I know a HPS is best for flowering cycle but can a MH be used to flower? I know you can use a CFL but MH is only avaliable option in this senerio......ANY ONE?
A MH is great for flowering. Nice tight nodes too. No worries fire it up and enjoy - just replace the bulb first -B
Thanks BudBill.......but you think a new bulb is needed? Even if veg cycle bulb is still burnin bright?
Depending on the wattage, MH bulbs need changing more often (400W once a year or so). Save the old bulb for veg and the new one for flowering. Its tough to tell when the light diminishes as they are still "looking" bright
As you know the MH does the spring/summer spectrum and the HPS the fall one. They both produce what is needed to carry through to a great harvest. Chlorophyll activity is produced with both. MH is more full spectrum and does a great job at both. Correct me if I am wrong but the tweaked HPS bulbs are tweaked towards the MH spectrum (cannot remember offhand). The MH especially the 1k watter produces super tight nodes BUT has a higher leaf per calyx ratio (from what I have seen). But HPS is what most use for flowering now but that shouldn't stop one from using a MH or (the best is) using both. We are trying to imitate the sun which has abundance of both. Keep in mind we are not talking lumens and bang per buck just would MH work.
I was reading something today that says blue light is actually better for all around plant growth (including the flowering stage). The author of the article showed a graph that showed both chlorophyll a and b to be more active in the blue ranges (although differing blue ranges). Also carotenoids (important for flavour, aroma and general photosynthesis) are not active at all in the red spectrum. If you're interested in reading the full article you can do so here: http://www.drskunk.com/skunkskool/spectrum-facility-f10-skunk-growing-light-intensity-spectrum-breeding-environment-t415.html#entry4068 I found it a very good read, and it in fact prompted me to do a lot more study on the subject. I can find no holes in the argument, maybe one of the esteemed members here will be able to?
You sound unsure... Can you tell me if these were clones that you grew out, both the same clones under the differing light sources? If they were seed plants, or even different strains it would be impossible to make a comparison.
