Newbie would like to know, can you veg with HPS? - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

col.forbin · #1 06-05-2009, 01:53 AM

I really only hear about people vegging with MH or CFL...I'm thinking of going with an 8-bulb, 4 ft T5 setup for veg (and possibly flower), but im curious-can you veg with a HPS and get good results?

Thanks

OntarioGro · #2 06-05-2009, 02:13 AM

dude.. if you can veg with a HPS go for it.. I started my seeds last year under a 400w HPS.. about 2-3 away with a fan.. moved the light closer as they grew.. but they turned out amazing.. they grow really thick, stalky, and leafy I guess is how I would explain.. maybe it was the strain(EarlyPearl by SensiSeeds).. well heres a pic.. but yeah.. to answer your question, I see no problem.. just make sure you dont cook em.. Goodluck dude. Later

Zigzagman · #3 06-05-2009, 06:40 AM

Standard HPS will work but, the plants tend to be spindly and the not very bushy. Now, the new HPS extended spectrum bulbs are killer. They seem to work as well, as any MH for vegging. Peace.

4maggio · #4 06-05-2009, 07:02 AM

high col.forbin... Yes you can.. I don't know about 'spindley' but they will stretch more with HPS and bud will be more 'airy'.
(Politcally correct!! LOL!)

I'm currently veging 5 ak47 babies under 400w Phillips ceramic metal halide (CMH, 2nd time) supposed to be a cooler running bulb.. less strecth. We'll see. 1st time I went from 2 weeks veg w 400CMH to 600w HPS, so I'm not sure why it was my best ever yield.

The 400w CMH runs off a 400w HPS (mechanical ONLY) ballast.
1 ballast - 1 grow start to finish.. CMH isn't as easy to find.. but cheaper.

Zigzagman · #5 06-05-2009, 07:12 AM

Thanks 4mag, I didn't know that. BTW I did part of my indoor grow last fall under 1 1000w hortalux extended spectrum HPS. Take a look, they were monsters.

4maggio · #6 06-05-2009, 10:22 AM

This will make CMH research easier:

Welcome To Advanced Technology Solutions ~ Lighting Divison

OH.. ZZM where would I see those monsters?

chunk · #7 06-11-2009, 09:06 PM

Ha Col.forbin Yes You Can Grow From Start To Finish With Hps. Here Is My Latest Grow Under 1 1000w Hps Start To FINISH. 4 Days LEFT And The Budz Are Rock Hard.

Richard Owl Mirror · #8 06-11-2009, 10:06 PM

I'd like to add a point of clarification to the above comments.
In each, stretch was mentioned. This is due to the length AWAY from the light source which is necessary because of the heat generated by the HPS lamp.
Remove the heat and you can move the lamp closer to the plants which would decrease the amount of stretch.

everything is relative.

Richard Owl Mirror · #9 06-11-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4maggio

high col.forbin... Yes you can.. I don't know about 'spindley' but they will stretch more with HPS and bud will be more 'airy'.
(Politcally correct!! LOL!)

I'm currently veging 5 ak47 babies under 400w Phillips ceramic metal halide (CMH, 2nd time) supposed to be a cooler running bulb.. less strecth. We'll see. 1st time I went from 2 weeks veg w 400CMH to 600w HPS, so I'm not sure why it was my best ever yield.

The 400w CMH runs off a 400w HPS (mechanical ONLY) ballast.
1 ballast - 1 grow start to finish.. CMH isn't as easy to find.. but cheaper.

You mean this? Electrical Contractor: CMH Lamp

4maggio · #10 06-12-2009, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Owl Mirror

I'd like to add a point of clarification to the above comments.
In each, stretch was mentioned. This is due to the length AWAY from the light source which is necessary because of the heat generated by the HPS lamp.
Remove the heat and you can move the lamp closer to the plants which would decrease the amount of stretch.

everything is relative.

High ROM.. I believe that the same heat is generated by MH as HPS (watt for watt)..
I do not believe hps it is hotter (F or C) but the color temp spectrum is hotter (RED-HPS or Blue-MH) not as good for 'the strecth' stage, hence more stretch.. Additionally, watt for watt, hps produces more lumens than MH, so it is brighteer to begin with..
I also believe that younger, less mature, plants can not process bigger (brighter) light/nutes so the light 'must' be farther away from them or they will wilt.

I get within 9-10 inches (I grow in a box 3x3) with 600w the last couple weeks of bloom.. Turn up the fan on the hood.

Florecents aren't that much cooler (F/C temp) (watt for watt) than HID. I run a 200w cfl for some veg and it runs hot.

Oh yes, that GE CMH, 'contractor light' is similar to the phillips 400w bulb, the Phillips being the more trditional 'torpedo shape' than the balloon shape... I'll be posting some pics of my ak47s, vegged, under the CMH, soon.