The importance of light comes down to one word—photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process plants use to turn light energy into chemical energy, helping them grow, resist disease, synthesise nutrients, and, most importantly, develop dense, resin-laden buds!
Most cannabis plants are photoperiodic, and, in the wild, flower according to the seasonal changes in light exposure. Indoor lighting needs to mimic these conditions; so, for light coverage, you’ll want to stick to the following schedule (hours of light/hours of darkness):
Given how long lights will be running from start to finish, you’ll want to commit to a unit with running costs that match your budget. We’ll cover more on the running costs of different lights later on, but, for now, let’s take a quick look at another critical consideration—light spectrum.
WHAT ABOUT THE LIGHT SPECTRUM?
Growers can boost photosynthesis by exposing cannabis plants to different light spectrums. The trick, of course, is knowing which colours of visible light impact cannabis, and when. The seven colours of light that make up the visible spectrum (between 380 and 750nm) include violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. Cannabis benefits from two colours in particular:
• Vegetative stage: Cannabis favours blue light (400–500nm) • Flowering stage: Cannabis favours red light (620–780nm)
Most grow lights will feature a selection of colours from the visible spectrum, in which case you needn’t worry. However, some advanced units include a veg and bloom function that alters the light spectrum accordingly. If you opt for these units, ensure you’re using the right setting to maximise yields.
WHY IS LIGHT IMPORTANT FOR GROWING CANNABIS?
The importance of light comes down to one word—photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process plants use to turn light energy into chemical energy, helping them grow, resist disease, synthesise nutrients, and, most importantly, develop dense, resin-laden buds!
Most cannabis plants are photoperiodic, and, in the wild, flower according to the seasonal changes in light exposure. Indoor lighting needs to mimic these conditions; so, for light coverage, you’ll want to stick to the following schedule (hours of light/hours of darkness):
• Seedling: 20/4
• Vegetative: 18/6
• Flowering: 12/12
Given how long lights will be running from start to finish, you’ll want to commit to a unit with running costs that match your budget. We’ll cover more on the running costs of different lights later on, but, for now, let’s take a quick look at another critical consideration—light spectrum.
WHAT ABOUT THE LIGHT SPECTRUM?
Growers can boost photosynthesis by exposing cannabis plants to different light spectrums. The trick, of course, is knowing which colours of visible light impact cannabis, and when. The seven colours of light that make up the visible spectrum (between 380 and 750nm) include violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. Cannabis benefits from two colours in particular:
• Vegetative stage: Cannabis favours blue light (400–500nm)
• Flowering stage: Cannabis favours red light (620–780nm)
Most grow lights will feature a selection of colours from the visible spectrum, in which case you needn’t worry. However, some advanced units include a veg and bloom function that alters the light spectrum accordingly. If you opt for these units, ensure you’re using the right setting to maximise yields.