Hey everyone. I’m new to all of this and haven’t even started my first grow. Just wanted to ask a couple questions and get some insight.
I’m going to be growing in a 4x8 sectioned down into a 4x4. I am going to start with 3 gelato autos. I have a 1200w non dimmable LED light. I only can find conflicting information on the topic of how far/close i should be keeping this light from my plants in the stages of growth. Will also be growing organically if that matters at all. Thanks in advance.
Welcome to the forum.
Seedlings don’t need much light. 24" away and on low settings will do for seedlings. Light requirements increase during veg, so turn it up and bring the light closer. Flowering needs the most light of all and the light should be close to the plant (perhaps 18") with the light turned all the way up. How do you know how much is too much? Place your hand under the light even with the canopy of your plant. If you can feel much of the heat on the back of your hand, then it is too close.
What type of lighting do you have? Most of the “1200 watt” lights out there are burples and they are only really capable of flowering 1 plant effectively.
Thanks for the response and tip.
My light is a GreenGo 1200w LED Grow Light with Veg&Bloom Switch, 3 Chips LED.
I just copied and pasted the title.
Yeah, that is a “burple.”
What would your recommendation for lights?
Many of the growers here use lighting from Horticulture Lighting Group (HLG.) There are a couple of other brands out there too, but I’ve only owned the HLG lights.
Are these LED?
Yes it will work but not as well as you’d like something like that would only be good for something like a 2x3 area MAX during flower sorry if that’s a little discouraging but almost all of us started with a blurple or in my case a full spectrum version of a blurple lol but I recommend if you’re not to strapped for cash is to get at least a single board hlg light and use both during flower(and mainly use the hlg during veg)
I started out with a burple too. I soon realized it would meet my goals. It’s a little costly to get started but in the end it will be well worth it. I grew 2 plants under the burple them got my hlg right at flower time. Still got almost 18.5 oz of wet bud from them
I think the hlg 260XL would be enough light in that area. @dbrn32. Any thoughts on lighting here?
I have a 260 xl I personally find it optimal for a 3x 3.5 area anything longer or wider and you start losing out ( but could veg a 4x4 well enough)
I really appreciate everyone’s input. I’m not discouraged, im here to learn and get the most out it as I can. If I kept the light I have now, could I start 3 plants with that through early veg and then once they are getting bigger, supplement with an HLG? After my first grow I plan to add another few girls. Id like to only buy another ONE this season. Also, if I did that, what would you suggest?
@UncleSam You could but if you buy the hlg light that’d be adequate for your space it wouldn’t be a supplement as they are much more powerful than the Amazon leds. When i got my hlg 135 i turned it on with my burple still on and i could even see the ugly pink glow anymore lol. Although costly buying the best light you can will make the difference in your grow. Not that a burple wont grow some bud… It probably just won’t grow as much as we would want. Although they Will veg plants very well if high enough wattage. As long they aren’t stretching you’ll be good until flower i believe they have an hlg 550 that will flower 4x4
Go big Uncle Sam - I know you got all my $$$. es300 , gavita or floence might be a.lil over kill. HLG makes.great lights especially for us small home guys. I use 4 QB boards and love them. I Also have a HLG 135 - love it don’t use it anymore with the QBs but worked great to start.
You can get the 600 diablo now for $720…im thinking of.biyimg one just in case I ever get a veg room going… someday - I can dream
I only wish i had the space to need the Diablo!!! @LoCoRock
If upwards to 800 bucks is what these lights are running, im not going to be able to do that. I’ve already got about 900 into my set up. Including seeds and soil. Ill look into these though and ill probably end up putting a journal up here when I start to grow.
If your handy Sam a light build is the way to go. You know what …oh man that’s right you got 8’ room. Look into doing a build with the 120 boards of Amazon you can keep the price down big time buying all your supplies in bulk building 3 of the 4 board lights… so each light would have 4 QB boards. 8 x 4 is a lot of room. I’m just talking out loud I didn’t really read all your stuff and requirements…
