Bottom Lighting

I found that blasting high wattage on the top of plants only makes the tops smaller and drier, but if I only blast about 30 watts/sq ft LED on the top and also blast about the same wattage upward from the bottom, just above pot level, I get both higher quality and yield. It's actually surprising that nobody has tried bottom lighting with LEDs, since their low heat makes it easy to do. I just use LED "light bulbs", available anywhere, 100 watt replacement, 14 watts draw.

It's as simple as that to get better plants, with little if any fluff and leaf die off. Top lighting is fine if all you want is a thin horizontal layer of bud, but why would that be desirable? I've found the plants to be very sensitive to over lighting and the effects are all negative. It's an enclosed space so it could be the heat mostly, but regardless, I just get better results with the top/bottom light and about twice the yield. Obviously, you couldn't do this with HPS or other arc type lights but LEDs are perfect for it. How did others not think of doing this yet? That's the beauty of LED lighting, you can put them very close to plants and if water or stuff falls onto them it won't be an explosion or anything. If they actually touch buds they'll brown but they can be as close as about an inch.

Lets see some pictures

Yah, I got some 4"X18" heatsinks I plan on throwing 2 cobs on each at 80-150w total per fixture. Gotta decide how much I wanna add, but will be under lighting. Hella over larf and it's a bee-otch to clear it ALL out before flower.

Multi directional lighting is a thing.

It seems a bit counter productive to throw the light upwards as most of the photo receptors are on top of the leaves?
So for all the efficiency buffs out there it'd be a waste of a lot of light.
I think side lighting might be better in open spaces but if you're in a packed out tent the lights would be too close to the plants.
I use side lighting.

Moflow said:

It seems a bit counter productive to throw the light upwards as most of the photo receptors are on top of the leaves?
So for all the efficiency buffs out there it'd be a waste of a lot of light.
I think side lighting might be better in open spaces but if you're in a packed out tent the lights would be too close to the plants.
I use side lighting.

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I was going to say the same earlier but thought I would read more into it.
We all know what vert growers with bulbs plants look like, they orientate their leaves toward the light and give a clawed appearance.
But after reading more, chloroplasts are actually in the middle of the leaf and can be activated from either above or below, although its more efficient for the plant from above it does help hitting the bottom of leaves in situations where canopies are super dense.
Also the stems themselves will photosynthesise too, only to a small degree though.

The way I grow I think I would benefit from a 30w 2ft strip on each tent wall pointed 45 degree up. Might have to order some from cutter.

I've contemplated assembling an LED "fork" with strips at low-ish amperages, that could be inserted into my larger bushes....

Honestly... After Cleaning up the bottom and clearing it out, the leaves under the cabin don't get too large. The bud sites down there I feel are getting the light and will get much larger.

Chip Green said:

I've contemplated assembling an LED "fork" with strips at low-ish amperages, that could be inserted into my larger bushes....

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What does that led "fork" look like......?

Moflow said:

What does that led "fork" look like......?

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I'm sure it's nothing more than some 2ft strips mounted to a piece of metal on one end to create a fork. The prongs are led strips.

I've used side lighting, starting low on the plant, for years with great results. I see no upside to bottom lighting, only something else to trip over.

Moflow said:

What does that led "fork" look like......?

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Like Airwalker posted....
That idea will most likely remain what it is, a late night, glycerine overdose induced brainchild....

huh?

SideLighting is the key. Lower light intensity makes for better fruit taste, more terps. i was blasting mine with 1200Par, the taste was ruff, as where the lowers, were far more frosty, still dense, and much smoother hits, with 400PAR range.

This is why i think with COBS anyways, 500-600 PAR is the sweet spot.

Chip Green said:

Like Airwalker posted....
That idea will most likely remain what it is, a late night, glycerine overdose induced brainchild....

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They're already in production .......

So if you copy this Alibaba will see you in Court!.........

If you build a light that has the power for penetration then theres no need for upward lighting which is a waste bc the leave can not use light shining on the bottoms. A bud will still develop not in direct light. And fill out solid if using the right spectrum. I use strips and get solid bud clear down inside the plants side branching.

whytewidow said:

If you build a light that has the power for penetration then theres no need for upward lighting which is a waste bc the leave can not use light shining on the bottoms. A bud will still develop not in direct light. And fill out solid if using the right spectrum. I use strips and get solid bud clear down inside the plants side branching.

Click to expand...

what about the study in the other thread then? have you even read it?