During flowering, how dark do the dark cycles have to be?

First post here, and first ever grow

I have 6 plants, germinated successfully about 2 weeks ago. At the moment im growing in my attic, 18 hours of light per day with 6 hours of darkness. I've been running the lights during the night, and have them switched off during the daytime when I'm out of the house. Small amounts of light seep in through the cracks in the tiles during this time.

I've read that during flowering, the 12 hours of darkness needs to be completely dark. Would you advise me to change my lighting cycle so I have the lights on during the day, and have them off during the night so they are in total darkness?

yes say 8pm to 8am(light off) is ideal for your 12/12 stage and absoloutely no light leaks ever.
any questions i will be glad to advise.

LUDA.

I would start by removing them from your loft ASAP, as the light seeping through is a big fat sign saying "look what i'm doing", if this is not possable then try an make it light proof. As to the dark cycle, yes total darkness is required otherwise you may get hermie's, not good, best of luck

Just make sure your room is dark. You can make it with a little seepage of light, but completely pitch black is ideal

Thanks for all the quick replies, I'll change my light cycles ASAP.

No light whatsoever when flowering even a 2 min torch light can turn your plant hermie.

yep you need total pitch black darkness during 12/12 lights off oz man, its not that important during veg but in flower its crucial. you could just line your loft out with blackout sheeting? or try filling the gaps in the tiles with expanding foam? and run your lights at the same times instead of messing around changing the plants photoperiod, its always a nice peace of mind that yr lights are off while your not home.
wouldnt advise any light seepage during 12/12 lights off as advised in another post, unless you wana run the risk of herms or slow flowering........

I've changed over to lights on during the daytime now and lights off during the nighttime so I can get total darkness. Thought about putting blackout curtains up there, but it was easier to just change my light cycle so my lights are off during the night.

Thanks for all the help

I have always heard that as long as the light is no brighter than what you would receive in a full moon then your ok.

Londoner said:

yep you need total pitch black darkness during 12/12 lights off oz man, its not that important during veg but in flower its crucial. you could just line your loft out with blackout sheeting? or try filling the gaps in the tiles with expanding foam? and run your lights at the same times instead of messing around changing the plants photoperiod, its always a nice peace of mind that yr lights are off while your not home.
wouldnt advise any light seepage during 12/12 lights off as advised in another post, unless you wana run the risk of herms or slow flowering........

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yes 100% from londener no moon light or any light whatsoever during flowering.
LUDA.

Yea keep it black as coal or black as my ass. Dark.........No debate

Hm so if one were to grow outdoors, you would have to block moonlight out so you can have complete darkness or they will turn hermie? i dont think so. i agree complete darkness is the goal, but SOME light seepage isnnt going to hurt anything.

well alot of people will have the lights on at night due to heat and that being the coolest part of the day and off during the day so that the temp dosent drop too low but it will have to be 100% dark when it comes to flower stage. during the grow stage even if a little light gets in during the dark period its fine since they can be on 24 light anyways but if u can cover the cracks and light leaks with panda plastic or something try to get rid of it

i've always had an issue with small leakages of slightly brighter than moonlight and i've never had a plant stunted, stressed or otherwise. All this PITCH FUCKING BLACK GOD DAMNIT. talk is pretty funny considering the fact that my grow has never been 100% pitch black. Hell its not even 100% dark outside. on a clear night sky with a full moon its pretty bright.

keysmachine said:

i've always had an issue with small leakages of slightly brighter than moonlight and i've never had a plant stunted, stressed or otherwise. All this PITCH FUCKING BLACK GOD DAMNIT. talk is pretty funny considering the fact that my grow has never been 100% pitch black. Hell its not even 100% dark outside. on a clear night sky with a full moon its pretty bright.

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My point exactly. Like i said, ideally you would like complete darkness, but a small amount of light seepage will not stress/hurt/confuse your plant shock: shocking right?). If all you "experts" want to waste your time and resources trying to block all lighting then go ahead, ill be kickin back laughing enjoying my smoke

Hey there was wondering if anyone can tell me why i have pollen sacks in my buds?????

str8ballin said:

Hey there was wondering if anyone can tell me why i have pollen sacks in my buds?????

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If they are indeed pollen sacks then it's a male or a hermaphrodite, better put up a picture first so that we can see it for a better description.
Females have little'sack-looking'things that can be confused for pollen sacks but they are actually part of the bud forming. Again - picture would be most useful.

Yarndi.

cant even see your hand in front of your face dark.

Here's pictures of them, they have pollen sacks in the buds not the by the stem....not opened just twisted....was wondering if my buds would have been bigger if they did not form these sacks????

str8ballin said:

Here's pictures of them, they have pollen sacks in the buds not the by the stem....not opened just twisted....was wondering if my buds would have been bigger if they did not form these sacks????

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Is that really the color? is there a pink cast somewhere in that room? plant looks good to me.. cant really see too well on detail what strain?