bombudburner
Active Member
I agree with the MH HPS combo being best. I also think it's impossible to compare MH to HPS because every bulb is different. You really have to compare specific bulbs with each other. Here are the charts for the Eye Blue MH, then the Hortilux super hps, then the ushio opti red. Keep in mind that the red spectrum the plants need most is around 660 nm. If these charts are accurate and useful, then the eye blue is twice as strong in this range. My opinion only, but the eye blue has the most balanced spectrum of any MH or HPS i've seen.Photosynthesis relies principally on a large amount of energy absorbed from the high end of the visible light spectrum. In this respect, it is the most important portion of the light spectrum to plant life The red-light-wavelength energy absorbed by the plant cells combines with carbon dioxide and water to manufacture simple plants sugars in mesophyll cells that are embedded near the top and bottom surface layers of leaves and, in a few plants, the green stalks or stems as well. The more red light energy applied to the chloroplast cells the more intensely and quickly those cells carry out photosynthesis.
So in a way, more red does = more bud. As long as your light penetration is there too. It goes without saying you need bright light.
So of course light penetration is important. But spectrum easily just as important. I have gone a whole cycle on MH before. The buds midway thru the canopy were more airy and yield was less for sure. There's not a single person who can convince me MH is better for flower and if that was true so many of us would allready be doing it. The red spectrum the sun emits in late summer months is what you should be trying to produce.. like I said before tho, if you can add blue spectrum light as well, youre certainly better off.. but most will not.
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