400 Watt HPS question

[DonSmokin]

I have a 400watt HPS and i just want to know will this do for veg and for flower? and how far do i keep it away from the plants in both stages of growing. thanks

DonSmokin Reviewed by DonSmokin on 09-05-2006. 400 Watt HPS question I have a 400watt HPS and i just want to know will this do for veg and for flower? and how far do i keep it away from the plants in both stages of growing. thanks Rating: 5

[OmegaVermelho]

Usually HPS is used in flowering stage, altho some growers use it all the way...
The distance will depend on how cool can u keep the bulb, the coller u can get her the closer will u be able to put her on top of ur canopy, currently i have mine at about 18", plus 4 x 18w 6400k fluoro tubes in my grow room...and i dont have heat issues (so far)...

[babystarbud]

thats fine, if you have to buy a single light, HPS is the one to get.

just make sure your temperature is good, and dont put the light to close when they are babies.

abut 12 inches above is good for both. when they are babies you want to protect them more, or put them on a window sill for the first few weeks, then when they are strong, put them under the light.

[DonSmokin]

The Light i have is a 400w HPS Dual Spectrum Grow Light - Hydroponics HID to be more pacific, thanks

[OmegaVermelho]

The Light i have is a 400w HPS Dual Spectrum Grow Light - Hydroponics HID to be more pacific, thanks

That is perfect to go all the way since the bulb covers both light spectrums, if ure starting from seed get the seedlings a foot maybe a 1 1/2 feet away, if ure starting from clone u can go a bit closer, just remember the cooler u can keep the bulb the closer u can put light....the closer the light the better the plants will do...

[DonSmokin]

Thanks mate, so do i not have to change the bulb at all? and do i keep it that much away from the plant for flower too? I just switch the light to 12/12 is that all? cheers

[OmegaVermelho]

No u dont need to change the bulb dude, as for the distance like i told u if u the cooler u can keep it the closer u can get ur plants under it....and yes to flower u just need to switch to 12/12 and change the nutes...appart from that i can only wish u a happy grow

[DonSmokin]

thanks for ur help man much appreciated, could you tell me wat is the best nutes to use for when i switch flower, i was thinking a soluble fish emulsion wat do you think?

[SpiritLevel]

Get your air flow right and you can bring your light as close as 12-14" above your flowering plants. According to many growers, the close the light to the plant, the better! But you must check them daily to ensure there hasn't been a growth spurt and the fresh tops aren't getting stressed by heat. I keep 600W HPS around 24-36" away from freshly potted clones for around 1 week or until they look like they are striving in their new home. I then lower the lighting by 12" and keep the lights around 18-24" from the tops from then on until harvest. If I had Cool Shades I'd keep them closer. Adjusta-wings are good because the heat dissipation keeps the area between the plant tops and bulb relatively cool in comparrison to other cheap shade that I also use when I miscalculate space and cutting survival rate.

[SpiritLevel]

gee, much happened in the time it took for me to type that lol