I am trying to determine the right amount of light for my cannabis plants. I have heard that plants need a certain number of lumens to grow properly. Can you tell me how many lumens my plants will need and how I can measure this?
One answer “How many lumens do cannabis plants need?”
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When it comes to cannabis growing, one of the most important factors that is often overlooked, or not given enough attention to, is lighting. Proper lighting, in the right amount and spectrum, is absolutely essential to the health and vibrancy of your plants. Without enough light, buds will never reach their potential. But by providing your cannabis plants with the proper amount of lumens, you can get the best possible yields from your crop.
So just how much light do cannabis plants need? The answer is not a straightforward one, as it depends on the type of cannabis you’re growing and the height of your plants. As a general rule of thumb, for optimal growth, you want to provide your cannabis plants with between 40,000 – 80,000 lumens. If your plants are around 3-4 feet tall, then 40,000-50,000 lumens is a suitable range. If they’re taller than that, then aim to provide them with 60,000 – 80,000 lumens. This is especially important during the flowering stage, as that’s when your buds need the most light.
The type of lights you choose can also have an impact on your plants. Different types of lights produce different types of spectrums, and some are better for veg and others for flowering. For example, metal halide and high-pressure sodium lights are great for plants in the vegetative stage, but for flowering, you should use LEDs, fluorescent and other light spectrums.
Now that you’re aware of how many lumens your plants need, how do you measure how much light they’re getting? The best way to measure the amount of light your cannabis plants are receiving is with a light meter or lux meter. These handy tools measure the light levels of your grow space, and will tell you exactly how much light your plants are getting. More expensive light meters provide more accurate readings and measure PAR levels, which measure the amount of photosynthetically active radiation a plant receives.
When it comes to setting up your grow space, the placement of your lights also has an impact on your plants. If your lights are too close, they can burn your plants, while if they’re too far away, then your plants won’t get enough light. Generally, for 400-watt lights, the recommended distance is around 18 inches for seedlings and between 24-30 inches for bigger plants.
Now that you’re informed about how many lumens your cannabis plants need, what type of lights to use and how to measure the light levels, it’s time to start growing. With the correct amount of light and balanced spectrum, you can ensure your plants receive all the energy they need to reach their full potential.