Quote:
Originally Posted by Racefan
I keep seeing the fact that LED's using less electricity as a major point. I could care less about that. I want to know if they grow bud instead. Has anyone had a successful grow using nothing but LED's. So far o one I know of has and those who have tried have been extremely disappointed with the results.
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I watched a 'comparative grow' of CFL vs. LED done elsewhere. The grow chambers were separated by a single wall and so they shared exact environments w/exception of only a bit more heat from the CFLs, they were similarly sized cuttings from a mother plant, the grower was of course familiar w/the strain & had no health issues as the grow progressed.
The two plants were put through vegging & flowering cycles together & were fed the same nutrients as the weeks passed. Their environs were kept the same and a journal was kept. In the end the LED grow took appx 20 extra days to finish and had a yield that was about 1/3rd lighter in weight than the CFL grow.
I don't recall the amount of CFL or LED lighting used in that grow but as it was a photojournal the pics showed several expensive LED fixtures and an appropriate amount of CFL lighting. My guess is that the LEDs could've been doubled or tripled but that then defeats the 'return on investment' of those monies spent, until LUXIM releases their ultra hi-intensity LED lighting system we're stuck sticking a single plant under 5 LED lights instead of having 5 plants under a single LED fixture. That CAN'T be good.
I don't care how much $$ I'd save per month & personally the heat signature I throw off is rather inconsequential, if my grow is slow and light in finished product then LED is gonna have to wait until it catches up to actual grow light potentials.