What light is best for vegetative growth?
In any garden, the vegetative stage is the foundation for a successful fruiting or flowering stage. After all, it is during the vegetative stage that the majority of the root mass is created and the plant’s structure (the spacing between branches and overall stem strength) is established.
It is also during this stage that many growers use manipulation techniques to shape plants to increase yields. But aside from the various plant manipulation techniques used by growers, there is one other vital component that prepares a vegetative plant for a strong finish: the artificial light source.
A garden’s artificial light is the sole energy source for all plant growth. It should come as no surprise that indoor growers spend a lot of time and money perfecting their garden’s lighting.
The vegetative stage is crucial for the growth of marijuana because it determines how healthy and robust it will be once it enters the flowering stage. This is the point when the structural integrity is built, which is why it is important to provide an external environment that will be conducive for its growth. While there are several requirements, one of the most important would be the best light for vegetative growth.
It is important to have the right lighting because it is considered as the driving force for the growth of cannabis. Without the right light, it won’t make it to the next stage. With the abundance of the options that are available, which one should you choose? Be a responsible buyer and read the rest of this guide and we will help you make the right decision.
Best Light for Vegetative Stage – HID
#1 ECO FARM 400 Watts HPS MH Digital Dimmable Grow Light System
- With the introduction of newer technologies on the market, HID Grow lights is not as preferred as it was before. Nonetheless, as it will be discussed later on, it is still a great choice when it comes to the vegetative stage. This product, to be specific, is great because it already comes as a complete kit. Aside from the light bulb, it is already inclusive of a reflector and ratchet clip hanger rope, among others.
- As expected, the highlight would be the bulbs that are included in the package. There are two bulbs – 1 Super HPS 2000K bulb and 1 MH 6000K bulb. Both of the bulbs have 400 watts. They have optimized spectrum that can help improve the vegetative growth of the plant. One thing that is nice, however, is the fact that it is suitable even for the other stages of the growth of cannabis.
- Eco Farm Grow Light Air-Cooled Reflector that Body steel, with white powder coating. Four sides highest quality reflective specular aluminum . This also makes it easy to direct the light to the plant, which is an important aspect of using HID during the vegetative stage.
- 400W Digital Dimmable Electronic Ballast: Support 120V/240V Input; Dimmable Options: 50%, 75%, 100%; 8 Feet heavy-duty power cord included; Stable power output ensure flicker free light
Best Veg LED Grow Light
Eco Farm led full spectrum dimmable grow light. Using 125 PCS Epistar & Bridgelux chips to make well-balanced light and illumination. Professional true 12 bands full spectrum LED grow light is ideal for the perfect and well-sustained growth of your marijuana/cannabis plants. Easy to use and designed especially for grow tents and smaller scale home growing, this low-power grow light system draws just 300W, saving power consumption, it has the best UV and infrared The 12-band full spectrum promotes faster and better plant growth, and the LEDs are designed with no removal and are easy to maintain.
Best CFL Grow Light
#3 Apollo Horticulture 60-watt CFL Grow Light Bulb Review
This CFL grow light has a length of 9.25 inches and a diameter of three inches. As for the color temperature, it has 6500k cool white light, which is exactly the reason why this is a great choice for the vegetative stage of the marijuana.
It fits in the standard E26 socket, which means that there is no need for the installation of a new screw or base to use the light bulb.
The customer service that is offered by the company is also top-notch. For your peace of mind, you will have 30 days to try the product without any risk. Within such a period, if you are unhappy in any way, just let the manufacturer know and they will issue an unconditional refund.
Best Light to Use for Growing Weed – T5 Fluorescent
If you have a large grow room and if you prefer T5 fluorescents over those that have been mentioned above, this is one option that must be on your list. It consists of four T5 fluorescent tubes with 6400k, which is also the reason why this is a great choice for the vegetative phase of marijuana.
The four fluorescent tubes are housed in a steel housing that is powder-coated, providing it with the ability to resist external elements that could speed up wear and tear. It is also good in terms of versatility since there are three ways by which you can install it – hanging, vertically, and horizontally.
Based on the details from the manufacturer, the expected lifespan is 20,000 hours.
What is the Vegetative Stage?
It is critical to have an understanding of the vegetative stage of marijuana to know how important it is to have the right light for the correct external environment.
The vegetative stage is the point in the life of the plant after germination and before flowering. This is when the plant grows its foliage and its root structure. This is also when it becomes stronger, which is in preparation for the flowering phase.
The length of the vegetative stage can depend on the cannabis that you are growing. It could be one week. It could be six months. In most cases, however, especially if the marijuana is grown indoors, it will last for four to eight weeks. It is important that you stay patient throughout and make sure to provide tender loving care to ensure the healthy growth of the plant.
Light Requirements of Marijuana During the Vegetative Stage
More light is equal to more growth – this is perhaps the most important thing that you have to remember when it comes to the lighting needs of the marijuana when it is vegetating.
Take note that the plants should be slowly introduced to light. If it is too sudden, this could cause stress to the plant. During the seedling or clone phase of the plant, it receives minimal light, which makes it important to take things slowly so as not to cause shock.
To be safe, you should position the lighting system at a height of about three to four feet during the initial phase of vegetation. You can move the lights closer as days or weeks pass by. After each day, move the light about three inches lower.
High-Intensity Discharge(HID) Grow Lights
High intensity discharge (HID) lighting has been, and remains, the most popular choice of lighting for indoor horticulture. HID lighting has been present in the indoor horticulture market since the beginning and for good reason. HID lights work really well for growing plants because they are intense enough to penetrate the plant canopy and grow tall, robust plants.
The downside to using HID lighting during vegetative growth is the light dispersion. Since all of the light energy is emitted from one single focal point, there is an inconsistency of light energy across the garden.
Although light reflectors help create a more uniform light pattern, there is still much more light energy available closer to the bulb than farther away. To combat this, many growers will either rotate the plants or use a light mover.
Gardeners looking to grow monster plants should definitely consider HID lighting for the vegetative stage. Other lighting technologies lack the punch to produce tight node spacing (shorter distances between branches) on taller plants. The HID lighting category includes metal halide (MH) and high pressure sodium (HPS) grow lights.
Metal Halide – MH lighting is one of the most popular choices for vegetative growth among indoor gardeners. The high amount of blue light emitted by MH bulbs makes this particular type of lighting an attractive option.
Generally speaking, plants given adequate blue spectrum light during the vegetative stage are less likely to stretch and create elongated node spacing (increased spacing between branches). Most indoor gardeners are trying to keep their plants short and bushy. When used correctly, this is not a problem experienced with MH bulbs.
Growers using MH for the vegetative cycle will never fall short of high-quality choices in bulbs, either. Lighting manufacturers have created many different, vegetative-specific MH lamps designed to emit a spectrum catered to vegetative growth.
High Pressure Sodium – HPS lighting is generally associated with the fruiting or flowering stages due to its higher output of red-spectrum light. However, many growers successfully use HPS lighting for vegetative growth as well.
HPS is the most efficient form of HID lighting and some growers will argue HPS is a superior vegetative light because of its efficacy. HPS bulbs need replacement less often than their MH counterparts and produce more light output per watt or energy consumed.
Advancements in HID lighting technologies—more specifically, the design and construction of the lamps themselves—have created HPS bulbs with more full-spectrum outputs.
Light Emitting Diodes (LED) Grow Lights
Some of the newest technologies growers have adapted for vegetative growth are light-emitting diodes (LEDs). LEDs provide many advantages for indoor gardens. They have an extremely low heat signature, which means plants can be placed close to the light source, and some LEDs also have a customized spectral output.
In other words, LED fixtures can be made to produce a particular spectrum suitable for various types of growth. For the purpose of vegetative growth, many LED manufacturers produce fixtures with a higher output of blue spectrum. LEDs, like T5 fluorescents, can produce even growth in terms of both node spacing and plant canopy uniformity.
Another large advantage of LED grow lights is longevity. LEDs will not need bulb replacement like HID or fluorescent lighting. They can be used for 10-15 years before requiring replacement.
The largest disadvantage of LEDs is their price. Although an increasing amount of LED manufacturers continues to bring the price down, LEDs are still more expensive than other commonly used lighting technologies.
When purchasing LED fixtures, a grower is making a long-term investment. LED fixtures will eventually pay for themselves with the savings accrued from not having to replace the bulbs and the reduced heat loads.
Compact Fluorescent Light Grow Lights
A CFL grow lamp is not as intense when compared to the other grow lamps. With this, it would be safe to have it positioned about one inch away from the top of the cannabis. The further the CFL is away from the plant, the more light it loses. Therefore, if you position it about five to six inches away, it will already be useless.
When using CFL, look for one that has 6500k, which means that it is giving off a light that is comparable to daylight. 2700k CFLs, or those that give off soft white light, on the other hand, are the ones that are recommended during the flowering stage of the plant.
T5 Fluorescent
One technology that revolutionized lighting for indoor vegetative growth is the T5 fluorescent. T5 fluorescent lights are high-output fluorescents and are capable of producing great vegetative growth.
Some old-school growers may remember using T12 or T8 fluorescents for growing plants. The T5 technology blows both T12 and T8 fluorescents out of the water and has made fluorescent lighting a staple for many indoor growers once again.
The biggest advantages of T5 fluorescents are their high output and their light dispersion. Horticultural T5 fluorescents are either 2- or 4-ft. long, and because the bulb spans the entire distance of the fixture, the light energy emitted is uniform. This means all plants grown under a T5 fixture receive the same amount of light energy. This leads to uniform growth and a uniform plant canopy, which equates to a higher return.
Another big advantage of T5 fluorescents is their heat dissipation. Fluorescents are cooler-running than typical HID lighting fixtures, meaning the lights can be placed closer to the plants.
The closer the light source is to the plant canopy, the more light energy can be used by the plants. This more efficient use of light energy creates plants with tighter node spacing. Short, bushy plants are the most sought after for indoor horticulture and will generally produce higher yields than tall, lanky plants.
Due to their high output, even light dispersion and low heat signature capabilities, T5 fluorescent fixtures have become one of the most popular lighting choices for vegetative growth.
Maintaining Marijuana During the Vegetative Stage
The use of the best light for vegetative growth is just one piece of the puzzle. Light is important, but this is not the sole factor that prepares the plant for the flowering stage. That being said, this section will provide you with a quick look at other important things that you need to do during this stage.
- It is important to feed the plant with the nutrients that are essential for growth. To be specific, they will need nitrogen and potassium. Go easy on the fertilizer as feeding the cannabis with too much can add stress to the plant.
- The right temperature is also a paramount concern. There are some marijuana strains that can grow in an indoor environment with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. However, in the case of most strains, the ideal temperature range would be from 21 to 30 degrees Celsius.
- Meanwhile, for the humidity, you need to maintain it at 45 to 65%. There should also be fresh air moving. With proper ventilation, it becomes easier to maintain the right level of the humidity for the grow room.
- Water is also critical but give it to the plant when only when it is needed. One of the obvious indications would be when the medium appears dry or when the leaves start to wilt or droop. Too much water, however, can lead to the death of the plant.
- Training techniques should also be given attention during the vegetative phase. Pinching is necessary to trigger the growth of branches. Super cropping is also necessary to be able to dictate the shape of the plant as it grows larger.
Wrap Up
Choosing the best light for vegetative growth is a task that requires careful thought. You can choose HID, LED, or CFL, but it does not mean that all of them are great picks. You need to consider a variety of factors, such as spectrum and wattage to be sure that it will not ruin the vegetative phase and that it will prepare the marijuana to be stronger as it enters the flowering stage.
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