howfar into the canopy does a 400w digital hps go

[jeffthestoner]

im hoping to flower a short indica at 1' with a 400w lumatek digital mh then hps . one plant in a 3X3 grow tent im wondering if it will penetrate it once its tall. and be worth it. cuz i cant get clones right now im going to use a dwc setup with fem seeds. maybe the mazar strain. thanks

jeffthestoner Reviewed by jeffthestoner on 05-01-2008. howfar into the canopy does a 400w digital hps go im hoping to flower a short indica at 1' with a 400w lumatek digital mh then hps . one plant in a 3X3 grow tent im wondering if it will penetrate it once its tall. and be worth it. cuz i cant get clones right now im going to use a dwc setup with fem seeds. maybe the mazar strain. thanks Rating: 5

[grey1223]

It's a matter of how or if you do any topping etc.. I'd recommend you pinch tops to create more leads for flowers. Let it get bushy, not tall. Remove some of lower branches. Your 400 will do well that way and won't have to penetrate very far.

[jeffthestoner]

cool thanks..ill top it twice and get 4 colas going and keep it short. so you think a 400w hps will penetrate about 2 feet or maybe 3? how should i support the huge buds that im going to get...?

[sloth420]

jeff, cross that bridge when you get there mate!

[cture]

Hi Jefthe stoner. Top 10-5 inches of good (dence and even) canopy would be lighted properly.

[Rusty Trichome]

how should i support the huge buds that im going to get...?

Quite an optimistic expectation, lol.
Keep an oscillating fan (on the lowest setting) sweeping back-n-forth across 'em. This 'breeze' strengthens the stems and provides fresh air, just like in the wild. Support should be unnecessary with an indica, or indica dominant, but bamboo stakes (pushed into soil)and twist-ties, if they do get too leggy.

[cture]

hi Rusty T
nice avatar

[Opie Yutts]

How far light penetrates into the canopy depends on what wavelength is hitting it. Green penetrates the most, and some of it even makes it to the bottom and bounces around. So if that's true (and it is) what kind of bulb you buy will affect how far light penetrates. All HID have a fairly large and varied spectrum. Some are more red, some are more blue, some have a fairly even (or full) spectrum, and some have spikes in certain colors.

Most of your light will bounce off the plants. That's why it's important to use reflective material or white paint on the walls, and to keep leaves from shading buds. And do like Rusty says and keep your plants gently rustling in a breeze to make them strong.

[Opie Yutts]

and do like grey says and top your plants once or twice.

[jash420]

I just used a 400w on my first grow and I'd say one plant would prb thrive greatly as we started 10 and culled 6 males so we flowered 4 females the full time.. Your gonna wanna strip the lower stuff as it wont get much light I'm pretty sure no matter really how tall you get it, because unless the relector is air cooled your gonna have to have you light about 12" off the tops anyway, so I'd prb be stripping the bottom like 4-6" of branches... With my first grow I let it just be all natural and the lower shit was so popcorn-y and such it really was not even worth keeping..