Certain species of plants are subject to photoperiodism,
in which the varying duration of light cycles between day
and night cause plants to enter new phases of growth.
To illustrate, uninterrupted 12-hour periods of darkness
(nighttime) causes some plant species to start flowering.
This process occurs when a hormone called photochrome
reacts to sunlight intensity and durations, directing plants
towards the different phases of growth.
“It’s a good idea for cultivators to regularly
check their growrooms to make sure they are
100 PER CENT
DARK DURING THE NIGHTTIME PERIOD.”
If a sealed growroom is not 100 per cent dark during the
nighttime period, photoperiodism cycles can be interrupted,
causing photochrome imbalances as related to specific plant
processes. These hormonal imbalances can have negative
and sometimes detrimental effects on an indoor harvest.
For those looking to avoid issues with light leaks in their
sealed growrooms, consider the following points:
Inconsistencies and Stress
Indoor gardeners should always strive for consistency in
their growroom environments. Most crops perform best in
stable environments, and bountiful harvests are the result
of constant environmental balance — including stable
lighting intervals — during both vegetative growth and
flowering. A common misconception amongst indoor growers
is that light leaks during the vegetative growth phase won’t
disrupt crop growth. However, any irregularities in lighting
patterns can stress plants out. Along this line of thought, all
environmental stressors inhibit essential plant functions,
such as nutrient uptake, and retard growth.
Light leaks can also prove troublesome regarding
photochrome levels in plants, as unexpected or irregular
doses of light can alter stable hormonal conversion processes.
During flowering phases, excess light during dark periods can
push photochrome activity to the point of converting a plant
back into vegetative growth.
Hermaphrodites
One of the most widely known negative side effects of
growroom light seepage has to do with the transformation
of female plants into hermaphrodites. For those looking to
grow seed-free flowering plant varietals, hermaphrodites can
prove devastating for a crop. This is because male flowers on
a single plant can pollinate an entire growroom and greatly
devalue a harvest.
52
Maximum Yield
Expert horticulturists agree that certain plant species
turn hermaphrodite as a result of environmental
stressors, and light leaks are notorious for being
associated with this phenomenon. However, it should be
noted that the occasional beam of light on a garden from
a headlamp won’t cause plants to “herm.” While indoor
growers should strive to avoid any disruptions in regular
light cycles, it takes rather consistent light exposure to
force a plant into hermaphrodite growth. These sorts
of leaks come from constant sources, such as under
doorways and walls, that occur on a daily basis.
Light Leaks Mean Other Leaks
Indoor growers can be assured that if their sealed
growroom is leaking light, it has issues with other leaks.
Seasoned cultivators go to great lengths to ensure that
their sealed gardens are functioning at their best when
it comes to atmosphere, temperature, and sterility.
All these contingencies are compromised with an
improperly sealed growroom.
If leakage issues arise, growers sacrifice the total
environmental control that is so essential in sealed
room growing. With this issue comes potential
problems with maintaining ideal, static levels of
temperature, humidity, and CO 2 . Moreover, as sealed
rooms are wholly dependent upon CO 2 injection
technology, the regular loss of CO 2 to leaks is
financially burdensome and operationally threatening.
If light leaks can penetrate the confines of a sealed
garden, so can airborne pathogens. As such, it is
virtually impossible to fully sterilize an indoor grow if
bugs and spores (of powdery mildew and botrytis) can
continuously access the grow space via leaks.