Under-canopy light on the cheap.

PhilGrows

Member
I don't know if it will make a difference but it's 100 watts, made my hoeky phone lux meter show 1300 lux in places that used to be 400 lux and could be arranged way better with a fresh grow but I was 2 weeks into flower when I thought to look so wrapping it around the bottom was a chore. I think next fresh grow I will stake it somehow or wrap it through the tent pole sides. It only cost me $34 on Amazon.
SURNIE 50ft LED Rope Lights Outdoor Waterproof
 

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Moflow

Well-Known Member
I use side lighting.
It's better than lighting from underneath.
When I looked up the Surnie light it says 10 Watt? Is it 10w or 100 Watt?
1300 - 400 lumens, let's say 1000 lumens.
That's only ~ 23 umols/s. You'd need 10x that to veg with.

Here's a Company that sells under canopy lighting.
Hmmmm......... 60%.? They also
We've developed a solution that will
increase your premium flower weight up to 60%


Under canopy lighting?
Been there, done that, wore the T shirt
20200531_003456.jpg
Lol
 

Budzbuddha

Well-Known Member
Another “ suggestion “ …. For future plants …. Train that canopy.

If you trained them prior to flower ( LST , etc. ) you would have help eleviate some strain specific issues like height / larfy growth.
You can always shape / structure them to open up the mid areas for flower growth.

Plants look good BTW
GL
 

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
I bend my plants over. Im in an unfriendly state, and plant counts can matter. So I grow LESS, but large plants, in large containers. 20 gallons Promix BX per plant, and 1-2 plants under a 1000w-1150w-DE HID.

Say Im growing from seed, which most probably do. One may have to start bending the plant early on, depending on the strain. Some strains develop STIFF Stems, and are all but impossible to bend, so they have to be started early on, before the stem, has become stiff, and will Snap, like a pencil.
And, unless Im trying to slow what now will be Horizontal Growth vs not bending the plant over, and getting Vertical Growth. growth down, I dont mess with the growing tip. Also, all side branches are trained to grow Vertically. One may have to physically bring the first sets of branches around the main stalk, but after the plant adapts, all secondary branches, will grow towards the light, in the correct manner/orientation. I bend the plant, from about 20% down and train it to grow like a vine, and one will have to keep manipulating it, for a good while, but will eventually not need to be messed with.
I also keep a breeze on them 24/7, to strengthen the stalks.
I also start my seedkling in hwat many may consider overkill, but, I dont. I figure if I lived at the Equator, and 3000 meters, my plants would get blased with both hardcore intense sun, and also extremely high UVA/B levels.
I start all me seeds under a 1000w Hortilux HPS, a 1000w Hortilux Blue, or an 1150w Gavita DE HPS. The 1000w HPS is at 24 inches. Hortilux Blue is at 20 Inches. And the 1150w Gavita is at 42 inches, and as soon as they grow to within 36 inches, I raise them back to 42 inches. I dont think Ive seen the strain that can survive the IR of an 1150w DE Gavita, closer than 36 inches. If temps are right, I can get plants as close as 12 inches of the 1000w HPS and Blue. And that, is some powerful umol, regardless of source. A 1000w HID, is blinding at 12-18 inches.
But, Ive started seeds with a 1000w HID, since they came out with HID for sale, in 77-78. Thats what we had, and what we used, and I will continue to do so. Unless they show stress, Ill never be convinced 1000w HID, is to much light for seeds. The sun, is more powerful than any grow light, and Ive never had a problem, in 47 years.
I usually start seeds in either 18oz SOLO Cups, but really like the 32oz ULINE Deli Containers, though I put aluminum foil around them, as they are clear. And at 32oz, it gives them a heck of a root-ball. I grow them in the Deli containers, until sexed, and then transplant into 5 gallon grow bags.Depending on the strain, they will be vegged up to 60 days, under the same lights, usually 24/7, but sometimes 20/4. And even at 24/7, I turn the lights out 4 hours every 3 days, just to rest ballasts. And Dark, most likely has benefits.
I use Promix BX as my medium.
After Veg, I use 20 Gallon Plastic Totes. I set the plant down in the container, and medium, and cut the bag off of the plant, so there is virtually No Stress to the plant. A make sure the plant is happy in its place, and veg it another 3-7 days. enough to see that its using water, and noticeable growth, and then I will flip it. We have a couple strains that will completely fil the 20 gallons with roots when done.

If its an Indica, that doesnt stretch, Imay/probably wont bend around on it, as Ive found many Indica/Hashplant types, dont like to be messed with, and will shock them. They also wont go in big containers, as unless vegged super long, they will never fill the 20 gallons of soil. They usually wont get more than 5-10 gallons of soil. But, I mainly look for strains that stretch like crazy, and have strong side branching. We have an old 2010 Barneys Farm G13 x Haze, that stretches 5x-6x its size when flipped, and will completely be root bound in a 20 gallon container, when grown the way I explained earlier. It gets huge. Last time, I got 24oz from one plant x 1000w Hortilux HPS, and the only thing I did really, was bend it over. This also allows EVERY BRANCH, to get the exact same light intensity, as the next branch. And all the lower branches that many trim off?? Those have the potential to have some of the largest colas on the plant, if given strong light, and the plant has the right genetics. There aint no powerful light at the top, and 3 feet down, Much Weaker light, on the mid/lower branches. Now, every branch from top to bottom, gets blasted. Every branch, is a Main. And I dont top, as I rely on the stretch, and the growing tip for more size, and more secondary branching, during the stretch. All it is, is low stress training, is extremely effective, and simple to do. And is the best way to get strong light, to every branch.
Topping CAN, be very effective, BUT if one is tying for the fastest turnover, one has to let the toppedplant recover, and start growing again. Basically it increases veg time, but can increase yield. Bt does it produce more, on a long term basis? Because not topping, gives a faster turn around. I believe, not topping, has the edge for fast production, and turnaround. Ultimately, a trained, scientifically thought out topping program, will increase yield, but at the price of turnaround.
 

medidedicated

Well-Known Member
I grew a whole plant with side lighting strip lights. The ufo was dimmed all the way, just extra support. I used strip lights to side light my 2x2 and watched what would be nothing plump up to nice buds.

2x2 is hard to grow in IMO especially scrog generally with large growing plants. If you can flip a small clone you know sure you can make a all in one harvest with no separation.

Im on my first clone run and could use some inner lighting in my 2x2’s. My strain grows 3x the size at flip. I dont need it in my 2.5x5 I think that was the easiest to setup canopy. Minimal larf of which we speak.

Still good light penetration to it due to being widened out scrog with 6” net.
 

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medidedicated

Well-Known Member
Im trying to see if I can get no nanners/seeds this round, eliminate all causes. I only use it for rosin but I would prune if I could or flip smaller clones or both. Going to test one plant next round.

Otherwise I have lots of unwanted growth but if I put up side lighting it would add significant yield. The mother from seed yielded 7oz but had overspilling light from the light beside the light over the plant. It yielded chunky larf no need to separate.

So it works but yea not from underneath. That would be hard on the leaves trying to face the direction of light. The buds will grow towards it too idk about from underneath.
 

TheWholeTruth

Well-Known Member
I grew a whole plant with side lighting strip lights. The ufo was dimmed all the way, just extra support. I used strip lights to side light my 2x2 and watched what would be nothing plump up to nice buds.

2x2 is hard to grow in IMO especially scrog generally with large growing plants. If you can flip a small clone you know sure you can make a all in one harvest with no separation.

Im on my first clone run and could use some inner lighting in my 2x2’s. My strain grows 3x the size at flip. I dont need it in my 2.5x5 I think that was the easiest to setup canopy. Minimal larf of which we speak.

Still good light penetration to it due to being widened out scrog with 6” net.
That looks cool what you managed to do in those small spaces, looks neet inside. What have you actualy made them in please. From the outside it almost looks like some sort of airoplane hatch that youve opened from the picture
 

medidedicated

Well-Known Member
That looks cool what you managed to do in those small spaces, looks neet inside. What have you actualy made them in please. From the outside it almost looks like some sort of airoplane hatch that youve opened from the picture
Its two nightstands stacked together, hollowed out with a back and front which has the two access panels meant for boats.

Thanks alot, it was a fun project. Heres a link to journal the very first post has outside pics and etc.

 

PhilGrows

Member
It's gotta be close to 100w it has a diode every 3/4" and is 50 feet long so around 70 diodes.

Given it was only $34 I feel like it's a fun experiment just to try, even though realistically I'm looking at less then 1% gains on yeald. It is also nice since it's hanging out of my tent some and provides a walk in light for the room that is fully dark when the tent is closed.

I was just watching some Dr. Bugbee on MIGROs YT channel and he says the top and bottom of leaves absorb light at the same efficiency. He mentioned under canopy lights. His take was "in some circumstances it's worth it".
 

tstick

Well-Known Member
This almost seems like a universal thing to try.... I thought the same thing about adding extra lights to the sides and the under canopy....."couldn't hurt"....right? And, every time I tried it, it didn't hurt anything. In fact, it made it easier to see the plants. But, even with extra light, many plants just seem to have a way of growing to where they don't expend a lot of their energy trying to build buds on the lower sections. So, while it never hurt anything to do it, the payoff was more in the way of being able to see better and not so much in the way of yield or quality.

On the other hand, I have seen some growers who really went full-bore with strong side lighting and they DID get more dense bud development on the lower sections.

LOL! I remember one time, I was thinking about wrapping a string of clear Christmas mini bulbs all around the buds....:) I dunno....Growing is fun and experimenting and learning by doing are all legit things.

Good luck and Happy growing!
 

PhilGrows

Member
Ya the visibility difference is phenomenal when watering. I really think once I redo the tent and wrap them around the polls they will be worth something for growth. Really the cheapness and quality of the lights made me want to try it more then anything.
 

nxsov180db

Well-Known Member
They recommend the under canopy lights be around 500ppfd, and start are 2.5 weeks into bloom. I've been using them for a few months now but im closer to 350-400ppfd.
 

TheWholeTruth

Well-Known Member
Its two nightstands stacked together, hollowed out with a back and front which has the two access panels meant for boats.

Thanks alot, it was a fun project. Heres a link to journal the very first post has outside pics and etc.

Thats very inventive. Well done, nice well thought out well made little spots. Ah thats boat access panels , yeah they realy cought my eye with your build made it look very smart and perfect for the space. Very cool, hopefully they do very well in contrubuting towards keeping you well medicated with very fine finished goods for many many years.
Il take a look at the thread thank you for the link. It amazes me how some of the grow comunity manage growing and making build in a very small space. Some of our growers build such beautifull looking mini rooms. I love the creativity you can see with some of these small builds.
 

medidedicated

Well-Known Member
Thats very inventive. Well done, nice well thought out well made little spots. Ah thats boat access panels , yeah they realy cought my eye with your build made it look very smart and perfect for the space. Very cool, hopefully they do very well in contrubuting towards keeping you well medicated with very fine finished goods for many many years.
Il take a look at the thread thank you for the link. It amazes me how some of the grow comunity manage growing and making build in a very small space. Some of our growers build such beautifull looking mini rooms. I love the creativity you can see with some of these small builds.
Very kind words, thank you very much!!
 
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