UVb-UVa

I did the best I could to try to understand the threads regarding the topic, but could not assimilate via the written word. Stopped in my local horti- shop yesterday and asked. Interesting theorys.

I was/am considering adding another light fixture to my flower room. Would using a MH in one end of the flower area and moving the plants that are closest to finishing under that light improve my yield and trichome content?

Currently the flower area is a 1000 W HPS.

If you did this what wattage for the finishing light?

Of course we are talking high quality bulbs too.

I hope you understood my question it is difficult to follow that sentence.

I've done something similar using self-ballasted 175w Mercury Vapor bulbs for uv enhancement. They did seem to frost up nicely. Unfortunately the bulbs didn't last long and put out some serious heat. Got'em off Ebay 4 for $35 or so, if I recall correctly. Ended up using 10000k CFLs near the end with good results but not as pronounced as the MV bulbs. Probably not enough wattage. A 250MH might be the way to go. From what I'm learning now I think a couple halogens for the last few days can help to ripen your trics too.

In looking at the light spectrum of the bulbs, interestingly the 400 mh put out better numbers in the curve of the blue spectrum, than a 1000 mh, same brand. The kid explained that was the spectrum I wanted for the least $$ per kwh.

My concern is will it hurt the other plants under the hps (in the same grow area) to have both lights going at the same time, just the finishers closer to the 400? Crap I have re-written the question 6 times and not sure yet if I asked what I mean. Don't feel so well today. Need to get stoned so I can think straight:D

You see I was thinking on adding more lumens to the flower room anyhow. If the addition of both spectrums of light helps and doesn't hurt them the question about what to do answers itself.

On the other hand, if I have to put them back in the veg room, that screws up so much stuff I just as well have another room and that is not worth it to me.

The HPS and the MH will complement each other. :thumbsup:

As for increased trichs?
You know how to find out, yah?

Then we'll all know.:cool:

Aloha,
Weezarf

I don't think additional light on the rest of the plants in the room is ever a bad thing. The additional blue if anything will toughen up the stalks allowing more weight. No need to worry about separating them. The more the merrier when it comes to lighting. As long as you keep can the temp under control its all good. I've heard good things about 3000k MH bulbs when used in addition to HPS.

I only have about one month a year where heat is an issue, and about 2 months where cold is an issue.

I have often wondered why we narrow down the light band for flower. (The sun never really has a different light band does it?) Time always seems to be the important factor.

Maybe I will go spend some money tomorrow.

:hippy:Ya man, I got my mini microscope, and I know my ladies well.

:rastasmoke: Ahhhh, sounds like a plan to me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WashougalWonder

I only have about one month a year where heat is an issue, and about 2 months where cold is an issue.

I have often wondered why we narrow down the light band for flower. (The sun never really has a different light band does it?

Actually, yes it does.
Depending on your lattitude and season there can be quite a spectral shift.

) Time always seems to be the important factor.

Maybe I will go spend some money tomorrow.

:hippy:Ya man, I got my mini microscope, and I know my ladies well.

That's all it takes.:thumbsup:

:rastasmoke: Ahhhh, sounds like a plan to me.

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Hope ya don't mind if I lurk and kibbitz occasionally.
Would like to see if the "Emerson effect" applies.

Aloha,
Weezard

Oh not at all, you tickle my funny button.

Well I added a 400 MH with the Hortilux (spendy) bulb. Took a picture of the buds that are 2 weeks out. Guess I am doing my own experiment. I have pics of some of those species finished without the blue.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WashougalWonder

I have often wondered why we narrow down the light band for flower. (The sun never really has a different light band does it?)

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From what I gather, the sun is in a different position in the sky in early summer, than it is in the fall. Different sun-angle through our atmosphere alters the spectrum giving the plant not only daylength and temperature indicators to upcoming winter, but light spectrum clues as well.

I heard this years ago, and never investigated the issue further. Kinda made sense, but I'm no expert. :thumbsup:

Well, in what 5 days? , I can see a difference not only with my naked eyeballs but with the microscope. The plants appear to be more snow covered to the eye and there definitely is a greater density and different sizes of trichomes by microscope. They may also have more dense buds, but I need to wait and compare pictures down the road.

Interesting indeed.

keep in mind that the MH puts out much more UV than an HPS (if i'm not mistaken), so it's not so much color temp as it is wavelength.

case in point, a swiss grower planted two crops outdoors, one at 4500' and one at 9000' elevation. the crop at 4500' had about 25% more weight, but less trichs than the crop at 9000'. same thing has been known to happen in indoor grow rooms for those who bloom under a MH as opposed to an HPS. so i think you'd be best suited to throw them under the MH for the last two weeks of flower.

did that make any sense? sorry made some hash earlier!


-shake

i LOVE the sig by the way!!!

Yes, I did understand

Well after 2 weeks, 2 different plants maturing under the MH. I would say at least 15-25% more trichs and the tops fluffed out more than they usually do for those genotypes, so I will continue with this addition to my farming methods. Thanks to those who have advised and the other threads on this topic. I feel my growing skills advanced with that move.

One small point about MH lamp bulbs: they can run anywhere from 3000K to 6500K or higher.

HPS lamp bulbs generally are 2100-2700K..unless they have blue added..like Hortilux

I wish peeps talking about MH bulbs would give the Kelvin temp...because of the wide temp range available on the market. I assume; but, don't know?...that the higher MH kelvin temp range (5000-6500k)...puts out more UV rays?

...or the 3000-4500k does?...maryjane; likes the white light..:thumbsup:

It is a hortilux 400, hell of a spectrum of light.

I'm really surprised that Dutch did not mention CMH (ceramic metal halide) bulbs. These put out alot of UV in comparison to even MH bulbs.

One of the cheapest and easiest ways to add UV is the addition of some reptile bulbs, either CFL or linear flourescents, to your HPS. But as pointed out by Dogsnova on another thread, you may get the same benifits from the use of ceramic incadescents to increase far red, without the health risks associated with UV.

hey oldmac,is it or is not true that high altittude plants will have a higher thc content than lower altittude plants becouse of the higher intencity of ultraviolet light at high altittude?

I picked up a 48" t12 ballast w/2 40 watt,warm white bulbs and it came w/an xtra bulb,a super uv reptile full spectrum daylight lamp w/3%+ uvb & 7%+ uva 40 watt today for next to nothing($7) hopefully I can get some use out of it.I was wondering if the reptile bulb would be a good addition to the 1000w hps,6" a/c reflector (a bigun) I have in the flower room,a 6.5'x6.5'x6.5' tent,4 plants(I am assuming its not a good light for the veg room?).Are the warm white bulbs good for either veg or flower?I currently have a 48' t5 dbl bulb ballast in veg.Appreciate any suggestions...thanx

In a previous run I flowered under only MH. Got extreme resin production. Yield sucked.
I have since added HPS to the mix for flower. Last run I did 600w MH +150w HPS. So still more MH.
Next run I'm doing 150w HPS,600w MH, 150w HPS. So still more MH. These have always been used like this all the way thru flower.


I actually have never done an all HPS flower. I'm anticonformist or something. So I personally have no comparison other than the heavy stone and obviously crazy resin production. Screw yield focused grows anyway... :)

All but one of my friends flower under all HPS. The other guy has stickier bud. So do I.

The bud on my avatar is from a flo plant that was situated a little closer to the MH. U can see the difference with the naked eye.