do you have to have a dark period?

sittinherebored

Well-Known Member
im sure im gonna get different answers to this but is it important to have a nightime? some people say 18/6 but some say 24/0
 

Resident Kush

Well-Known Member
Well, you don't need a dark period if you don't want bud...
ya ok buddy, very helpful !


You dont need a dark period, but resin is produced at night, so having an elongated dark period, produces abundant resin, and matures calyxes
24 - 72 hours, I would say closer to 24 - 48
 

Anotheroldephart

Well-Known Member
ya ok buddy, very helpful !


You dont need a dark period, but resin is produced at night, so having an elongated dark period, produces abundant resin, and matures calyxes
24 - 72 hours, I would say closer to 24 - 48
That's true towardfs the end, not beginning..Just teasin' dude! Some strains recommend a longer dark just before harvest.Can be done f not progressive grow.
 

nunof

Well-Known Member
Lets break down why plants have to have light and dark and you will understand a little better. I wish people would be a little more helpful, but since they won't I will.

First, during the day, a plant is using most of its resources to capture energy from the sun and convert it into food to eat. Now the plant is spending time getting food from all the different platters on the counter (sunlight), and while its doing this, its eating some of that food (using the energy to grow). Now the plant only has so many hands....it can grab food and eat at the same time....but not quite as well as if it was just eating off of its plate. At night, the food platters (light) go away, and the plant is left to spend all its time eating what is on its plate. The plant can now use all its hands (resources) to eat the food (grow big and tall)

There is some debate as to whether or not a 24/0 is better during veg than an 18/6 light schedule. Me personally, I think that 18/6 is just fine for most of your girls....although some strains do better with more light. If you feel the need to extend your light hours....split the difference and go with a 21/3 schedule, as it will give you a good feeling inside that you aren't over or under doing the dark period.

Remember, this is only for the veg cycle, once you induce flowering you will want to go with a 12/12 schedule (some say a sativa does better with 10/14 because of the nature of where they grow). Resin and buds are produced during flowering, so you will need long periods of dark....do not give the plant more than 14 hours of darkness every night....it will slow the growth down immensely. When inducing flowering is the only time to give it a longer that 14 hour dark period, you should do this for 24-48 hours the first day or two of flowering, this will tell the plant that it is definately time to flower and can shorten the time before pre-flowers show by a couple of days if done right. Once that initial 24-48 hours of darkness are up, start a 12/12 cycle (or your own version of a flowering cycle depending on preference).
 

stealth6

Active Member
im sure im gonna get different answers to this but is it important to have a nightime? some people say 18/6 but some say 24/0
im sure you can grow under 24 hour sunlight for a while and be alright. but a dark period is vital to the plants health in the long run. night time is when plants go to bathroom :lol:
 

nunof

Well-Known Member
If you put it 12/12 from seed you will have less of a yield, this light schedule will induce flowering early, but with no veg time you will not be giving the plant its full potential....or even half its potential. Going 10/14 in the last week will help it produce more resin in any grow, and won't hurt the plant......and some people will even stake their grow on the "fact" that if you give a 24-48 hour dark period on the last few days of the grow (then immediately chop) that it will increase resin production. I'm not 100% sure on that one and haven't tried it yet....to me it will require a little more research before I change from my tried and true methodology.
 

superhighme

Well-Known Member
if you do 12/12 from seed your plants will be much smaller. Much smaller plants = Much smaller crop. it cam be done, but i dont think anyone would be happy with the outcome. I know I wouldn't. if you want to grow you should do it the right way and do a 24/0 or 18/6 veg state and a 12/12 flowering state.

personally I let mine veg until all the plants are at least a foot tall (I have a lot of height to work with. Then I switch over to flowering since they can double or triple in size during flowering.
 

SkunkyMonkey!

Active Member
iv read up alot on 12/12 from seed and it seems perfect for my small amount of space im a pc grower you see but if i cud increase resin production in my crop ill be more then happy because the extra potency will make up for a smaller crop.
if i cud grow bigger I WOULD belive me! but i cant unfortunatly...
 
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