What's the final word on plant rest? 24/0 or 18/6?

[Penniless Punk]

There's a lot of conflicting information on the subject of veg light cycles. Some folks are claiming 25% more weed if you keep your vegging plants in 24 hours of light.

I think we can all agree that 18/6 saves electricity, but that's just one concern according to this debate that rages on.

The most important question, according to some, is whether or not the plants benefit from a period of rest.

What's the benefit if not more weed? If the weed can be shown to measurably produce more HIGH/RELIEF per gram when allowed to rest, then I guess that's one thing. But..

At the end of the day. most growers are going to say that if it produces more bud, and the quality is more or less the same, then it's all about weight.

What do y'all think? 24/0? 18/6? Your reasons? Your experiences? Your theories? Appreciate the input.

Smoke on..

daf

 

[Redrum92]

IME and from what I've read plants efficiency goes down when doing 24/0. The plant just can't keep up as it isn't "meant" or "used to" (in nature) this kind of thing. I wish I could find the source but I've read many places that the plant really just can't make use of that much light, it needs darkness to recover, chill, and get ready to use all the light the next day. Just as the vast majority of life on earth has some sort of dormancy or rest period.

I wish I remembered the specific chemicals/pathways in play but alas I'm a little stone-y

 

[Granger2]

Give them a rest. You get diminishing returns at best. Claims of 25% more production of bud are bogus. -granger

 

[JohnKimble]

Plants start shutting down photosynthesis after 17 hours of light according to Harley Smith, the director of research for NPK Industries. Plants also store energy, so a dark peroid helps them use that energy.
https://youtu.be/DFgwWEnCa5k?t=8m44s

 

[raspaul]

I've only grown from seed for the last couple of years so I don't keep mothers or cuts and I run all my seeds 16/8 in veg mainly because that's my sleep pattern and I won't run my light while I'm asleep.
But secondly because I don't think it needs any more than 16 hours of light.. I don't think it ever gets that much light in any 1 day in any of the areas that it grows well so why bother when I'm indoor !!,
I'd rather save some electric and not have to worry about having a fire while I sleep.
Well that is unless I was keeping mothers or cuts that needed to be kept from flowering but for growth 16/8 seems OK to me.
Just my
Blessed

Raspaul

 

[Dropped Cat]

Yup, 16/8 in veg for me too.

 

[ColdSmoke]

I run 19/5

 

[Pinball Wizard]

I run my fluorescent HO-T5 light - 24/0 the first week ....20/4 until transplant

HID - 18/6

 

[Penniless Punk]

Thanks y'all.

Based on your input, (especially the video explaining that 17.5 hours is the limit of useable light) I've decided to go to 18/6 until flower. Think I'm going to over-veg a little bit to get more harvest this first time out. It's a pretty crucial grow for us. I'm spending about $300/mo on medicine. I'd like to get rid of that expense.

Smoke on..

daf