ConstantGreen
New Member
Because so many LED's in such a compact area is so intense, you can't use most LED panels closer than 18" or you'll burn plants. 18" high for the reflector192 gives ~150 PPFD in the 4x4 ring. This is barely adequate to root a clone in.
Yes, spreading out the LED's, you get the same energy going to your plants but the light doesn't have to travel so far so you're getting the best intensity of it as you can hang your LED closer to the canopy. Spreading the LED's apart also gives better intra-canopy penetration. The amount of PPFD reaching your plants when 600w is spread out vs 600w centered is a huge difference of efficiency for your electrical cost.
Not sure if parts of plants share PPFD but that's something I've wondered about too. But considering the lower nugs on a plant are so often larfy and undeveloped, I think each flower site kind of depends on its own PPFD. Better coverage and penetration will lead to better flowers in the entire 4x4 footprint. You could wait longer, but I don't think it works that way. If a nug is developing at 50% for 8 weeks, it's not going to be a top-quality nug at the end of 16 weeks. The plants have a genetic timer and your end result depends on how well you energize her during each day of that ~8 week timer.
Yes, spreading out the LED's, you get the same energy going to your plants but the light doesn't have to travel so far so you're getting the best intensity of it as you can hang your LED closer to the canopy. Spreading the LED's apart also gives better intra-canopy penetration. The amount of PPFD reaching your plants when 600w is spread out vs 600w centered is a huge difference of efficiency for your electrical cost.
Not sure if parts of plants share PPFD but that's something I've wondered about too. But considering the lower nugs on a plant are so often larfy and undeveloped, I think each flower site kind of depends on its own PPFD. Better coverage and penetration will lead to better flowers in the entire 4x4 footprint. You could wait longer, but I don't think it works that way. If a nug is developing at 50% for 8 weeks, it's not going to be a top-quality nug at the end of 16 weeks. The plants have a genetic timer and your end result depends on how well you energize her during each day of that ~8 week timer.