Does it have to be full spectrum?

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Xeramtheum Summerville, SC(Zone 8a) Oct 09, 2006

I'm going to sweet talk my electrician friend Betsy into helping me put some lights in the greenhouse to reduce the dark by a few hours. Do the bulbs have to be full spectrum to encourage flowering or can it just be a plain warm flourescent? How many hours of dark should I have?

X

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ByndeweedBeth scio, oregon, OR(Zone 8a) Oct 13, 2006

I just noticed this thread that has no replies. I am no expert and am experimenting like the rest of you...but I have full spectrum over my inside MG's. From what I understand, more hours of light favors vegetative growth while fewer hours of light may favor flowering and seed setting. Right now I am giving my inside mg's extra hours of light until they get to a good size, then I will reduce the hours of light and hope to get blooms. Does this make sense and sound right?

Post #2814165
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RON_CONVOLVULACEAE Netcong, NJ(Zone 5b) Oct 14, 2006

X - I had intended to respond to your question sooner,but I simply forgot(!)...

The MG plants respond to the full-spectrum better than to the regular general bulbs,but if you're only using the electric to supplement >regular lights might work out okay...the MG's may flower earlier if you provide the additional light hours before sunrise(!) than additional lighting after sunset(!)...the reason is that the plants respond to the gradual shift in the light spectrum as the setting sunlight is filtered through the atmosphere at the end of the day>more than they do to the gradual shift in the spectrum during sunrise...

You might find that your MG'saren't being very selective and flower nicely either way...seems like you could try the regular bulbs and switch to the full specturm bulbs depending on how they respond...finding the right balance of supplemental lighting is often a tuning process...

baolvera - you mentioned
"..extra hours of light until they get to a good size, then I will reduce the hours of light and hope to get blooms. Does this make sense and sound right?"

makes sense to me as per solid reasoning ...

TTY,...

Ron

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