which is better? 24/0 or 18/6 lights

[fluid69]

the best way to test would be to start from clones and weigh root mass. the lights being the only variable.

[bigtopsfinn]

Some well-known cultivator(s) has endorsed the 20/4 schedule... I tried it and it seemed to work very well. :thumbsup:

[fluid69]

20/4 nice , split the difference. I wonder what the different breeders use? logic seems that since breeders hand select plants for their traits, that some strains may prefer one or the other. lighting schedules would be some good info for breeders to include with their seeds, atleast the indoor strains.

[Dutch Pimp]

which is better? 24/0 or 18/6? I've heard root growth is better on 18/6, but 24/0 seems to make more since. I was wondering if anyone had experience/knowlege on this subject?

There is no ..."better"...IMO. 18 hours is the standard minimun for vegging growth.

Choosing a light cycle that fits your grow room/cabinet/closet is the key.
The climate of your area is a factor. Hot climate?.. in the summertime?...18/6 is a nice break from the heat ..(the plants grow 'better')
Cold climate in the wintertime?...24/0 helps keep temps warm/stable 78-82 degrees....(plants grow 'better')

Anybody, understand what I am saying?...or am I just whistling dixie?

[grey1223]

Bottom line is anything from 16 to 24 hours of light is fine. The difference in growth rates are insignificant. If I were starting my first garden I'd probably go 24/0 on vegging hoping to get started sooner. But still no big deal. I just have this nagging thought in the back of my head that the plants like some dark time.

[Fencewalker]

I just have this nagging thought in the back of my head that the plants like some dark time.

Well, beat it to death with a bat. Cannabis is a C3 plant. It requires no dark time at all during veg. The more dark you give it, the slower it is growing.

[oldmac]

There is no ..."better"...IMO. 18 hours is the standard minimun for vegging growth.

Choosing a light cycle that fits your grow room/cabinet/closet is the key.
The climate of your area is a factor. Hot climate?.. in the summertime?...18/6 is a nice break from the heat ..(the plants grow 'better')
Cold climate in the wintertime?...24/0 helps keep temps warm/stable 78-82 degrees....(plants grow 'better')

Anybody, understand what I am saying?...or am I just whistling dixie?

Dutch Pimp,

I understand exactly what you are saying....it really is a matter of what works best for the situation. No one time schedule is better. And climate concerns can drive that decision.

In a new grow set-up with a friend, we are dealing with a basement in a building with no heat. (temps as low as 40F) Running the mom and clone room at 24/0 was the only way to go to maintain temps in that room.

In my own basement set-up I use 18/6 for my moms, unless I need to speed them up to keep to schedules, then it's 24/0. The big advantage to 18/6 in my set-up is that during the 6 hours the lights are off in the mother room, those plants are taking in oxygen and giving off CO2. The air inlet to my bloom room is from the mom's room, so I get 6 hours of elevated CO2 levels. (for the other 6 hours they get a "fuzz-puck")

[Dutch Pimp]

Rock On...oldmac....:thumbsup:

[mendokid]

Or was that 4-20?

If it is true that roots develop better in the dark, then cloning is best done with SOME dark period. However for full on VEG growth I agree that 24 would be best. I don't need things to grow any faster then they are already.:thumbsup:

[Lit Up]

Hey Dutch, I do the same thing bro. 24/0 in the winter and 18/6 in the summer. Works great with temp stablization!