Maximum Yield Cannabis USA March/April 2019 | Page 16
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR A GROWER? Email [email protected] to get an answer.
ask a
GROWER
Q
I’m about to grow Tangerine Dream from seed. I have a 2x4x6-foot tent with
1,200W full spectrum LEDs. What should the air temperature and humidity be,
and how far should my LEDs be in each stage?
Thanks for helping this noob.
Scott
a
Dear Scott,
Thank you for your question. When growing in a small
enclosed area (like a grow tent), atmospheric conditions
are a major concern. Since you are growing from seed,
you will need to know the atmospheric conditions for
each stage of cannabis growth.
To begin, you will need to have your atmospheric condi-
tions conducive to the seeding stage of growth. Typically,
seedlings prefer a higher humidity (65-75 per cent) and a
temperature range of 75-80°F. Instead of trying to main-
tain a high humidity in the entire grow tent, you may
want to use a humidity dome with a seedling tray. Your
LED light will work for this stage, but it should be placed
far away from the seedlings, as it may be too intense for
young seedlings. The grow lights should be on for 18 to
24 hours a day. Many growers opt to use a small fluores-
cent lamp for this stage of growth.
Once the seedlings have produced a few sets of true
leaves (the leaves that look like actual cannabis leaves),
they are ready to be treated as vegetative plants. The
atmospheric conditions for the vegetative stage are
similar to the seedling stage. The humidity range should
be 55-65 per cent and the temperature should be kept
between 70-75°F (assuming you are not supplementing
CO 2 , which would require a slightly higher operating
temperature). At this stage, the artificial light source can
be placed closer to the canopy as long as it is not causing
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any burning (bleached/white looking growth at the very
top). If your LED lighting system allows you to tailor spec-
trums, this is the stage where a blue spectrum would be
more applicable. The photoperiod, or “lights on,” should
be set for 18 to 24 hours.
Finally, once you are ready to initiate the flowering
period (by reducing the photoperiod to 12 hours per day),
you will need to watch the atmospheric conditions more
closely. If possible, the humidity during the flowering
stage should be kept below 55 per cent. Higher humidity
in the flowering stage can lead to pathogenic molds
and rots. The temperature in the flowering stage should
stay in the 70-75°F range (again, assuming you are not
supplementing CO 2 ). It is also important to make sure
the “lights off” temperature does not vary more than
10 degrees from the “lights on” temperature. A large
temperature swing from “night” to “day” can cause
spikes in humidity. In this stage, your LEDs should
be hung as close to the plant canopy as possible
(without causing damage to the plants). Light radiation
diminishes exponentially, so the closer you can have
the lighting system to the plants, the more usable light
energy is available for photosynthesis. If your LED
lighting system allows you to tailor spectrums, this is the
stage where a red spectrum would be more applicable.
Keep on Growing,
Lee G. Lyzit
Lee G. Lyzit has been involved in the medical cannabis industry for nearly 15 years. His passion for natural healing drives
him to learn as much as he can about the miraculous cannabis plant. Lee breeds his own strains of cannabis to create
concentrated glycerine and coconut oil extracts. Aside from cannabis education and consumption, Lee enjoys playing
music, gardening, hiking, and cross-country skiing.
Maximum Yield