A Lighting Question?

G

Guest

• Apr 10, 2008

• #1

I may end up at indoor grows for this question but I always like to hear OD growers first. Our growing is different.

I have had seedlings outdoors during the day since 4/1. According to the weather forcast, the next 7 days or more are going to be cloudy but warm, (70) with rainy periods. Thats worrysome as the 2nd and 3 weeks determine sex and I always hope for cool, sunny days. Not this year.

Here is my question.

What will bring me more growth at the end of the 7 day period. Indoors under 2-400w Metal Halides, or outdoors under the cloudy, obscured sun?

 

F

fishheadbob

Member

• Apr 10, 2008

• #2

My 2 cents. Outdoors would still give more light by a narrow margin, but if you're bringing them in at night, turn the lights on them then. I guess it depends on how heavy the cloud cover.

 

G

Guest

• Apr 10, 2008

• #3

High fisheadbob, I tend to agree about the outdoors. There is one question that keeps hitting me. I have never seen a plant outdoors stretch even under cloudy conditions. If i pull the plants away from the lights even 6" to far, ill see the seedlings stretch. That may be telling.

 

F

fishheadbob

Member

• Apr 10, 2008

• #4

If you're talking a few days, I don't think they'd stretch. Must be something about the more natural environment and natural light that keeps them from reaching too far like they might do with a hid.
But if you're talking season long, I've had them get real leggy back before I knew about fimming/shearing/topping/pinching whatever you want to call it . Also too much N; I was dumb and thought if a little is good, a lot must be better.

 

tokinjoe

Active member

• Apr 10, 2008

• #5

Sb, it's interesting, but my experience is quite different. I use femmed seeds so sex isn't a question, but typically here we can get rain/clouds for a week at a time around the first of April. I've definitely noticed my seedlings stretch as they don't get the direct sunlight and it seems the fact that it IS daylight makes them stretch a hell of a lot more. I don't like to, but I've replanted some of my seedlings deeper due to stretching/falling over. I'm wondering if the change in environment would have more to do with the sex issue. Simply an observation...

 

G

Guest

• Apr 10, 2008

• #6

Hey joe. These are femmed seeds and i want them to stay that way. While my experience with them is limited, ive yet to see a male flower on any plant. I believe the reason for that is that ive tried to make conditions favorable for female selection like the strong blue spring sun and cool temps. Im going to be missing that sun for a week or more now because of clouds and mostly clouds so Im wondering what to do, put them inside or go for the clouds.
Are you saying you think they should go under the lights? I think your right about the stretch outdoors. They look like they stretched some today because it was so cloudy..

 

tokinjoe

Active member

• Apr 10, 2008

• #7

It's hard for me to say, SB. I've started a lot of plants in the windowsill due to the temps and weather and moved them out to a mini-greenhouse in mid April and have never had a problem. I'm at 36 deg North and it works here. They aren't exposed to the temps but as far as sunlight or lack of it due to the sometimes week long early spring rains, it never affected the sex of the plant. Still all females. One week of cloud cover makes them stretch a bit but once they get the third or fourth set of leaves it seems not to be as bad even with cloudy/rainy weather that tends to linger through the week.

IMHO I would honestly be more worried about changing the lighting and environment from natural sun and natural temps to the indoor environment and back outside again. Just my .02 bro but I do think that would be more risky. These plants were started in the windowsill for 2-3 weeks and moved to my mini greenhouse and behind a shed outdoors. Same light schedule as it is all natural sunlight:

 

Last edited: Apr 10, 2008

tokinjoe

Active member

• Apr 10, 2008

• #8

All turned out to be females with no male flowers. Good luck either way my friend.

 

C

Chitownstoner

Member

• Apr 10, 2008

• #9

thank you guys some info i also needed myself

 

G

Guest

• Apr 11, 2008

• #10

Hi chitownstoner. Good to see you. Ive wondered about this question for years and finally decided to ask it. What we all really need is someone with a light meter to measure their indoor light and then go outside on a cloudy day and tell us which one produces more useful light.

Hey joe, that is my real worry, setting them in and out of natural and artificial, especially at that time when the plant is making big decisions like " am I going to be female like I'm supposed to be or something else". There outside to be left there Ive decided. Ive made some notes to pay attention to these plants and record there sexual expressions. We'll see down the road. If i have the same results as you had, we may have learned the answer to this question.
sb

 

tokinjoe

Active member

• Apr 11, 2008

• #11

Good luck bro. I really don't think you are going to have a problem at all. The sex has already been determined and I don't think the cloud cover will cause stress. Not as much as changing the environments would anyhow. Either way still got my fingers crossed for ya bro.

 

Pirate

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death !!

Veteran

• Apr 11, 2008

• #12

Whats up all ??

I have a similar question to Silverbacks except in reverse.

I grow indoors year round. Never grew outside. I want to make some room in my MOTHERS cabinet for a new strain. (Purple Kush) Not wanting to kill the mothers taking up the space...........I am placing them outside since I am starting a vegtable garden and thought this would make a nice addition to the tomatoes, peppers, and so on.

The Mommies currently see light for 18 hours a day.
800 watts total. 400 MH / 400 HPS.

These plants are well established. The 2 White Widow are 1 year and 3 months old. They have been my cloning mothers for SOG method since last April. The seeds popped January 21st 2007 The single Bluberry is just under 1 year old. The white widows are 3 feet tall and the Blueberry is almost 4 feet tall. Currently they are in 5 gallon pots, in coco. I will hand feed a few times a day until I can transplant them into the ground.

I placed them out in the shade today.

Should I expect any ill effects due to the atmospheric changes. (lighting hours, low nightime tempatures around 50*F, ect) They have never felt tempatures below 62*F.

My visible light is over 13 hours a day according to an online weather site. Will they flower due to the 4.5 hours drop in light time?

Should I take them in at night? Anything I should know to keep them alive?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Pirate

Misc. Mother plants: 3 of these are moving outside:

 

Last edited: Apr 11, 2008

M

marto

Member

• Apr 11, 2008

• #13

Silverback, you gave me an idea. Would there be any advantage to stretching seedlings out under lights and then plant them extra deep outdoors(a couple nodes deep) to max out on root structure? Doesnt solve the male/female issue but the possibilties could be interesting.

 

tokinjoe

Active member

• Apr 13, 2008

• #14

Marto, in the past I've had to do this simply because my seedlings got too stretchy mainly due to cloud cover making them stretch or not being able to put my mini-greenhouse in the best spot for sun. I've seen some post up about the stems rotting due to this but it's never happened to me. Not trying to hijack your thread SB, just my .02.