Am I causing my plant unneeded stress with this lightning pattern?

[0fenderbender]

plan on taking it outdoors in a few weeks for a more or less organic grow with relatively low yield. Will I be causing the plant too much stress if I start it under more specific conditions(full daytime sun, and a booklight lamp overnight) while it's in the peat pot and then move it outdoors to let the rhythm of the day do it's job? I know the question is confusing but what I mean to ask is; should I just continue letting the 1.5 week old plant grow with the rhythm of the approaching summer days, or will it be beneficial if I take it off my windowsill overnight and give it overnight light with a booklight that runs on 3AAA until I put it outside.

0fenderbender Reviewed by 0fenderbender on 03-22-2012. Am I causing my plant unneeded stress with this lightning pattern? plan on taking it outdoors in a few weeks for a more or less organic grow with relatively low yield. Will I be causing the plant too much stress if I start it under more specific conditions(full daytime sun, and a booklight lamp overnight) while it's in the peat pot and then move it outdoors to let the rhythm of the day do it's job? I know the question is confusing but what I mean to ask is; should I just continue letting the 1.5 week old plant grow with the rhythm of the approaching summer Rating: 5

[ThePinkJina]

plan on taking it outdoors in a few weeks for a more or less organic grow with relatively low yield. Will I be causing the plant too much stress if I start it under more specific conditions(full daytime sun, and a booklight lamp overnight) while it's in the peat pot and then move it outdoors to let the rhythm of the day do it's job? I know the question is confusing but what I mean to ask is; should I just continue letting the 1.5 week old plant grow with the rhythm of the approaching summer days, or will it be beneficial if I take it off my windowsill overnight and give it overnight light with a booklight that runs on 3AAA until I put it outside.

The plant needs those dark hours to photosynthesize. People use 24 hr lighting to reduce to amount of stretching and growing a plant does. Most people keep a 24 hr schedule on their mother plants. Newly transplanted or seeded plants benefit most from an 18/6, which is average. Or no more than a 20/4 and no less than 14/10 as you could cause your plant to force sex and start flowering. Not what you want if you plan on taking her outside. Id continue leaving her in the window sill where she can learn and get used to the day/night period you will be subjecting her to.

The amount of time your garden should be exposed to light depends on what cycle your garden is in:

The Vegetative Cycle of your garden starts with the sprout of the seedlings and can be continued indefinitely. In the veg cycle your garden will require a minimum of 16-18 hours of light and 6-8 hours of darkness daily. Since a given amount of light can only do so much, equal production can be realized in a smaller space with less plants, where the light is concentrated and the plants can grow more efficiently. Using more light helps additional co2 uptake. Many growers cultivate a "Mother" plant by keeping it in its vegetative state indefinitely. This plant is then used for clones. It never produces buds, only new growth.

The Flowering Cycle or 'Bud cycle' is typically equal amounts of light and dark, 12 hours on, 12 hours off or 12/12. This produces a change in the plants metabolism simulating the fall season, with which comes shorter days and less light. This is the cycle that the plants will show their sex. Usually, you'll be able to determine the sex within the first 2 weeks of 12/12. By the 3rd week most plants have developed healthy bud sites or pollen sacks. The plants will continue on the 12/12 cycle until harvest.


Good luck, and I hope this helped!

[0fenderbender]

The plant needs those dark hours to photosynthesize. People use 24 hr lighting to reduce to amount of stretching and growing a plant does. Most people keep a 24 hr schedule on their mother plants. Newly transplanted or seeded plants benefit most from an 18/6, which is average. Or no more than a 20/4 and no less than 14/10 as you could cause your plant to force sex and start flowering. Not what you want if you plan on taking her outside. Id continue leaving her in the window sill where she can learn and get used to the day/night period you will be subjecting her to.

The amount of time your garden should be exposed to light depends on what cycle your garden is in:

The Vegetative Cycle of your garden starts with the sprout of the seedlings and can be continued indefinitely. In the veg cycle your garden will require a minimum of 16-18 hours of light and 6-8 hours of darkness daily. Since a given amount of light can only do so much, equal production can be realized in a smaller space with less plants, where the light is concentrated and the plants can grow more efficiently. Using more light helps additional co2 uptake. Many growers cultivate a "Mother" plant by keeping it in its vegetative state indefinitely. This plant is then used for clones. It never produces buds, only new growth.

The Flowering Cycle or 'Bud cycle' is typically equal amounts of light and dark, 12 hours on, 12 hours off or 12/12. This produces a change in the plants metabolism simulating the fall season, with which comes shorter days and less light. This is the cycle that the plants will show their sex. Usually, you'll be able to determine the sex within the first 2 weeks of 12/12. By the 3rd week most plants have developed healthy bud sites or pollen sacks. The plants will continue on the 12/12 cycle until harvest.


Good luck, and I hope this helped!

Definitely did help. Thanks. I have another concern; Since spring has just sprung here in the Northeast, we are only getting appx 12 hours of daylight. Will the plant recognize the stretching days as the solstice approaches, therefore continuing it's veg growth, or did I just start way too early.

[ThePinkJina]

I wouldnt say you started early, but you are definitely going to want to lengthen the amount of light hours to at least 18 on, 6 off. You may need supplemental lighting. Try getting 3 CFL's and using those for your remaining day hours, You can go to Lowes and pick up a 3 Bulb Vanity Light for 9.98: Attachment 283602 you will also need these bulbs for $7.98: Attachment 283603

Hope this helps a little!!

[0fenderbender]

I wouldnt say you started early, but you are definitely going to want to lengthen the amount of light hours to at least 18 on, 6 off. You may need supplemental lighting. Try getting 3 CFL's and using those for your remaining day hours, You can go to Lowes and pick up a 3 Bulb Vanity Light for 9.98: Attachment 283602 you will also need these bulbs for $7.98: Attachment 283603

Hope this helps a little!!

And this should be done despite me wanting a relatively low yield in the end?

[ThePinkJina]

And this should be done despite me wanting a relatively low yield in the end?

Well I suppose, if you know the sex and strain... start it. Are you wanting it to finish indoors. If you start the plant on a 12/12 light cycle from clone it will start flowering. If its from seed it is most likely not be enough light. If it is enough light it'll force sex and start to flower. Just depends..

Out of curiosity.. what light schedule is the lil one on..? And is it from seed or clone?

[0fenderbender]

Well I suppose, if you know the sex and strain... start it. Are you wanting it to finish indoors. If you start the plant on a 12/12 light cycle from clone it will start flowering. If its from seed it is most likely not be enough light. If it is enough light it'll force sex and start to flower. Just depends..

Out of curiosity.. what light schedule is the lil one on..? And is it from seed or clone?

I do not want to finish it indoors. I plan on moving it outdoors in a transportable pot and have it flowering/budding relatively soon this way it's kept low key. I'm looking to produce a low yield, around 50 grams or so, maybe even a little less. I know it's a sativa strain therefore it grows tall, so I'm wondering at what height I should start the flowering process, or if I should try to prune it a little bit to force it to grow low if at all possible.

Am I correct in saying that the intensity of light, during the flowering phase doesn't necessarily directly correlate to how much the plant produces in the end as long as it gets 12 hours of complete darkness, but it does however, correlate to how potent it becomes?