Should I move my plants into the shade to protect against heat?

OlSpazzy

Member
I've been reading grow books and they seem to agree that temps above 85ºF are fairly useless for cannabis as it causes photosynthesis to slow almost to a halt—above 90ºF stops it completely. Previously I was worried that my plants weren't getting enough direct sunlight (about 6 hours per day in Northern California) but now it seems this is less important than keeping the temperature close to 75ºF. Is it correct that proper temperature is more important than extra direct sunlight (which they might not even be using because they're too hot)?

Assuming that's the case, I have a large tree (actually a few of them) in my back yard that can provide filtered light and shade if I move my plants under/near them. Should I do it, or keep giving them lots of hot sun? My combo meter says the light in the shade is between 500-1000 lux, sometimes hitting 2000 if a bit of direct light slips through. Is 500-1000 lux an acceptable range?

I measured my temps yesterday during direct afternoon sunlight and I had readings nearing and exceeding 100ºF around the canopy. I'm growing a mix of 9 hybrids and indicas (NL, NL#5, Pineapple Trainwreck, SFV OG NL, White Widow), in 10gal rope tubs (with drain holes) in potting soil+perlite. I'm also growing 7 autoflowers in Hempy Buckets (Encore Plastics 5-Gallon Gray Pro Logo Pail from Lowe's) with 100% perlite. The Pro Pail buckets seem to get hot on the outside pretty easily, which has me worried about root temps, too. What should I do about that, if anything?

Are there other options I should consider to control outdoor temps instead of just shading them?
 

shynee mac

Well-Known Member
plants need and love the sun they might not grow as fast in the northern cali 100 degree weather but they love the sun and they will be fine. depending on which specific strain u have in 6 hrs of direct sun light,it could be a good idea to keep them there,but that would be an experiance youll have to try and decide on ur own. i like more resin,thc packet bud, so im going with 6-8 hours of direct on a few of my plants also.full sunlight will get u a larger yeild also, so its all up to what ur expecting outta ur crop.


this plant gets about 8 hours of direct sun and its been planted for 5 weeks now growing good. but the pic is a week & a 1/2 oldIMG_1260.jpg
 

jman23

Active Member
is there anyway you could just move them during the day or put up a blind to shade them a lil during the hottest part of the day 6 hours of sun isnt much mine are getting about 13 hours of direct sun a day heres a pick its about 2 week old pic havnt checkd them since but in not worried
 

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OlSpazzy

Member
Let me ask it this way to anyone with experience on this issue: would cannabis grow better and produce better buds if it is:

A) Kept in a spot that gets 6 hours of direct sunlight, 9 hours of filtered sunlight, 9 hours of dark, and is well above 90ºF at canopy-level for 6-7 hours a day (mostly during direct sunlight)
or
B) Kept in a spot that gets 15 hours of filtered sunlight at roughly 900lux on average and canopy temps of 80ºF and below
 

I dont know

Well-Known Member
D) None of the above

Stop worrying and just give all the damn sun they can get!!! Its not going to hurt anything..

LOOk at this way free light right? Well use it dont complain about it!
Dont mean to sound like a dick or anything but I think you are worrying too much about it.
 
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