Anyone growing Autos with LEDs?

[Muddy]

This past winter I set up a little indoor grow area specifically to grow autos. I ran into hotter than anticipated heat issues so am rethinking which direction I want to take, increase my cooling capacity, reduce the size of my HPS or go with LEDs. I've been reading about everything I can find on LEDs but still can't seem to find any definitive information on how effective they are compared to HPS, particularly when it comes to growing autos.

If anyone has grown autos with LEDs I'd be very interested on the specifics, type of system, size of room, and particularly the yields.

 

[LilHoldem-NB]

Ive never heard of anyone growing an auto under led lighting but would be interesting for sure to see a grow done.

 

[ChynaRyder]

to date, I have grown bluestreak, sour 60, aAK47 x NYCD, and Lowasis under a 126 and 63 watt panels, and am pleased with the results...I have a bunch of 12/12 girls under them now and like the results there too...I dont weigh my stuff, but yields are right about where one would expect...In winter, I had significant problems with LACK of heat due to my grow room being in a cold basement...added enough flouros to the growspace to keep temps in the mid 80's.

I am finding better bud density in autos grown under flouros as compared to LED, but it is only bud which is kept within 2-3" of the tubes...kind of a PITA. The biggest concern and bitch I have with LED, is that if you have a strain prone to airy buds, they will be significantly airy with LED. Also, the footprint is quite small, and the sweet spot of the light is rather narrow vertically, so LST to keep as much of the canopy within the sweet spot is pretty key. I have been growing lately letting the plants take on a natural profile without LST so that I have a better handle on frame size for breeding selection, and am not impressed with the ability of these lights to penetrate the canopy. You must LST or somehow train to maximize yields.

if you look in my albums, I have a number of pics in there of LED grown autos.

 

[LilHoldem-NB]

I must add the led forum to my list of forums to visit. Thx for the info ChynaRyder

to date, I have grown bluestreak, sour 60, aAK47 x NYCD, and Lowasis under a 126 and 63 watt panels, and am pleased with the results...I have a bunch of 12/12 girls under them now and like the results there too...I dont weigh my stuff, but yields are right about where one would expect...In winter, I had significant problems with LACK of heat due to my grow room being in a cold basement...added enough flouros to the growspace to keep temps in the mid 80's.

I am finding better bud density in autos grown under flouros as compared to LED, but it is only bud which is kept within 2-3" of the tubes...kind of a PITA. The biggest concern and bitch I have with LED, is that if you have a strain prone to airy buds, they will be significantly airy with LED. Also, the footprint is quite small, and the sweet spot of the light is rather narrow vertically, so LST to keep as much of the canopy within the sweet spot is pretty key. I have been growing lately letting the plants take on a natural profile without LST so that I have a better handle on frame size for breeding selection, and am not impressed with the ability of these lights to penetrate the canopy. You must LST or somehow train to maximize yields.

if you look in my albums, I have a number of pics in there of LED grown autos.

 

[Muddy]

Thanks Chyna, that is the most informative information I've gotten to date. Much appreciated. I understand about the foot print. If I go that route I'm figuring on something around 150 watts for a 2 x 2 1/2' space. I don't have much room to LST. As it is the area is so small I can only comfortably fit 6 autos at a time. So light penetration is a concern. Are your LEDs all 1 watt? I'm reading that the penetration is much better with the 3 watters but that is only from the retailers. Have yet to find anyone actually growing with them.

I did check your albums and the results do indeed look good. I'll keep an eye out for future updates.

 

[Tiredofschwag]

Just take a look at my thread 'Automatic Hindu Kush'. I am growing with an all blue ufo led 90 watts and a 60 watt all red parasol led with a couple of small flouros to add a bit of supplement. I think that a hps light might be better, but my plants are still gorgeous. Don't think there's no heat to a led light as there is some heat.

 

[Tropic]

S_a_H grew some nice Sour60s under LED lighting, here is the thread:

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=145590

 

[ChynaRyder]

So light penetration is a concern.

You will not have a problem if you are just growing autos...by LST I am talking very mild arranging of the buds to allow better light, so you should be able to do it. Where I am not happy about penetration is right now where I have a big c-99 fem fighting with a power kush, and they are rather junglerific...and the low buds suck...autos are perfect for LED, especially if you can get uniform phenos going with an even canopy.

Are your LEDs all 1 watt?

ya, they are from the place on this site, and I wont buy anymore of her stuff....Grow Hydro LED has an interesting test going right now with a big light I am considering, but I have not seen any of his smaller lights. Whatever you have heard, these lights can grow good bud, and they are as efficient as hell.

 

[Slimm]

I have some LED panels that are currently not being used. I know nothing about autos. Are they as potent or as tasty as photoperiod strains? Where would I go to learn more? I may put a couple under a LED panel.

 

[Seedling]

Ive done all of my auto grows inddors with LED, have a look at my profile for photos or in my grow thread that is posted in my signature for more info on my grows.
//S

 

[Muddy]

Those indeed are good looking plants. I can deal with a little heat but not the 100+ degrees I am getting with a 400 watt HPS. thanks for the input.

Just take a look at my thread 'Automatic Hindu Kush'. I am growing with an all blue ufo led 90 watts and a 60 watt all red parasol led with a couple of small flouros to add a bit of supplement. I think that a hps light might be better, but my plants are still gorgeous. Don't think there's no heat to a led light as there is some heat.

 

[Muddy]

That was my thinking, that LEDs would be good for autos with their low height. That's all I can grow in this area as the vertical height isn't much. I'm hoping to have another area built by next winter that will allow me to grow full sized plants. I'll use the HPS I now have in there. If I can grow 6 autos at a time, turn it over every 5 weeks, and get 4-5 ounces per grow I'll be happy.

You will not have a problem if you are just growing autos...by LST I am talking very mild arranging of the buds to allow better light, so you should be able to do it. Where I am not happy about penetration is right now where I have a big c-99 fem fighting with a power kush, and they are rather junglerific...and the low buds suck...autos are perfect for LED, especially if you can get uniform phenos going with an even canopy.

ya, they are from the place on this site, and I wont buy anymore of her stuff....Grow Hydro LED has an interesting test going right now with a big light I am considering, but I have not seen any of his smaller lights. Whatever you have heard, these lights can grow good bud, and they are as efficient as hell.

 

[Muddy]

I think autos can be just as good as full sized plants when grown right. There's an autoflowering forum here. Check it out, lots of good info.

I have some LED panels that are currently not being used. I know nothing about autos. Are they as potent or as tasty as photoperiod strains? Where would I go to learn more? I may put a couple under a LED panel.

 

[cyber echo]

muddy, why not use a cooltube ? costs 30 euros around here


ps: or consider CMH bulbs. They throw less heat and have dual spectrums..work with non-digital hps ballasts.

 

[Muddy]

Thanks Seedling, those are some nice looking grows. What was your yield from the HBD? I've grown it outdoors and averaged about 2/3 ounce per plant.

Ive done all of my auto grows inddors with LED, have a look at my profile for photos or in my grow thread that is posted in my signature for more info on my grows.
//S

 

[Muddy]

I'm running an air cooled 400 watt HPS right now and heat is still too much. I could drop down to a 250 watt, increase my fan size and add a blower and maybe solve the heat issues but that would cost me almost as much as an LED array. Ballast I have is digital 400/600 watt. Will have a use for it later so won't be a waste of money. Planning on building a bigger area where I can run 600 watt HPS and grow full sized. Keep this small area just for autos.

muddy, why not use a cooltube ? costs 30 euros around here


ps: or consider CMH bulbs. They throw less heat and have dual spectrums..work with non-digital hps ballasts.

 

[Tiredofschwag]

With the smaller autoflowers that only grow to 12 or 14 inches there is little problem with the light reaching the bottom leaves. Therefore even a flourescent fixture will grow them nicely in my opinion. But the led's have the right spectrum.