Transitioning from CFL to HPS

[Apollo11]

I notice that there is usually about 1 week worth of transition time before my plants adjust and start to grow. I was wondering if anyone has found a method to reduce the transition time.

[GET MO]

never had transition time when I switch lights.....

[Mr. Bongjangles]

Yeah I've never had this transition time issue either..

Is there a temperature/humidity/whatever difference between your cfl & hps areas?

[92GTi]

I've read alot of people's grows on here and they switch from CFL to HPS to flower with out problems. You might have another issue causing your plants growth to stop. Maybe something stunning them.

[Natagonnaworrie]

it must be something else. When i go from 250 w of CFL to 600 W flower they always explode with growth. they love the extra lumens. just make sure not to have your HPS too close for the first 2 -3 days. that will burn the tips and slow them down. i start off at plus 2 ft... then i drop it down on day 3.

your issue is prob related to another factor of the trasition.

[Apollo11]

Yeah I've never had this transition time issue either..

Is there a temperature/humidity/whatever difference between your cfl & hps areas?

Besides the light and being putting into a multi-flow system there are no drastic differences.

I've read alot of people's grows on here and they switch from CFL to HPS to flower with out problems. You might have another issue causing your plants growth to stop. Maybe something stunning them.

After this transition time my girls grow like normal.

it must be something else. When i go from 250 w of CFL to 600 W flower they always explode with growth. they love the extra lumens. just make sure not to have your HPS too close for the first 2 -3 days. that will burn the tips and slow them down. i start off at plus 2 ft... then i drop it down on day 3.

your issue is prob related to another factor of the trasition.

I keep the light 3.5 feet away for the first day or two and lower as necessary.

MtnJohn, also noticed this transition phase in his grow as well. This has me really wondering now what is causing this.

Link to MtnJohn's grow (http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=49829)

Also, in SeeMoreBuds Vol.3, the last segment where the guy is using a multi-flow system. It said he used a shade when moving his clones from T5 to his 2k HPS rooms. Ive never seen or heard of these shades, has anyone ever tried these shades before and wanna share?

http://s1d3.turboimagehost.com/t/1240117_transition.jpg (http://www.turboimagehost.com/p/1240117/transition.jpg.html)

[Maj.PotHead]

i've never had any problems going from 280w in cfls in veg to 400w hps 400w mh 1ft above the plants tops. as said before my plants dont skip a beat and just love the extra lumens

[B. Self Reliant]

Are there other variables that you change when you put them into the grow area with the HPS? Maybe it's a different variable that's effecting them, and it's just less obvious than the change of lamps.

I grow multiple strains and some seemed to have an adjustment period where growth slowed quite a bit for a few days. BC Pinewarp is one strain that comes to mind. I eventually realized that I was transplanting the plants into bigger containers the same day I was putting them in the flowering area. After some time spent experimenting with the strain a little, I realized that they were just putting their energy into growing roots into the new container for a few days. They had been growing vertically in the 4" rockwool cubes under T5's, but when I put the cubes into the 8" hydrostone pots under a HPS, they "shifted their focus" into putting down more roots for a couple days before starting vertical growth again. It's just the way that particular strain chooses to deal with things.

I thought is was a total lack of growth due to the shock from the HPS. Took me a while to figure it out.

[smokeymacpot]

not being used to the heat can shock them for sure.

[Apollo11]

not being used to the heat can shock them for sure. I start with my lights 3.5ft away and I have an In/Out thermometer that reads between 22-27C on the Max/Min setting. Heat shock could possibly be the reason but I doubt it.

Are there other variables that you change when you put them into the grow area with the HPS? Maybe it's a different variable that's effecting them, and it's just less obvious than the change of lamps.

I grow multiple strains and some seemed to have an adjustment period where growth slowed quite a bit for a few days. BC Pinewarp is one strain that comes to mind. I eventually realized that I was transplanting the plants into bigger containers the same day I was putting them in the flowering area. After some time spent experimenting with the strain a little, I realized that they were just putting their energy into growing roots into the new container for a few days. They had been growing vertically in the 4" rockwool cubes under T5's, but when I put the cubes into the 8" hydrostone pots under a HPS, they "shifted their focus" into putting down more roots for a couple days before starting vertical growth again. It's just the way that particular strain chooses to deal with things.

I thought is was a total lack of growth due to the shock from the HPS. Took me a while to figure it out.

That was a possibility that I havent considered, it is very possible that this is what is happening.

[Maj.PotHead]

I start with my lights 3.5ft away and I have an In/Out thermometer that reads between 22-27C on the Max/Min setting. Heat shock could possibly be the reason but I doubt it.



That was a possibility that I havent considered, it is very possible that this is what is happening.

{That was a possibility that I havent considered, it is very possible that this is what is happening.}

ok which is ???? where ya transplanting then flippn 12/12 directly ????
or possible heat
pls say so newbs will know

[B. Self Reliant]

Generally speaking, it's easiest to narrow down problems when you only change or experiment with one variable at a time.

Maybe try putting them under HPS without changing anything else for a couple days. For example, if you're putting them under the HPS AND you're changing the nutrient solution to a flowering formula AND you're transplanting them to bigger pots all at the same time, then maybe you could change those variables a few days apart. If you do that for at least one grow, you should be able to narrow down what's causing the issue.

This is one reason that many new or intermediate growers (not implying that applies to you) are so hesitant to switch genetics. Switching genetics is probably the biggest variable of all, and is synonymous with having to start that experimentation process over again if you ever hope to get a grow really dialed in.

[libby]

I notice that there is usually about 1 week worth of transition time before my plants adjust and start to grow. I was wondering if anyone has found a method to reduce the transition time.


ANY th1ng to do w1th the moon...? ;-)

[Apollo11]

{That was a possibility that I havent considered, it is very possible that this is what is happening.}

ok which is ???? where ya transplanting then flippn 12/12 directly ????
or possible heat
pls say so newbs will know

I was referring to the theory that the plants are focusing their energy filling up the 2 gallon multi-flow buckets with roots, this explains the 'transition time', at least in theory. I am leaning towards this because after 1 week my girls grow like normal.

This is my third strain(Hashberry, Satori and A11) and ive noticed this 'transition time' with all 3 strains.