a question about my Lumateck Digital balassts

[brett silva]

hello and thank you for opening my thread.

Ok, so here's my deal. I am running 2 1000 watt HPS to 2 Lumateck 240 volts.

I am at the end of my very first grow. When I vegged I had my lights all the up to the ceiling and ran the ballasts at 50% lumens. Then, when i switched to 12/12 I upped them to 75% lumens. I only have 2 weeks till harvest, would it be ok to pump the ballasts to 100% lumens? I heard somewhere that you never want to turn them up to 100%.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thank you very much in advance

 

[roka]

It really depends on a couple of things. 1) How far away are your plants (buds) from the light and 2) How are your plants looking. You got any pics?

I run the same ballasts. I have 2 rows of 3 ... 6 total. My canopy is approx 11' x 12'. I run the four outside ones at full 100% and then I run the two inside ones at 75%. Reason is... at full 100% the middle of off my canopy would yellow out under the center two lights. Dimming them to 75% has made a huge dif.

My plants canopy is approx 24 to 28 inches from the bottom of the glass.

Below is a chart I found on another thread... good info.

Hope this helps bro.

Cheers

 

[brett silva]

Hey Roka, thank you VERY much for your reply and 411.

Well, the girls are doing well. And from what im hearing, quite well for my very first grow. The pic link is below.

Id say that the top of the buds are about 18-21" from my 2 hoods.



LMK what you think. I just switched them 100% today. I only have 14 days left till harvest. So Im keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[roka]

Hmm... that might be a little close for 1000's at 100%.
But for the last two weeks, it may not matter. Keep an eye on the closer buds, cuz they can get burnt and crispy... basically becoming unusable. I have burned a few in my day with them being too close. Now I supercrop, which helps keep the canopy at an even height and the proper distance from the relflectors. What kinda strain u growing?

 

[brett silva]

Hmm... that might be a little close for 1000's at 100%.
But for the last two weeks, it may not matter. Keep an eye on the closer buds, cuz they can get burnt and crispy... basically becoming unusable. I have burned a few in my day with them being too close. Now I supercrop, which helps keep the canopy at an even height and the proper distance from the relflectors. What kinda strain u growing?

Hey Roka, I just did a search on Supercropping. This is kinda similar to topping correct? I topped my girls a few weeks back. Is it possible to to top AND supercrop?

also, i have never seen a burnt bud looks like before so i will indeed keep an eye on them.

the strain im using is Shiva Skunk #1. From what i understand it is a very forgiving strain. Very good for a first timer, however VERY VERY VERY smelly!!!

 

[roka]

Supercropping is basically pinching and bending the branches to make it's canopy spread out. This makes better use of the lumens per square foot (or inch). It is similar to LST Low Stress Training but is more agressive. It takes a little practice so you don't break the branches completely off. The plant stem does get a little damaged but the plant heals itself and all the buds on the bent branch turn upward toward the light. They all want to "go to the light". hehe Do a search for subcool and canopy management. He has a good thread about topping and LST.

You can also top them earlier on... maybe like half way thru the veg cycle. This will help create a crown effect producing multiple colas. The dry better this way... less chance of mold. Do a search for subcool and canopy management. He (subcool) has a good thread about topping and LST.

A burnt bud will look like the top 1/4 to 1/3 of the bud is brown and crispy. It's very easy to see. Like a dried out, crispy plant that didnt get watered and died. If this happens, just cut that part off when you harvest. The rest of the bud is still good.

 

[brett silva]

AWESOME! This is great Roka! Thank you very much.
Oh, and also by upping my ballasts to 100 %, it increased the temp in my room by 7 degrees. And not is actually a little uncomfortable when Im under the lights now. I think I may go back to 75%

 

[roka]

Yah.. if anything, you want the temps to start going down toward the end of flower... just like nature. In the fall the temps get colder and the humidity gets lower. The lower the humidity the more that the flowers try to protect themselves and produce more resin... the good stuff.

Cheers

 

[brett silva]

oh sh** like nature! That makes sense Roka. Ok, i just lowered them back. Thank you very very for all of your assistance and 411 !!!!