Optimum LED colour spectrum FOR CLONES? 3500K, 4000K, or 5000K

HydroLynx

HydroLynx

Well-Known Member
Looking at Samsung strips with LM561C for a veg + cuttings box.

I figure that colour quality seems to be less important than quantity, generally, but not when it comes to morphology, such as making new roots.

I find clones can develop roots faster (1 week instead of 2) than HPS compared to 4K MH

BUT these mid-power LEDs are more efficient with higher K, which may increase rooting time...

Then again even a 5000K led pumps out more red than a MH, or even HPS it seems, so it may matter less.

Who's tried and seen?

@CobKits @captainmorgan @Growmau5
 
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HydroLynx

HydroLynx

Well-Known Member
Nugachino said:
Does the added red help with rooting too?
If not then I'm still saying it's between 4000k and 5000k for anything outside of flowering.
Click to expand...
Yeah old-school lore says "More blue for veg and more red for flower" but for cloning using a lower K may produce better results...
 
V

VegasWinner

Well-Known Member
I have used 5000k alone 3500k alone and various t5 variations over time. I have found great roots in 1 week with a homemade qb board with 42 diodes in series with 8 strings in parallel four 5000k four 3000k driven with a 185h-c1400b driver at max of 150w in a 2x2 area. I also takes same clones in same 2x2 from cloner to hydro easily continuously
 
zypheruk

zypheruk

Well-Known Member
3000-3500 is all that's needed and will give what is needed from veg to flower. Is it really worth spending money on something just for veg. To me it's not but others will off course have their opinion.
As for rooting time a ph of 5.5 will produce roots quicker using 3000-3500k than say ph 6.0 and 4k-5k lights. There is more to roots than the lights. Make your own choice.
 
Heil Tweetler

Heil Tweetler

Well-Known Member
zypheruk said:
3000-3500 is all that's needed and will give what is needed from veg to flower. Is it really worth spending money on something just for veg. To me it's not but others will off course have their opinion.
As for rooting time a ph of 5.5 will produce roots quicker using 3000-3500k than say ph 6.0 and 4k-5k lights. There is more to roots than the lights. Make your own choice.
Click to expand...
I use 5k CFL photography bulbs from Amazon. They are 100actual Watt for like 12$ each. I made a lil rig that will take cutting from clones thru veg with 4 of those bulbs and a hunk of bent duct work.


"As for rooting time a ph of 5.5 will produce roots quicker using 3000-3500k than say ph 6.0 and 4k-5k lights" whats the science behind that?
 
Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
Cfls are 60 lumens a watt and omnidirectional......pass

5k 80cri veros have been good for 4+ years at around 170 lumens per watt in my veg
 
nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
HydroLynx said:
Looking at Samsung strips with LM561C for a veg + cuttings box.

I figure that colour quality seems to be less important than quantity, generally, but not when it comes to morphology, such as making new roots.

I find clones can develop roots faster (1 week instead of 2) than HPS compared to 4K MH

BUT these mid-power LEDs are more efficient with higher K, which may increase rooting time...

Then again even a 5000K led pumps out more red than a MH, or even HPS it seems, so it may matter less.

Who's tried and seen?

@CobKits @captainmorgan @Growmau5
Click to expand...
They seem to like the 4000K I use.
 
nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
Heil Tweetler said:
I use 5k CFL photography bulbs from Amazon. They are 100actual Watt for like 12$ each. I made a lil rig that will take cutting from clones thru veg with 4 of those bulbs and a hunk of bent duct work.


"As for rooting time a ph of 5.5 will produce roots quicker using 3000-3500k than say ph 6.0 and 4k-5k lights" whats the science behind that?
Click to expand...
A clone is basically starting out in a hydroponic medium. 5.5 PH will allow the roots to uptake nutrients better as they are forming.
 
nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
Not true. there's acruelly many micro nutrients that can't even be up taken below 6.0
Click to expand...
Well, I guess you need to inform my plants of that, they don't seem to realize they can't uptake those micronutrients at the 5.5-5.8 PH they are sitting in.

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