Flowering with MH

[ojitos1985]

Will work? Will be dumb? Will be no potent?

[GaGrown]

I've done it when that was the only light I had available. You can go from start to finish with your MH. It really should be a 400.

Ga Grown!

[hatch]

Yes most definitely. I've been using that method for many years. I start the first month with a MH and finish with HPS. The plants love it and so do I. As far as potency I have been trying for years in testing and always wonder how it was after I wake up and have came to the conclusion that it damn good haha.

[OLDJIMMYBONES]

will work fine, not dumb

[JackHerer]

It wil give you some result, but its certainly not the optimum choice as the MH emits the wrong spectrum for flower. MH is better if your using only sinlge types of light for vegging then switch to HPS. If you can only afford one light set-up then the majority of reading I have done recommends that you go with HPS for the full term of the grow. This may result in more strecthing during veg but will yield better bud results than MH.

This is different from the position that you can afford multiple light set-ups & will run a balance of blue & red spectrum throughout the grow.

[Mr. Clandestine]

Also remember that many places sell conversion bulbs, where you may be able to purchase a conversion HPS that will work in your MH system. MH will grow a plant from veg through flower, but the HPS is a much better spectrum for flowering...and can be made to work in a MH system. Good luck.

[JackHerer]

Its unlikely you will find a conversion kit to run a HPS from a MH ballast. Loads of stuff on here about switchable ballasts etc but the basics are that HPS systems need a starter that the MH doesn't so you can get MH bulbs to work in HPS ballasts but a MH ballast does not have the required starter to fire up HPS bulbs.

[Mr. Clandestine]

Its unlikely you will find a conversion kit to run a HPS from a MH ballast.

They're probably not as popular as the HPS to MH bulbs, but they do exist. If there's a mechanism that's needed to ignite the gases within the arc tube, then it must be built into the bulb...at least, on the one that I remember seeing.

[JackHerer]

They're probably not as popular as the HPS to MH bulbs, but they do exist. If there's a mechanism that's needed to ignite the gases within the arc tube, then it must be built into the bulb...at least, on the one that I remember seeing.

Thats why I use the term unlikely rather than "you will not" or "there is no such thing" since anything electrical items dedicated to one system will sooner or later have a conversion system designed by a budding engineer looking to get a good mark on a thesis.

Two seconds on google give you these ones.

Buy HID Metal Halide & HPS Conversion Bulbs Here! (http://www.specialty-lights.com/hidbulbs-conversionbulb.html)
Buy 250W EYE Hortilux HPS Conversion Bulbs Here! (http://www.specialty-lights.com/10005.html#details)

but from them you will see physical shape may then cause issues with fitting in some reflectors. Like all the will this bulb work with X system questions there is a lot of maybe but maybe not unless you are using a system which is widely used, has been tried using the adaptions your asking about & has been posted somewhere for people to read about.

The best answer IMHO is if you already hae the lighting system & ballast do a search on your make & mdel enclosing the whole lot in "" quotes. This will give an idea of what people have already used it for.

If you don't already own the MH ballast system then whats the pont in fighting the flow of electricity to just be different you might as well get the most common system & benefit from the reduced purchase costs.

[Mr. Clandestine]

If you don't already own the MH ballast system then whats the pont in fighting the flow of electricity to just be different you might as well get the most common system & benefit from the reduced purchase costs.

I was under the assumption, from the way the initial question was asked, that the poster was already using a MH system and wanted to know what would be more appropriate for flowering. In which case, barring any physical complications with the reflector, a conversion HPS would be feasible and economical. (Much better to save money and buy a conversion bulb than it is to buy an entirely new lighting system, right?) If you have an air-cooled & enclosed hood, I guess I could see a potential space issue...but there probably wouldn't be much interference in a light with an open hood.

If you have the money to get a switchable system, then by all means, get it. But if you happen to have an HPS-only, or a MH-only system, then conversion bulbs are the way to go if you want to veg under MH, and flower under HPS.

[JackHerer]

(Much better to save money and buy a conversion bulb than it is to buy an entirely new lighting system, right?)

Can't say I would agree with you there. For about 2 thirds of the cost of that 250W conversion bulb I bought a 600 W HPS bulb, reflector & ballast as a system from ebay including delivery. My own PowerPlant 250W HPS system is rated for MH as well without requiring any switch & the source I use for bulbs is £11.99 for 250W. Due to the size of the standard horizontal relflector, depth of throat between the fitting & the metal etc it would not fit the diameter of that conversion bulb. Without much work I could find a few partial or complete grow systems based on HPS for which there is much evidence to suggest the ballast can accept a standard MH bulb without the need for a conversion version as well as those stated as being switchable & have change from the cost of the conversion bulb.

Sometimes it s cheaper to throw out awkward equipment & renew a system to something more scaleable & conforming to popular standards.

Each to their own though & good growing to all.

[ojitos1985]

Thanks to all for the answer really apreciate. here

It is right, i am now using a 250 Watts MH system, and just curious about flowering with a MH spectrum, because i cant get HPS right now, so i will be keeping vegging till i get the HPS i get in conclusion for ur answers, i been reading a lot and wondering answer from ppl with experience, not just thechnical information about spectrums, sometimes help more, you know i just got 1 plant so i dont want to mess up the things, and here where i live it is really dificult to get some seeds

[Mr. Clandestine]

Sometimes it s cheaper to throw out awkward equipment & renew a system to something more scaleable & conforming to popular standards.

It does make sense to invest in quality equipment, I can't argue with you there. I just know how frustrating it can be to want to find a better system, but have limited funds to do so. I had to use a conversion bulb for my old HPS, because for the longest time I simply couldn't afford to get a new switchable system.

I don't currently have my dream setup - partially because it would include a small warehouse :D - but I do have a new digital/switchable 1000w system in place...and I'm very happy with the difference. Plus, now I have two different HPS ballasts/lights that can be used, both of which have fairly new conversion bulbs. I'm sure I'll be able to find a good use for them!

Ojitos - Best of luck with your grow. :thumbsup:

[JackHerer]

I just know how frustrating it can be to want to find a better system,

Yep still working on building the system myself I was just lucky with my first set-up that it has the plate on the side identifying it as running both without switching. I would have looked at a MH conversion then the same as yourself as they are cost effective.

Ojitos Seen your plant in your other thread if you reckon you will some funds soon to get a flowering lamp then I would say keep gowing in veg for now. You have something that could be a really nice plant Mr Clandestine & myself may have been chatting about how to go about it but were both saying the same thing in that MH will not provide you with a flowering result deserving of your work so far & whatever way you can get a proper flowering bulb when you can.

Other than that good luck keep growing.

[stinkyattic]

Bud density won't be ideal. Invest in a HPS when you have a chance/cash. Save the MH for vegging. A good ratio for veg watts to flower watts is 1:3 so if you veg under a MH 400, you can efficiently finish under 1200w of HPS. This means, when you get a HPS, get one much larger than the MH you already have (as long as you have the space to run it). You'll see... it's a question of continuous canopy.

[deaner]

Having sampled alot of pure MH, the bud is not nearly as dense. What looks like a decent ounce crumbles into dust if you let it get too dry, I want my bud so dense I cannot crush them with my fingers. MH will definately give you good stuff, though, the main stuff I smoke is purely MH, and it's aight. Get yer rollin papers if you using mh exclusively. Just one dumbasses opinion though, I'm usually too stoned to think much anyway.