Do You Use 18/6 or 24 hours of Light?

[anbesol]

So What Does Every One Use? 18/6 or 24 of light to Veg? Ive been reading some manuals that discuss both as an option. Ive always done 18/6 with my plants. I was wondering if there would be any added benefits to do 24 besides an increase in veg growth. I know with 18/6 the down side is you miss some veg growth because the plant can sometimes confuse the plant into thinking it should flower but doesn't. So any one have any down sides of 24? I know that 24 can cause hermies and more Males.

[Technique2]

to using the 24/0 method. The way I see it, if the plants are responding, I am content with the method. The only way I would switch from 24/0 to 18/6 is if there is IRREFUTABLE proof that the growth/yield/ potency is dramatically improved with the 18/6 vegetation light cycle. Which is highly unlikely because at this point the plant isn't even focused on those aspects of it's growth cycle yet so...

Just my perspective.

[Orzy]

The downside would be extra money spent on bills.

[Fencewalker]

I use 24/0 myself but downside would be extra expense on utilites, like was mentioned...

As well as shorter life span for ballast/lights and it takes a bit longer to show flowers when switching over to 12/12.

[anbesol]

I use 24/0 myself but downside would be extra expense on utilites, like was mentioned...

As well as shorter life span for ballast/lights and it takes a bit longer to show flowers when switching over to 12/12.

These Are True Facts. I really dont want to have a higher electric bill. And I like how fast 12/12 shows sex for my plants

[Technique2]

I use 24/0 myself but downside would be extra expense on utilites, like was mentioned...

As well as shorter life span for ballast/lights and it takes a bit longer to show flowers when switching over to 12/12.

But does it stunt/slow growth of the plant in any way or show less vigor than say fluoros vs. MH/HPS?

[keeko]

But does it stunt/slow growth of the plant in any way or show less vigor than say fluoros vs. MH/HPS?

that would probably be strain dependent but in everything that i have grown i havent notived a difference in the plant at all.

[anbesol]

But does it stunt/slow growth of the plant in any way or show less vigor than say fluoros vs. MH/HPS?

I Use T5's

[cthulhu]

I use 24/0, and I use pure flourescent lighting. I should probably use 18/6 since the price of electricity is so high around here lately, but meh, it's not like I'm running high wattages.

I'd guess 24/0 would help things grow a little faster, but maybe I'm wrong. I've never heard of it contributing to hermies and males, although I'd be interested to know where you've heard this. I've heard higher temps contribute to more males, so maybe it has something to do with the heat from the lights?

[anbesol]

I read that 24 can contribute to more males and hermies in the The Cannabis Grow Bible by Greg Green

[stinkyattic]

I run 24/0 and have 'normal' m/f ratios. And once my plants are evaluated, I keep mothers anyway so that becomes moot after the first round with a new strain.
My reasons for running 24/0 rather than 18/6 are:
-Better temperature control
-No need for a timer, which can fail or burn out
-I can visit them any time
-I don't feel like lightproofing my veg room
-I can leave it completely open on hot days to stay cooler without worrying about light cycle interruption

[anbesol]

Stinkyattic, do you feel that there would be any problems with the 18/6? have you used 18/6 before?

[stinkyattic]

I've never bothered with it. If you can lightproof your room like the bloom room, or if you are using only a single room for both, go for it. Your call.

[the image reaper]

for the record, I disagree completely ... its 18/6 or nothing, in my book :D

[GreenDestiny]

For rooting clones it seems that 18/6 helps them to develop roots faster than 24/0.
http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-faqs/99457-why-should-i-turn-out-lights.html

So I would assume that using 18/6 for normally vegging plants would cause their roots to develop more quickly too.... which is great if you're in a big hurry to start flowering. I'd think that they'd show sex from preflowers sooner too. Also developing flowers faster when switching to 12/12.

Stinkyattic's reasons for 24/0 are awesome.

[Technique2]

I run 24/0 and have 'normal' m/f ratios. And once my plants are evaluated, I keep mothers anyway so that becomes moot after the first round with a new strain.
My reasons for running 24/0 rather than 18/6 are:
-Better temperature control
-No need for a timer, which can fail or burn out
-I can visit them any time
-I don't feel like lightproofing my veg room
-I can leave it completely open on hot days to stay cooler without worrying about light cycle interruption

These THREE reasons in bold are EXACTLY why I prefer 24/0. That and I am going to have some scorchers during the summer, so HEAT is a BIG concern.

[stinkyattic]

For the record, I root clones under 24/0 as well. They 'strike' in about 4 days and the roots are visible outside the RR plug in 10.

[the image reaper]

never mind, was gonna explain why, but its been done, over and over and over ... y'all do whatever ya want with them, theyre yours ... :jointsmile:

[Revanche21]

18/6 : lower electricity bill ftw!

[jcksnhffpr]

I use 24 in veg stage because you more growth and you have to worry about a dark period til flowering...


p.s. The best part is being able to look at your plants whenever you want

[jcksnhffpr]

I use 24 in veg stage because you more growth and you have to worry about a dark period til flowering...

hell nah i typed that shit all wrong but i am geekd "24 in veg stage because you more growth" thats funny and I ment to say you dont have to worry about a dark period til flowering

[anbesol]

I've never bothered with it. If you can lightproof your room like the bloom room, or if you are using only a single room for both, go for it. Your call.

I use a homebox for my flowering room and i use a larger rubber made for veg/seeds

[anbesol]

For the record, I root clones under 24/0 as well. They 'strike' in about 4 days and the roots are visible outside the RR plug in 10.

see i would like clones to take that fast. but i do enjoy the option of a smaller electric bill. and i dont mind the 6 hours of darkness, since im sleeping during that time

[supablown]

I use the 24/0 method myself and my major concern is the temp never drops and it just goes up a degree or two every day no matter how hard I try to cool it down so I'm going to try switching to 20/4 see if it helps with my temp levels

[ShadowStudent]

i use 24 hours myself and the babies love it

[PhatJay]

:pimp:'s work their ho's 24/7. I'm a :cool: gentleman and let my ladies have 6 hours of "me time"

[lampost]

I also like having the cheaper electric bill...

and I prefer to imitate nature. I've heard that roots grow more in the darkness, so why would you want to hinder this natural process?

[RoundEye]

This is for the guys who to 24/0
I have tried this once and it looked to me like at some point in a 24 hour cycle, the ladies would droop down for a few hours, just as if they were hitting a night cycle. It was like, regardless of lights being on 24hr, they got their night time anyway.
Have any of you 24/0 guys seen this behavior?

[Dutch Pimp]

I've noticed that some. I have started doing 24/0 the first two weeks of veg; (using fluoro tubes), then switch to 20/4, then, 18/6 later....with the HID light.

[FarmerNinja]

i've never heard of anything in nature that didn't need at least SOME rest. give your babies their beauty sleep. go for 18/6

i had clones under 24/7 and they seemed stressed because of the constant light and heat and no "dark" time. i switched them to 18/6 and they shot right up and lookin healthy

p.s. more humidity in the dark especially good for rooting since roots love darkness

[highroller99]

24 hrs of light equals one more veg day every 4 days if comparing to 18/6. More lighted hours=more growth. My clones grow anywhere from 12-24inches during a 2 week veg period using foxfarm soil that I add vermiculite to and a 400 watt hps system with no co2 and good internode lengths.

[stra8outtaWeed]

my babies go 24/7 until they hit the flower room before they see any darkness! of course they will be transplanted to bigger pots from this pic before getting to the flower room! :thumbsup: