HID vs Overcast Sky

[Billotto]

Here in the pacific northwest, we can get some overly dark days sometime.

What are your opinions on having plants under some quality HID lights as opposed to outside on these darker days?

I realize there is no beating the sun during most conditions but what about deeply overcast days. Would they be better off under my CMH during these periods?

Interested to hear this esteemed forum's thoughts.

Cheers

 

[Carcass]

I've got a plant outside in the ground,and we've had a mix of overcast and full sun days for the last month or so.
On the weeks with mostly sun,the plant grows almost an inch per (sunny) day
On the weeks with overcast days,she grows about 1/4 inch per (overcast) day

So I would say the CMH is a great idea for the "dark days"-plants will stay alive in cloudy weather,but they don't grow very much...

 

[HippyCanuck]

HID no question. You have to remember that under indoor lighting there are no clouds and its intesity doesnt change during the day. The light given of hps is superior to sunlight if done properly. My par value with my ballast on 750 at canopy was more intense than sunlight