My 12 female COUCHLOCK plants are 4 weeks into flower, 3 ft tall, in hydro drip system. Vegged under 400w metal halide (new from Home Depot $30).Do i finish 30 days under the new MH or use my older 400w HPS that I think is getting dim, as it has 5-6 grows on it? The light intensity is my concern, gut tells me to use the new MH as it has more penetration, but HPS is usually the way to go. Any old hands want to give an opinion? I only have one fixture and ballast for 400MH, use 400HPS conversion bulb in the same fixture. Wish i could use both, maybe next grow. Buds are dank and frosty now but 30 days will make a REAL difference. Maybe alternate both bulbs in 1 week cycles? I dunno. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME TIPS. PEACE! P.S. A DREAM TOLD ME TO USE THE 400W MH.
You say your HPS is old? Most I believe would suggest HPS. Tho the MH should work. If you have a dim bulb in that HPS then I would go with the MH myself.. I would get a new HPS to tell ya the truth.
well, for the fact that MH bulbs are for finishing in the cycle, use the MH light..The HPS generally work between 4-6 grows ( 1 - (1)1/2 yrs.) use the MH
i used a 400 mh for almost the entire grow and the buds were small. once i switched to the 600 hps there were considerable positive differences
Call me crazy, buy why not just get a new HPS bulb? If you've grown that many times, chances are you going to again, and your eventually going to need it, so might as well buy it now.
what jibberish man said...it is my understanding that the general rule seems to be MH for veg and HPS for flower.
yeah, you might want to ask the experienced ones, not me. Like some one said, why not replace your hps bulb. Aren't those ideal for growing and flowering.
Can you give me a name on that $30 light, i need a cheap HID, and that sounds perfect. if not any info would be good, thanks.
lights again(well almost) I tried the 400HPS on the plants, they looked like they were in the shade. went back to the 400 metal halide, temps are up a bit but that light penetrates. I'm getting some nice triches and the smell is the BOMB. Going to have to prop the tops up as some are leaning over from weight. They are using a gallon of water a day. I will try to get a good pic this weekend. PEACE!
CFL = fine for veg, terrible for flower MH = best for veg, semi good for flower HPS = good for veg, best for flower incadescent or halogen = should NEVER be used
HPS has a higher lumen output vs medal halide. HPS also has a spectum that more closely mimics the harvast sun, with more reds and orange. Plants that flower and bloom in the fall recognize this and it will benefit you over the MH spectrum, which is more the summertime rays. I actually reccommend MH for vegging, and keep it up for flowering, while adding an HPS into the mix. The added lumens and corrected spectrum will develop some nice sized colas. If I had to choose 1 lamp for an entire grow, HPS without a second thought. Oh, and there is a use for the Edison lamps. Heating the medium under your clones or germination tray. =) The light is useless, but if you want just a small area of heat, they are your best bet.
