Because ofc the price in electricity would've been next to nothing using led. Though I was worried that using leds isn't as good as hps bulbs.
Please let me know, if I was to buy auto seeds would I be more benefiting than waiting 4 months ish per harvest...
With autos you can get by using less output because you can have them accumulate energy over longer periods of time 18/6, 20/4, 24/7 and they will still go in to flower. The total energy needed will still be pretty much the same, tho.
LED's don't really win you any money of your energy bill directly. The par micromol is pretty much the same. But you can definitely save some electricity on secondary draws from not needing a/c units etc. Also buds grown with led tend to have more flavor and effect, this has been generally appointed the uvb output (of white diodes), the low heat, and usually more accurately calibrated nm output.
To be honest, the CREE cobs are probably the best led's for growing atm. But there's nothing to say we can't run both hps and led's at the same time, as replacement of hps I think cree´s are the only way. The disco panels isn't stacking buds really well enough.
But the thread is called
Quality Over Quantity ..
I can't see this getting done without LED .. or rather I can't see it being done with hps alone. If anything you would need some source of uvb light, since unless you have a quartz glass bulb, your hps is filtering all the "goody nanometers" out. Don't get me wrong, if you have good genetics that you grow in a good way, you will still get superb quality. But it can't match the same strain being grown under the same conditions, but with uvb and good temperatures.
Then there's feeding and amendments etc ... Brix
But only talking light source, you'll need 65w / sq ft as minimum for maximum potential. This goes for hps and led alike. And for led we're talking about the power it draws at the wall, not the accumulated potential of the numbers of diodes. Look for the "actual draw".
Then sure, you can get by using less, and LED definitely have the potential to give higher quality crop for less than the quality of crop you get from using less of hps. What I'm saying is 150w of led if it's a good panel or cob, will probably give you better quality than 150w of hps.
But the minimum for maximum potential is still 65w / sq ft. And that includes the cree´s.
To achieve best quality, your main priority will always be your environment. Airflow, temperature, co2 levels..etc
Then feeding (check on High Brix)
Then Energy (lights)
When all those variables come together in symbiotic harmony, is when you will have the best herb in babylon.
I am NOT a led fanatic. But it's an energy source with alot of potentials. Especially if you plan on growing for a while and not just do "a run". Led's are rated to last 50'000 hours, that's 12 years. A hps bulb starts its decline at the moment you turn it on the first time. And many growers recommend you change your bulb after every grow. Ballasts every 3 years and reflector atleast one time per year.
Either way, supplement some uvb, and stay on top of your grow room environment. That's essential for premium quality crop.
