the number of plants matters much, but I could be wrong about that. I understand the plants can use some of the light that's reflected upward from the floor of the tent. I usually have a heater and a humidifier taking up some of the floor space.

Why the hell have high wattage lights if it's never to be used? This makes no sense to me.

It's possible not running a light at full power might make it last longer or produce less heat. It also might be helpful to be able to upsize without having to buy a new light.

 

[iX_Lazy_Xi]

I have been running an xs2000 in a 3x3 and had great results

Buying another one because I'm and want to get more to the edges and really push the plants, but it is completely unnecessary

 

[phillyguy]

You have a 100 watt vipraspectre right? You need another to cover the 3 x 3 space that you said you were going to

Sigh. I have a 400 watt light and a viparspectra 100 watt. I understand that my 400 watt light is to much for the area. Just run around 50%tops.