Hydrolife Magazine December 2017/January 2018 [USA EDITION]

grow
When growing marijuana indoors, light energy has
the largest impact on yield and performance. It is
the main energy driving photosynthesis in an indoor
garden. This is why it is so important for indoor horticulturists
to not only purchase effective lighting systems,
but to also maintain the light output of those systems.
Regularly changing the bulbs and cleaning away dust
and debris are two easy ways a cannabis grower can
keep the light energy in the garden powerful and uniform.
With a well-maintained lighting system, a grower
can begin to implement other techniques to better utilize
the given light energy and to maximize his or her return
on investment. In every indoor garden, there is a “sweet
spot” of light energy. Finding the sweet spot and having
the majority of the plant canopy in this area are keys to
maximizing an indoor garden’s efficiency.
THE SWEET SPOT OF A HORTICULTURAL
LIGHTING SYSTEM
The sweet spot refers to the area just below the lighting
system, where the usable light energy is the most
intense. For most indoor gardens, this area is located
eight to 20 inches below the horticultural lighting
system. The location of the sweet spot can vary from
growroom to growroom, but will revolve around two
important factors: the wattage, or energy intensity,
of the light source and how the excess radiant heat
is removed. For example, a grower can place plants
closer to a 400W light source than a 1,000W light source.
Also, a light source that is air-cooled to remove the
radiant heat can be placed much closer to the plants
than a light source that is not air-cooled. For many
growers, a bit of experimentation will be necessary
to find the garden’s light energy sweet spot. Plants
placed too close to the light source can show signs of
bleaching or burning, while plants placed too far away
will become leggy or wispy.
“WITH A WELL-MAINTAINED lighting system,
a grower can begin to implement other
techniques to better utilize the given light energy
and to maximize his or her return on investment.”
Manipulating the plants themselves or the way the
plants grow is a great way for marijuana growers to
increase the amount of plant material that lies within
the light energy sweet spot. The most common plant
manipulation methods used by indoor cannabis
cultivators are staking, trellising, pruning, topping,
and super cropping. The first two methods, staking
and trellising, are techniques used to better support
or train the plants to most efficiently utilize the light
energy. The other three methods, pruning, topping, and
super cropping, are techniques that alter plant growth
directly. Plant manipulation methods can be used in
conjunction with one another or on their own to help
a grower increase his or her yields by using the given
light energy more efficiently.
STAKING
Staking is one of the most common methods marijuana
growers use to manipulate or support the plants to
increase efficiency. During vegetative growth, stakes
can be used to pull plants apart, resulting in better
light penetration and fuller, bushier growth. During the
blooming stage, stakes can be used to support heavy
fruit or flowers that would otherwise sag out of the
lighting system’s sweet spot.
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grow. heal. learn. enjoy.
myhydrolife.com