From a fellow grower: I have been struggling with getting more than 2 oz of dry weight from a harvest. I have had 3 harvests this past year. I have used Girl Scout autoflower, white widow autoflower, skywalker photo, black widow photo and banner photo. Autos flower in 8-10 weeks. The photos in 5 months.
I have good organic soil. I have tried a few varieties.
I have used nutes as well as good water (ph 7)
I have grown with just good water as well (ph 7)
Strain and seed type: auto and photo
Medium (soil, hydroponic, etc.): soil
PH of runoff or solution in reservoir:6.5
Strength of nutrient mix, EC, or TDS: n/a
Indoor
Light system, size: hydro 4 k
Temperatures day, night: 78,70 f
Humidity day, night: 45, 50
Ventilation system (yes, size): Vivosun 6
AC, humidifier, de-humidifier: no
CO2 (yes/no)
I agree that adequate light is king. All processes start with good light. If not, water and nutrient uptake is reduced and growth is slow. Cannabis needs less light in veg so you can get a good looking plant but once in flower you need the intensity for dense flower. Otherwise it will be loose and airy.
I average 10 oz per plant with photoperiod plants; usually a 5 1/2 month grow. Soil will reduce yields over other media, hydro and tuned nutes/lights/environment will be your biggest producers and of course genetics is a huge part.
I prefer CMH just because it’s better for all around use and I feel like the quality is the best from cmh because the ultraviolet spectrum has is supposed to increase resin production but if you are looking specifically for yield I think HPS has a more red spectrum so it gives a little bit more stretching in flower making slightly larger yields. Although I am already having some issues with temperature I can only get it between 80 and 85° during the day and the HPS lights run hotter so that would be more of an issue with them. I am only personally familiar with LEDs and CMH but I can tell you I definitely prefer CMH to LEDs any day unless you spend like $1,000 on them and there are definitely benefits to HPS but I think all around it’s easier and better to use CMH especially if you only want to use one bulb for the whole life of the plant
I would also suggest super cropping to obtain more colas for added yield and height control. The plants will really bush out instead of a single cola Christmas tree.
Not sure how you figure that. Late generation Samsung diodes absolutely blow away everything else for photons per joule: nearly double the CMH. And the CRI (Color Rendering Index) is closer to ideal than anything else except sunlight.
Studies have all been inconclusive on UV increasing potency. Any increase has been minor and only after insane levels of UV were added.
And this is another reason CMH or LEC can be a problem. If you live in South Texas or Phoenix you will be paying even more money to get that waste heat out. Now if you live in Canada that would be a different story. There are Canadian growers that use both technologies depending on season.
You’re right the Samsung’s are great But in my opinion for the price range you can get pretty much the same results with the CMH for $150 instead of spending up to $1000 on some really expensive LED. One of these days when I have enough money I probably will get One of those lights for the summer months or Just add more ventilation
Uh,if you say so, but LED’S were part of the convo early on. And my answer is based on the question; not adhering to one light. I stand behind what I said about LED’S being superior in every way to CMH.
I grew my first plants and it was done very simply. I bought one Spider farmer LED light that was about $160. I watered with spring water and only gave beastie bloom twice when in flower. Never measured Ph or gave any other nutes. I grew two plants, one AK47 and one White widow. I just harvested and got 439g and 286g wet respectively. The AK47 flowers are hard as rocks and I can only assume it was due to the lights. You dont have to spend $1000. I am pleasantly surprised by the yield.
P.S. I did buy a second light because I was going by lux readings and was afraid one light wouldnt be enough for two plants.
Couldn’t agree more, I have the hlg 260’s and didn’t pay even close to $1000 bucks for them. Sure there are lights out there that are over a grand. But I could get 3 hlg 260’s for a grand. And actually adding another one is my next upgrade. I’ve never used CMH, but with the quality I get from my hlg and the numerous great reviews from other users on here, and elsewhere. I have to agree with @Myfriendis410 and @Holmes. @Deesnuts you said yourself your had a cheaper LED, but upgraded to a CMH. I feel that is not a fair comparison. A cheaper a LED did probably produce lighter yield. But if you would of upgraded to a “good” LED I wonder if you would have the same opinion about “spending a crap load” on LED. If you want realistic results after comparing the two…then don’t do your experiment with a “Cheap” LED. Compare apples to apples
Where low temps are a problem, HPS and CMH/LEC are great choices. Many Canadian growers use LED’s in the summer and HPS in the winter.
There are hidden costs though to any technology. You will pay more on your electrical bill with CMH as it’s efficacy is lower (need higher power for the same photons) and the extra heat has to be managed which also adds to your bill.
I went from blurples to diy lights and my electrical bill went down $60 THE FIRST MONTH! Add that up and that’s a lot of lights per year.
