Currently growing two Apple Fritter autos in a 2x3x5 with two spiderfarm sf1000 100 watt lights.
The lowest temperature with lights on is 82 but this is at the current dim setting of 50% but when i test ran 100% (which is recommended for flowering) the temperatures get close to 90. There is no way to lower without running some type of air conditioner and im trying to prevent having to do that. If i keep vpd and proper airflow in mind during flowering what issues am i looking at? I read somewhere that if the soil is cool than the ambient temperature shouldnt matter. Ive also read LED light heat doesnt affect the plants leaves the same as the temperature of the air. Currently have a big 25 gallon pot with living soil.
I can speak directly to this situation. Before lights i use now I had HLG 550’s. I ran a Gg4 in a 20g living soil. 3x3. 1 480w HLG. Temps would get plus 90 at times and rode 85 all the time lights on. Older model. My solution was a strong canopy. Clean inside and good airflow. STRONG air exhaust from top. Had pretty noticable negative pressure. I found the canopy provided good cover for the 20g living soil and the root temps stayed in line. That girl was super fimmed and netted 2 plus pounds dry. The fans and flowers did not care as long as watering in line and the air exchange was good. I have had full summertime runs hovering 85+. Just upgraded my central air so lung room is iced out and temps manageable now. You can have good success with some air and water adjusting. That living soil really spreads the environment parameters out in my experience.
Thank you for this comment, I was getting a little disheartened and thought I needed to get a portable air conditioner. I’m running and auto and know their growth is quick so I don’t have much time to try and fine tune things. Do you happen to remember the humidity you kept it at during those high heat times? I know about vpd but the humidity in the closet makes it damp feeling, not ideal for a couple of months at a time. Without the humidifier it hangs around 50.
I live in a semi desert. Never get above 45% at times. I stopped chasing it and tuned into the plants reactions. At 40% which I average all the way I adjust water and air. I leave a lot of foliage. The plants will sweat it to 60% at night. The foliage adds rh during day and helps protect with all the shading. Just what I see here.
Yeah you’re right, I heard a lot of the cannabis grows outside in Colorado and Cali. Those are pretty high heat low humidity areas, I guess it would be a different story if it wasn’t a large part or living soil. I also have a nice mulch layer on top. This is my first grow and I was going to throw two into a 25 gallon. Have you ever attempted more than one auto in a container?
In terms of turning on and off the light without interfering with my day the 18/6 is ideal, I do have a timer for the lights but we experience so many outages im worried it will reset the timer and I wont be aware. Was also told to run a 20/4 because im doing two autos with only 200 watts. which makes sense to give more exposure for smaller wattage. I have measured the PPFD at canopy level and they seem to be working what you would expect a light to so im not sure on the whole wattage=good light debate.
I have had terrible luck with autos, especially if my tent temps were high. I always get loose buds. Not so with photos. I get rock hard buds in the same environment. Take it with a grain of salt, but autos are tough to grow because they’re so finicky.
punny, for bud to fill out… they might get larfy