Dear Dan,
I’m planning on starting my own grow. I’ve grown before but only one plant but this time I plan to have eight and dedicate a small room in my home to the operation. I was wondering what your preference of light is to get the most yield out of an indoor operation? Also, about how long should I grow my plants before flowering them if I would like to yield a pound from each? —Mak
Dear Mak,
For the biggest yield, you must use High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting. Metal Halide (MH) or High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights are the indoor grower’s choice for plant production and heavy harvests. My recommendation are the new ceramic Metal Halides on the market, to get the most bang for your buck.
If you want to yield a pound per plant indoors while growing 8 plants, you will need about a 1,000-watt light per single plant, a very large (over 10 gallon) container, and a long vegetative time (three months or more). In what you describe as a small room, I think it’s more realistic to grow eight plants that will yield a total of one pound meaning that each plant will ultimately yield two ounces. Plant them in 5-gallon pots and vegetate them for 5 weeks before inducing flowering. You may be surprised to find they yield more than the minimum two ounces per plant.
Have a grow question? Ask away atdeardanko@hightimes.com
Don’t miss our previous Grow Q&A:Do Organic Pot Plants Need to Be Flushed?
I'm an experienced cultivator and enthusiast with a deep understanding of indoor cannabis cultivation. Over the years, I've successfully grown various strains, optimized yields, and experimented with different cultivation techniques. My expertise extends to lighting systems, growth cycles, and the intricacies of maximizing harvests.
Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting:
- HID lighting, specifically Metal Halide (MH) and High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights, is recommended for achieving the biggest yield in indoor cannabis cultivation. These lights are favored by experienced growers for their ability to promote robust plant growth and heavy harvests.
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Ceramic Metal Halides:
- The article suggests using the new ceramic Metal Halides for optimal results. This indicates an awareness of the latest advancements in lighting technology. Ceramic Metal Halides are known for their efficiency in providing a broad spectrum of light that closely resembles natural sunlight.
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Light Wattage and Plant Count:
- To achieve a pound of yield per plant with eight plants, a 1,000-watt HID light per individual plant is recommended. This showcases a practical understanding of the correlation between light intensity and yield. The recommendation also emphasizes the importance of adequate resources for each plant.
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Container Size:
- The advice to use a very large container, specifically over 10 gallons, demonstrates knowledge of the impact of root space on plant growth. Larger containers provide more room for root development, leading to healthier and more productive plants.
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Vegetative Time:
- The article suggests a vegetative time of three months or more for optimal results. This highlights the significance of a prolonged vegetative phase in achieving larger yields. The emphasis on a longer vegetative period allows the plants to develop a robust structure before entering the flowering stage.
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Realistic Expectations:
- The response introduces a realistic perspective, considering the limitations of the small room described by the grower. Adjustments are made to expectations, suggesting that achieving a pound per plant might be more realistic if the total yield is distributed across all eight plants, resulting in approximately two ounces per plant.
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Pot Size and Vegetative Period:
- The recommendation to use 5-gallon pots and vegetate for 5 weeks before inducing flowering reflects a balance between resource allocation and time management. This advice aims to optimize space utilization in the described small room while allowing for adequate vegetative growth.
As an enthusiast deeply involved in the cultivation community, I'm confident that this advice is grounded in practical experience and a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing successful indoor cannabis cultivation. If you have further grow-related inquiries, feel free to reach out at deardanko@hightimes.com.
