Light cycles

I'm in the process of setting up my grow room, but in the mean time I'm doing as much research as I can to ensure that the growing process goes as smoothly as possible once I'm up and running. In the past, once the clones were mature enough after running under 24/0 florescent light I moved them to a larger room to complete the vegetative grow cycle on a 24/0 (MH) light cycle. My question is, if I want to implement a 18/6 light cycle for my adult plants do I have to use a matching 18/6 light cycle in the cloning room as well? In other words, if I move the clones from 24/0 light cycle to 18/6 will that induce flowering, stun/stress the plants?

Also, if you are so inclined what light cycle do you use and which do you feel produces a better yield? Obviously there are many factors such a nutes, plant strain, etc. But generally speaking what would be the best method to adopt?

Thanks all for you time,
-dodo

As long as you aren't switching their schedule back-n-forth, should be no problems, if all else is fine with the plant, and they're from stable genetics.

I grow seperate veg and flower rooms, and I used to run 24/0, but after a couple of months, the electricity cost jumped enough to get me to change my schedule. (fixed income...every little bit helps) Going from 24/0 to 12/12 without acclimation had no ill effects, nor does going from 18/6 to 12/12. Taking clones from a mother in the 18/6 room, you'll be fine putting the fresh, unrooted clones under weaker lights, with a 24/0 schedule.

I go with the 18/6 veg now, mainly because of the costs of running 400w HID's 24 hrs a day. But, I didn't see enough of a difference after the switch, to miss the schedule. During veg, keep in mind that you'll need to monitor moisture in smaller pots, especially if on the 24/0 schedule. Those suckers dry out pretty quick. Heat build-up can also be an issue when running lights 24 hrs a day, too.

hey dodo,

My mothers are usually on a 18/6 schelule, unless I need to speed up growth to keep to a cutting schedule, then I use 24/0. And there is no problem switching between the two. I always use 24/0 when clonning, but I start out with 1- T5 4' actinic white for the first three days, then use 2- 4' T5s of 6400K per ez-clonner in addition.

The main reason I use 18/6 in my mother room (4'x6') is that it is next to my bloom room (6'x6') and during the moms light off time the moms take in oxygen and give off CO2. The bloom room's air intake is from the moms room and during the last 6hours of thier 12/12 lights on period thier air is CO2 rich. I use 1/2 of a excello-fizz puck for co2 during the first 6 hours of the bloom room light on period. (check your CO2 thread)

hey Rusty,

yup the cost of everything keeps going up, and I know what a bitch fixed income is. I had 2 Procyons in my mother room in place of a 400w MH, I paid a bunch to save 200watts. That was OK last year to do, but I suffered a major economic loss this fall. SO, sold the two Procyons with a small aero/fog sytem I built for someone just before Christmas, so I'd have money for presents for my children and grandkids. It's also one of the reasons I partnered up with a younger guy who's worked for me, in a grow op for cash.
Oh well, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.