Grow Seed with HPS?

S

SkunkNYC

Member
Hey!

This is probably a really noob question but is it possible to grow my plants straight from germination using a HPS? I really cant afford more lights, so if this is possible what should i do?

Thanks :joint:
 
RemeberMe

RemeberMe

Active Member
Shouldn't be a problem. You may notice a little more strenching than regular or MH lights but not that much. I grew 1 sativa plant with a 200 watt hps and Co2 and got 8 oz (bent it over to give all its buds good light). What wattage is yours?
 
HDB

HDB

Member
Indeed. In fact, I just did my whole deal from get go this time, germinated, stuck in root plug and into hydro setup and under 600 watt hps on 75% (450 watts). Light is in a cooltube and I kept it about 2 feet above the tops of the tubs. I also use Lucas formula GH nutes, full flower nutes from the start, not one problem, no nute burn, no stunting, no nothing. They came up so fast, I couldn't believe it. They are 3 weeks old today, and 2 days ago I snipped above 2nd node to get quad tops. They were on their 6 node at the time. Im going to let them veg another week or more then turn light up to full 600 watts and hit timer. Can't wait. Usually I germinate, into plugs and under a T-5 flouro for a week or more, then into hydro setup and under 300 watts hps (600 on 50%). They wouldn't even be close to where they are now. Full nutes, right under the big lights from now on for me baby.
 
S

SkunkNYC

Member
HDB said:
Indeed. In fact, I just did my whole deal from get go this time, germinated, stuck in root plug and into hydro setup and under 600 watt hps on 75% (450 watts). Light is in a cooltube and I kept it about 2 feet above the tops of the tubs. I also use Lucas formula GH nutes, full flower nutes from the start, not one problem, no nute burn, no stunting, no nothing. They came up so fast, I couldn't believe it. They are 3 weeks old today, and 2 days ago I snipped above 2nd node to get quad tops. They were on their 6 node at the time. Im going to let them veg another week or more then turn light up to full 600 watts and hit timer. Can't wait. Usually I germinate, into plugs and under a T-5 flouro for a week or more, then into hydro setup and under 300 watts hps (600 on 50%). They wouldn't even be close to where they are now. Full nutes, right under the big lights from now on for me baby.
Click to expand...
How do you dim your light down?
 
HDB

HDB

Member
I have a quantum 600 watt digital ballast with dimmer, 50, 75, 100% settings. I also use the better hps bulb with more blue in it for better veg, less stretch.
 
Brick Top

Brick Top

New Member
Yes you can use a HPS bulb only and while you said you do not want to spend the money on another light, another option to going all HPS is to purchase a MH conversion bulb that you can use with your current ballast. They are not as efficient as a true MH bulb but unless you would veg to a very tall height it could still be a better option than going all HPS from seedling to harvest.
 
RemeberMe

RemeberMe

Active Member
I like the dimmable ballasts more than the conversion ones. Plus the hps really does a good enough job of vegging anyway. I have a lumitek 1100 - 600 watt and love it. I leave it on the 750 setting because the light is about the same and it runs much cooler so I can put the tops much closer than the 1000 or 1100 settings.
 
Brick Top

Brick Top

New Member
RemeberMe said:
I like the dimmable ballasts more than the conversion ones. Plus the hps really does a good enough job of vegging anyway. I have a lumitek 1100 - 600 watt and love it. I leave it on the 750 setting because the light is about the same and it runs much cooler so I can put the tops much closer than the 1000 or 1100 settings.
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HPS will of course work for vegging, especially considering some of the Kelvin ranges HPS bulbs offered today have, but it is undeniable that plants in a vegetative growth stage want and prefer more bluish light and grow better and will have tighter nodal spacing when grown under more blue light than HPS bulbs provide so that makes a MH a better option in the end. It is not the only option, but it is the better of the two options.
 
RemeberMe

RemeberMe

Active Member
Brick Top said:
HPS will of course work for vegging, especially considering some of the Kelvin ranges HPS bulbs offered today have, but it is undeniable that plants in a vegetative growth stage want and prefer more bluish light and grow better and will have tighter nodal spacing when grown under more blue light than HPS bulbs provide so that makes a MH a better option in the end. It is not the only option, but it is the better of the two options.
Click to expand...
Nodes shmodes. Only buds matter and nothing grows them like an HPS.
 
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