Auto seedlings, how much light?

beard o

Well-Known Member
I've been doing autos for some time now. Not bragging, but I think I do ok. But I'm always looking to improve.

Just sprouted 4 seeds today in wet paper towels, and going to plant them in solo cups.
I always run the seedlings on a 20/4 light cycle. A buddy with way more photoperiod experience than me says, big mistake! He claims seedlings are far too sensitive for that much light. They need rest. Insists I should go 12/12, or if I insist, 18/6 tops.

Any thoughts on this?
 
depends on how strong the light is. i run photo seedlings at 18/6 under mild light. autos should probably be fine at 20/4 if it's not too intense.

if you are gonna run them at 20/4 for the majority of the grow i'd start there and just vary intensity as you go.
 
Sorry, I should have mentioned my light source.

I'm an old school guy. Still using HID.
I start my seedlings using a 600w MH with the ballast dialed down 50%.
Once I transfer from the solo cup, to the 10 gallon soft pot, after a week or so I also replace the the 600w with a 1000w MH with the ballast at 100%.

At the first sign of flower, I replace the 1000w MH with a 1000w HPS until they are finished.
 
I start my seedlings using a 600w MH with the ballast dialed down 50%.

how far from the tops of the seedlings do you run it?

Once I transfer from the solo cup, to the 10 gallon soft pot, after a week or so I also replace the the 600w with a 1000w MH with the ballast at 100%.

At the first sign of flower, I replace the 1000w MH with a 1000w HPS until they are finished.


honestly if you've not seen any stress on the plants, and are happy with things so far, it can't be bad.
something about if it ain't broke ..
 
Planted these 72 hours ago.

IMG_20250118_120556030_HDR_AE~2.jpg
 
I've been doing autos for some time now. Not bragging, but I think I do ok. But I'm always looking to improve.

Just sprouted 4 seeds today in wet paper towels, and going to plant them in solo cups.
I always run the seedlings on a 20/4 light cycle. A buddy with way more photoperiod experience than me says, big mistake! He claims seedlings are far too sensitive for that much light. They need rest. Insists I should go 12/12, or if I insist, 18/6 tops.

Any thoughts on this?
I currently have 4x autos running that all have popped up, running full power at 600w 22" above on an 18/6 schedule..have done this with all my seedlings for the past 10-12 yrs. Never ever any adverse effects. 20/4 may be pushing seeds a bit hard but would be perfectly ok for autos all the way thru after. I will say some research has shown plants tend to grow a bit more in their dark cycle than in their light cycle...

This link is in the forum but dates back to 2007, give it a read it may enlighten you a bit. Penned by SmokeyMacPot

 
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