Does it really matter how many watts you use to veg?

[macdiesel]

I've searched a ton, and not really found anything.

I've got a 400w vegging 15 plants vertically right now.

I also have a couple 1000w lights not being used......

So, is it really worth the power bill to veg using the 1000w instead of a 400w?

These plants are only about 12 inches tall.....I'm under the assumption that plants this small can't really appreciate more light due to their size....and if I am wrong, not in a way that makes using a 1000w to veg them financially sound.....yet. (until they get bigger)

I've seen guys vegging their entire commercial grow room with a 600w, and their flower room was 13k.

Discuss.

 

[Cush]

I think it definitely matters. It also depends on how long you plan to veg for and what size plants your room can handle. 400w would be cool for 15 small plants. Other than that step it up to 1000w.

 

[daheadies]

Absoultly it matters! As soon as your plants start crowding they need more light. Just because 14 plants can fit under a 400watt foot print doesnt mean that they are getting enough light! I would imagine they grow faster and bigger and wider w/ the 1000..
-I guess it really depends on the hood your using too, cause if your having to put the 400 watt far away to cover all 14 plants, then you should def step up to 1000. But if you have a huge hood and can cover the plants while staying close to them, then the 400 will work a little longer.. But I would def recommend stepping it up soon.
I have seen drastic changes since I stepped up the veg lighting in my room.
I would say a pretty good rule of thumb is to have half the wattage your going to use in flower in your veg room.. 10,000w flower needs 4-5000 watt veg.
-If you put puney vegged plants into flower (even if in flower they have plenty of light and room) they will still yield puney..

 

[macdiesel]

Well, I do have a magnum hood laying around, but as I mentioned I'm vegging vertically....therefor, no hood used.

I also find it interesting that low light is attributed to stretching. Right now, I've got all short bushy plants. Stretching is encouraged with this bunch....perhaps 400w would be better for that. Hmmm

 

[whodair]

my vegg room runs about half the light and space of the flowering area ... room for the stretch !!

 

[Hammerhead]

I do not use HID for veg and most do not. All you need is anough light to cover the grow. I use t5 for my veg. For your plants a 8 bulb t5 will work just fine.

 

[B. Friendly]

better you grow and set your girls up for Flower the better crop quality

It is a misconception that what is occuring in veg is not directly responsible for how good of a crop you will accomplish.

Plus in my experience I have had grows with half the wattage in veg than flower and was still easily gettin 1.5lbs a bulb. But when the veg and flower wattages are equal than higher yeilds of 2lbs per bulb is doable...

A general equation for photosynthesis is:

6 CO2(gas) + 12 H2O(liquid) + photons → C6H12O6(aqueous) + 6 O2(gas) + 6 H2O(liquid)
carbon dioxide + water + light energy → glucose + oxygen + water

When written as a word equation the light energy appears above the arrow as it is required for photosynthesis but it is not actually a reactant.
add more light, co2... and you get more photosynthesis giving more for the plant to work with.

 

[whodair]

I do not use HID for veg and most do not. All you need is anough light to cover the grow. I use t5 for my veg. For your plants a 8 bulb t5 will work just fine.

8 x 54w = 432w T5 vegg !! that would well prepare them for 600w hps, 2x400 hps or 1000w hps flower

i prefer 2 4 bulb t5's more than the eight bulb fixture...more height adjustments for plants in different phases ...

 

[Incognegro]

I use 4foot flouros for veg.

I think it's more of a personal preference honestly.

I've used both flouros and HID, there is a difference, but it's a personal preference...

So, no, i don't think it's worth it...

 

[Hammerhead]

I did a small micro with a 100w t5 veg/flower the results where very surprising. Photos are in my HDF micro thread

 

[Cush]

I guess it depends on what's your end goal. I don't use fluorescents except for for cloning. After that they go under at least 1kw mh. What's gonna be the wattage of your flower room 1600w?

 

[Hammerhead]

8 x 54w = 432w T5 vegg !! that would well prepare them for 600w hps, 2x400 hps or 1000w hps flower

i prefer 2 4 bulb t5's more than the eight bulb fixture...more height adjustments for plants in different phases ...

I dont worry about hidth adj in veg. I have never had a plant get any taller then 3 feet in veg thats after 4-6 week veg

 

[Greyskull]

bigger lights = less time needed to get them to size
$$$ vs Time...

both work fine

 

[250wscrogger]

Depending on the size of the plants...25-30% of the flowering wattage...ALWAYS USE HID FOR VEG....I only use t5's for cloning and moms...

example: 1k veg (64 1 gallon pots), transplant to 3 gallon pots and flower under 4k @16 per light

example: 1k veg (36 2 gallon pots), transplant to 3 gallon pots and flower under 3k @12 per light

example: 600w veg (24 2 gallon pots), transplant to 3 gallon pots and flower under 2k @12 per light

I suggest setting up your grow for a monthly harvest to reduce the amount of plants in veg.

 

[!!!]

It depends what "matters" means in this context. More wattage = faster growth. I noticed a BIG BIG difference in veg between 400w and 600w.

Wattage doesn't "matter" if you don't care about saving 5-7 days in veg. 1x 1000w is more than enough for veg IMO. Way more penetration than 400w, which will cause your plant to be bushier.

We can measure veg in watts given to the plant.

1000w on 24/7 vegged for 1 week = 168,000w
110w (2x 55w PL/Ls) on 24/7 vegged 1 week = 18,480w

 

[Yes4Prop215]

damn i was just wondering this...im using two 4 foot t5s to veg a 2x4 veg space...i was always wondering why my plants seem to grow slow in veg.


since im already using t5s and invested too much to switch right now..how can i compensate? slam the t5s super close to the veg plants?? maybe throw in a 150w bulb in there to brighten things up...

 

[fredcdobbs]

bigger lights = less time needed to get them to size
$$$ vs Time...

both work fine

greyskull,i veg 4 clones under fluoros for 8 weeks then put them under a 1000 watt hps, 4.5 x 4.5 foot, horizontal scrogg for 8 more wks of 12/12 to finish..if i started plants off with a hid would it shorten veg time?...runnin northern lights...can only grow 4 plants at a time..last crop finished in 10 gallon individual containers and got almost a lb out of all 4 of em..

 

[Hammerhead]

damn i was just wondering this...im using two 4 foot t5s to veg a 2x4 veg space...i was always wondering why my plants seem to grow slow in veg.


since im already using t5s and invested too much to switch right now..how can i compensate? slam the t5s super close to the veg plants?? maybe throw in a 150w bulb in there to brighten things up...

You should not be seeing slow growth from T5. Mine grow super fast. This is 1 week of growth. I love my t5
This was on 11/10

this is 11/16

 

[Incognegro]

damn i was just wondering this...im using two 4 foot t5s to veg a 2x4 veg space...i was always wondering why my plants seem to grow slow in veg.


since im already using t5s and invested too much to switch right now..how can i compensate? slam the t5s super close to the veg plants?? maybe throw in a 150w bulb in there to brighten things up...

You should not be seeing slow growth from flouros... esp T5's I'm using T8's for the time being and only reason my growth has slowed is because I raised the light a bit for clones, mom, maintenance etc.

How far away is your light? Flouros should be almost right on top on the plants...literally.. when i'm not f'ing with stuff, my flouros are usually about 2-3inches above them.

 

[Greyskull]

greyskull,i veg 4 clones under fluoros for 8 weeks then put them under a 1000 watt hps, 4.5 x 4.5 foot, horizontal scrogg for 8 more wks of 12/12 to finish..if i started plants off with a hid would it shorten veg time?...runnin northern lights...can only grow 4 plants at a time..last crop finished in 10 gallon individual containers and got almost a lb out of all 4 of em..

how big do they get growing for 2months under fluoros? what size flouros? 18/6 or 20/4 or 24/0?
im pretty sure you'll cut off a few weeks maybe even a months time, easily, especially if you vegged with your 1k.... if you vegged with 1k that like letting the sun grow your plants almost haha (not really. but close hehe)

fluoros can/will suffice just fine for veg... in fact i just bought a 2ft 8bulb + 2x 2ft 4bulb (lots of control over how much light im using & where im focusing it) to hang over a 2x4 in the gl80L. but im gonna have 4+ weeks to let plants sit under them.... i have the time....

its all about time...