LEDs After using a LED array for the last couple years I thought it would be a good time to share what I’ve learned. Many growers who have switched to LEDs end up frustrated and ultimately go back to HID or flouros. to get the results that they expected. (This shouldn’t happen!!!) Not all arrays are the same. I’m not trying to suggest which array to buy, but instead create a basic guide to help you make an informed choice that will work for growing cannabis. 1) Unless your growing lettuce stay away from arrays using 1 watt bulbs. (Very limited light penetration thru or into the plant canopy.) (Not enough power to produce the bud density that we all look for.) This is just my opinion but as I’ve seen the results personally, look for an array that uses 3 watt bulbs with 90 deg. Lenses. These give you 2X the light penetration and are capable of producing large dense buds. 2) PAR is the light frequency’s that plants use during the different stages of growth. It’s sad to see many Mfg.’s use bulbs in their arrays that do little to nothing for our plants. (IE, yellow, orange, and white.) 3) Wattage and core light footprint needs to be planned for based on the size of your growing area. I use an array that allows my entire growing area to be within the core light footprint of the array. (IE, 3’ x 4’ floor of growing area // 4.5’ x 5.5’ core light footprint) 4) Heat is still a factor that needs to be dealt with. Although LED arrays operate at much lower temps than HID lighting the heat still needs to be exhausted from your grow area. The approx. operating temp of the array I use is 122 deg. F. That’s well above the temps we maintain for our plants to grow in, even with the use of Co2. Bleaching of the leaves Bleaching of the leaves occurs when the array is too close to the canopy. It’s an easy fix though, just raise the array up. (As a special note: The leaves that were bleached will never turn back to the green color they were originally.) After all it’s your choice! Since making the change to LEDs I’ve never had better grows than I do now and would never consider going back to HID. LED arrays are expensive so take the time to research the array you’re interested in; it could end up being the difference between an awesome grow light and the frustration of having purchased an array that gives you poor results!!!
I always love this topic. The bottom line is $$$$ , nothing eles counts. Over a few decades of growing I come out with .468 grams per watt. I'm lazy so lazy I use a computer to run the system. a chart recorder to check on them, and grow them 2300 miles away. Fly back to harvest etc and fly back, to relax. The best system is the sea of green but that takes a lot of plants. After getting busted with 97 plant my ass was saved from the feds. Sog is out of the question at this time Back to the Led , just a LED system what are the facts X grams. Y Time= How may grams per watt. with no fill in lights When sharprubberduck.com get on the market I may pick it up again, but sharprubbeduck.NET get it done for now. If you growing for fun , have fun , If you growing for $$$ its the bottom line. Ass for grass , Peace for piece, Lets face it its fun to get layed stoned. If you in to automation and lazy , relayrunner (the orgnial sp; has been proven over 25 years with out failure, to record you system Dataq has a system for $50 , Monnit has a system that you can check things and be alarmed on you I phone. Logmein,com will let you look at your cameras and you can change set up from France. If you love you plants hug the sticky bitch , breath on her and be happy. If leds were worth it Industry would use them. Once again it all comes down to $$$$$ Trust no one, loose lips sinks grows, Yes I'm alive , and going fishing while my weed grows dyslic to untie my dog, I used a English lit book cut out to store my growing money, to youall If you need to be close to your weed. get a puppy from the pound and save a puppy. It will love you back. Bud just get you high and ???
I don't sell or even own a scale. I grow for Dee and myself, usally 1 grow per year 3 plants. Currently I'm also playing with a 200 watt array which looks like it'll diff do the job for 1 or 2 plants.
As I haven'y updated this thread since the restore it's time. I'm currently testing a 200 Watt array from Advanced LED and am pleased . I have 2 ladies under the array and both are duing well after the 3rd wk of flower. Here's a couple pics.
