Reduce Power Bills

[rippa]

I came across this article at this web site.. I would appreciate some feedback before i go ahead and buy a timer. Thanks..

 

http://www.intelli-cycle.com/information.php

 

 

Growing with an 18 hour Day/Night Cycle

The Theory

The theory behind the 18 hour Day/Night cycle is that during a normal 24 hour light cycle plants will usually acheive high growth rates peaking at 100% capacity during the first 50 - 60% of the day. The growth rates will then diminish rapidly and the last 20 - 30% of the day acheives minimal growth. So by reducing the length of the day we are triggering an increased growth mode where the growth rates are at their peak for the majority of the day. This effectively achieves a very fast growth cycle with full yield potential.

 

NOTE: To achieve these incredible growth rates it is important to provide maximum light intensities and CO2 enriched conditions. The recommended lighting is 600W per square metre.

 

The Cycles

Vegetative Cycle - Lights ON 14 hours

Lights OFF 4 hours

Flowering Cycle - Lights ON 6 hours

Lights OFF 12 hours

 

 

The Benefits

The growth acheived during an 18 hour cycle can be the equivalent to that acheived during a 24 hour cycle. So by running 18 hour cycles the same growth and yield can be acheived in 75% of the time.

 

Reduced day lengths also mean reduced power consumption. Grow more and use less power. Who can argue with that?

 

For example, an average crop grown from seed using a 24 hour day/night cycle will have a 4 weeks grow cycle and an 8 weeks flower cycle. This equates to 28 days @ 18 hours a day and 56 days @ 12 hours a day = 1176 hours of light over 12 weeks.

 

An accellerated crop using an 18 hour day/night cycle will achieve the same yields using a 3 week grow cycle and a 6 week flower cycle. This equates to 21 days @ 14 hours a day and 42 days @ 6 hours a day = 546 hours of light over 9 weeks resulting in a 40% reduction in power consumption and a 25% reduction in crop time.

[Al B. Fuct]

Several ppl have played around with odd light cycles for cannabis- haven't heard too much about it in the last few years. The general result from short-day flowering cycles is more harvests per year but lower bud weight and density per yield, sorta evening things out. I'd prefer fewer harvests of better quality, myself.

 

Invest in a plain ol' $18 timer from Bunnings, run 12/12 for flowering and 18/6 or 24/0 for veg & clones.

[420Downunder]

I've never heard or read anyone flowering under a 6 hour on 12 off scheme ever, of course it doesn't mean it's not possible of course but I'll let a few others be test subjects

[Shithappens]

Still takes X amount of time during the day/night for the plant to build the buds

 

There was a grow diary i ran across somewhere but results wher some what inconclusive (He never did a test harvest on normal hours)

[Frazz]

Its a crazy theory! ... stuff saving power! ...

 

A Quote taken from Robert Connell Clarke in Marijuana Botany ...

Drug Cannabis production requires 10 hours of light for adequate THC production (Valle et al. 1978). In a greenhouse, supplemental lighting need be used only to extend daylength, while the sun supplies the energy needed for growth and THC biosynthesis. It is not known why at least 10 hours (and preferably 12 or 13 hours) of light are needed for high THC production. This is not dependent on accumulated solar energy since light responses can be activated and THC production increased with only a 40-watt bulb.

 

 

So maybe if you like ditchweed well use your 6 hrs light by all means

 

[pipeman]

sounds like bullshit to me.

 

For starters, I assume the author could link you to grow diaries which prove this method in a side by side comparison? If not I wouldn't put a lot of weight on this theory.

 

Also, he claims that yield will increase while power consumption decreases. Less light for more buds? I don't think so. And anyone that has a close examination of his last too paragraphs should see the half baked logic that this guy is working with. Very dodgy.

[sunnycoaststoner]

more lights more buds, i have always thought. i use 600 hps for veg 18/6 and have just added another 600w with the original 600w for flower on 12/12 and they going off. buds everywhere awsome, stick to what i know i think.

[Stoney]

meh

 

wont be something i'll be trying 18/6 and 12/12 for my ladies

 

cheerz