Early flowering worries... advice on my setup?

[plantingplants]

Hey all so here's my situation. I have a spot to veg my plants in a hoophouse but it only gets 5 hours direct sunlight a day. My main garden area only gets an average of 9 hours direct sun. I have a mix of seed plants and clones going in. I planned on using supplemental lighting, tapering the plants down to 14.5 hours (that's how many hours I get on June 1) by June 1. I would have liked to just put the plants in the garden area but I can't get power there.

My question is, I know that seeds are pretty good about not flowering early, but with only 5 hours direct they might flower right? So will the supplemental lighting be ok for the seeds, too? I ask because I heard they don't flower because they notice the light hours increasing, whereas if I used supplemental lighting, I would be decreasing the hours slowly.

What's the best way for me to prevent flowering in this situation? What would you do?

 

[tech1234]

Be careful with the clones... seeds will be fine

I don't have direct experience with your exposure question but I do know that GH light deps will freak out with even a small light leak so I would think any amount of light will count as "daytime" to the plants

 

[plantingplants]

Thanks. I'm actually going to do all seed. Still wondering if I should use supplemental lighting. Maybe just supplemental lighting to 14.5 hours like June 1st?

I haven't seen a problem with flowering full season outdoor plants and small amounts of light like flashlight.

 

[_tessarecting]

Seeds just dont flower until they are older. They wont need light unless you want to give it to them for increased growth, which if you do, just mimic the natural cycle

 

[Nedestrian]

This is one thing I have tried to wrap my head around for years.

I understand the concept that seeds need to be old enough to be sexually mature to flower and that depends on the genetics when that is. Some autoflowers will do it as early as 3 weeks I hear.

However with non-autoflower genetics, if you start the seed in say January...by this time of the year they're 3 months old already (possibly sexually mature enough to flower).

I have had friends who start seeds this early and plant may 1 because everyone says oh seeds won't flower. And then they flipped....

So...begin the age old debate of how true of a statement that really is.

Imagine someone getting an amazing early start like that losing 6 months of hard work....not fun!

I know there's "length of day" (sunrise to sunset) and "total visible light" (includes twilight before sunrise and after sunset). As of now, in Northern CA it's around 13 hours length of day and 14 hours visible light. And that visible light varies depending on shade too I would think...

To my knowledge as soon as you get to or above 14.5 hours of light there's no regular strains that have been encountered to flower at that.

But if it's between 13-14 hours of light now and a plant is sexually mature enough (old enough) from seed, would it not flower?

I know the light is increasing every day and plants are smart but from everything I've read it all has to do with length of light/dark.

Any input would be much appreciated

 

[plantingplants]

When people talk about seeds not flowering, I usually see a caveat mentioned that that doesn't apply if they're started in Feb. I think you got it-- the idea is that if started at the right time, they won't be sexually mature until the days are long enough... but I don't get that because people can start their seeds early March, and so their plants should be sexually mature by May, but they don't flower?

I definitely wouldn't count twilight. Shade seems like it's still a mystery. I'm just going to cut as many limbs as I can before one maims me.

Although, some rodent ate my first round of starts so I have to start over on Apr 6th, which means they won't be sexually mature until it's safe to plant.

 

[Donkeybrains]

I would do whatever I have to do to make sure they get 18hrs of light no more no less. I would set a timer to come on a couple hrs before sunlight and that way it stays light a couple hrs after the sun is down as long as you get 18. The hormones in the plant are photosensitive if they are exposed to abnormal or unnatural conditions it's hard telling what would happen. Probably hermaphrodite. With the sun rising a couple minutes earily each day and setting later each night I would adjust the timer so the sun is smack in the middle. Best of luck brotha!

 

[NorCalLurker]

i would suggest no supplemental lighting. this is with years of experimentation. sometimes simpler is better