Light leaks - how dangerous, and how to solve them?

I posted about this a few days ago. I have six plants in my closet (well in to the right side - the left-most plants come out to about halfway past the right section of the right door), which has doors very similar to this one:



I was worried about light leaks due to the many cracks. The plants furthest into the closet have started showing preflowers since they were put into 12/12, but the ones closest to the doors (and potential light leaks) have not. I foiled up all the cracks on the right door, and tried to make a sort of overlapping foil between the two doors, taped to only one side (obviously I cannot seal it to both doors, because then I would not be able to open them). I plan on finishing up by covering up the cracks on the left door as well, and then trying to cover up the tops. Despite this, there are still tiny pinpoints where some light could get through. It wouldn't be very much at all, and the ambient light in my room during the lights off cycle isn't a lot until the morning when the sun rises (just four computer monitors). I'm not sure how serious light leaks affect flowering, but will having 95% of all the light sealed off be good enough?

And if not, how can I protect my plants from light stress and from revegging (or not flowering)?

Once again, I wouldn't be able to do this without the help of this community. You guys are great. Thanks.

make a black curtain that blocks out everything. hang it with a shower curtain rod from the inside.

That's one idea.

Does anyone have input on whether or not I have to buy more supplies, or will my current foil solution be good enough? I'll post pictures when the lights on cycle starts again.

ya light leaks will diffidently cause your plants to herm as for how to fix them fix them any way you can tape cardboard blankets whatever. i would hang up a blanket behind the closet doors or somthing like that.

superstonerdude said:

ya light leaks will diffidently cause your plants to herm as for how to fix them fix them any way you can tape cardboard blankets whatever. i would hang up a blanket behind the closet doors or somthing like that.

Click to expand...

I tried that; it's not as easy as it sounds.

BustedParaphernalia said:

I tried that; it's not as easy as it sounds.

Click to expand...

lol ya most things are easier sayd than done if that doesnt work then im sure you can find some way to stop the light leak you have a better idea of what you need to do than we do.

That's true. I used some string to tie up a heavy blanket, but it's sorta draped over the reflector hood and will need to be taken down before the light turns on to avoid a fire hazard.

What I'm really looking for here is a general idea of how and what severity of a light leak is going to harm my plants. I don't have enough experience under my belt to know this from, well, experience, and I'd rather like to avoid ruining my first grow for something as silly as this.

I wrap my tent up with a big ass blanket, from top to bottom and all around just to make sure. Get some black and white plastic and hang it up inside the door.

And a light leak, think of it like this: Your plant needs 12 hours DARKNESS to flower properly. If in that 12 hours it never actually gets dark because there's light pouring through cracks, your plants don't know to flower and they go sloooooww and will probably stress themselves to herm.

Nail up a Huge Blackout Window Cover.. their made to, black-out rooms.. thats what I use.

buy a giant refrigerator box and cover it with that and build your light set up inside of it. its light leak proof

Ugh. These are all good ideas but they require spending more money, which is something I can't do (unless it's under $20).

I'm going to have to get inventive, I guess.

Next grow I'm definitely shelling out the $$ on a mylar tent...

tehgenoc1de said:

I wrap my tent up with a big ass blanket, from top to bottom and all around just to make sure. Get some black and white plastic and hang it up inside the door.

And a light leak, think of it like this: Your plant needs 12 hours DARKNESS to flower properly. If in that 12 hours it never actually gets dark because there's light pouring through cracks, your plants don't know to flower and they go sloooooww and will probably stress themselves to herm.

Click to expand...

What if the light is barely noticeable with the human eye unless you're looking for it? It's a verrrrrrrrrrry tiny bit of light. Hardly anything at all. I'm not sure how it is in the morning but it still wouldn't be much because of the foil.

http://www.shopmania.co.uk/baby-gear/p-astroflame-finger-safe-child-safety-door-guard-12987649

Use something similar to the above link. can even make it out of cardboard or poster board. Put it on the inside hinge of each door. For the light leak where the 2 doors meet, just put a flap of same material on just one door. Doing that will make it like a light trap on a vent.

I believe if you can see your hand in front of your face while inside during dark, it's too much. I'm not positive on just a little bit, but it probably slows it a bit.

You can get black/white plastic at a hydro store, they usually cut it $1/foot. Hell, get some fucking black trash bags and cut em, tape em together and hang that.

Caulk can be your best friend, trouble is the door bottoms if you have carpet, you can caulk between 2 surfaces and allow it to only to stick to one surface. all you need is a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the surface you do not want the caulk to stick to, be sure to let it dry very well before opening the doors which may take some planning w a grow. it also may take more than one try. if you have carpet you could lay foil or suran wrap tight to the floor and smear the jelly on it and caulk the door. cheap and effective

tehgenoc1de said:

I believe if you can see your hand in front of your face while inside during dark, it's too much. I'm not positive on just a little bit, but it probably slows it a bit.

You can get black/white plastic at a hydro store, they usually cut it $1/foot. Hell, get some fucking black trash bags and cut em, tape em together and hang that.

Click to expand...

.....I really feel retarded for not thinking of that. Foil is such a hassle.. but black plastic will do whatever the fuck i want it to.

Sir Stickybuds said:

Caulk can be your best friend, trouble is the door bottoms if you have carpet, you can caulk between 2 surfaces and allow it to only to stick to one surface. all you need is a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the surface you do not want the caulk to stick to, be sure to let it dry very well before opening the doors which may take some planning w a grow. it also may take more than one try. if you have carpet you could lay foil or suran wrap tight to the floor and smear the jelly on it and caulk the door. cheap and effective

Click to expand...

Another good idea, but this is a rented house, and I can't go fucking up the closet.

EDIT: Also, the doors need to be able to be opened on a regular basis. I also have mushies growing in there on the other side of the closet and I need access to my plants on the right side.

I just stood in my closet with the doors closed and tried the see-your-hand idea, and I could not see my hand. I'm going to finish foiling up the closet tomorrow and then not use the blanket (fire hazards are bad..). I think I'll be alright.

Thanks guys!

Hang the blanket on the outside?

Sounds like you're ok though.

my cousin said good enough, hes been flowering a 60 flowering plant for like 10 weeks now

tehgenoc1de said:

Hang the blanket on the outside?

Sounds like you're ok though.

Click to expand...

I tried that, but it wouldn't stay up.

The only problem right now is the middle crack between the doors. Once I fix that I'll be okay.