THE 12-1 Lighting Method (NOT YOUR 18-6)

Little tempted to try this lighting schedule for a grow. Listening in on an (Joe Pietri) interview, he mentions (in his opinion) the Danish scam of the 18-6 (photo) schedule made famous by Jorge Cervante. He goes on to disclaim a lot of names but the lighting schedule got my attention, I have a few questions about it and not a lot out there on the net for info. So here's the schedule (copy and pasted) from GROWWEEDEASY

12 hours ON, 5.5 hours OFF, 1 hour ON, and 5.5 hours OFF for each 24 hour period.

This is only for VEGETATIVE PERIOD,

When we begin flowering, move everything to 11 hours on, and 13 hours off. You will keep this for 2 weeks, then drop the lighting period by 30 minutes, I.E. after two weeks you will switch to 10.5 hours on, and 13.5 hours off. Continue this 30 minute drop every 2 weeks until you reach 9 hours on/ 15 hours off. Finish your flowering at this lighting.

My first question and thought is .. won't this effect the DLI? DAILY LIGHT INTEGRAL?

It's called the gas lantern method. It works, but I don't know that it makes the plants any better. I heard somewhere it speeds up flower but reduces yield.

It plays both sides of the light arguement.

It uses the artificial interruption to keep the plant in veg, but advocates a more natural light cycle where the plant gets less and less light to simulate nature.

Imo, it probably won't make a difference unless everything else is pretty much dialed in.

I find this really interesting- I have been doing the same in flower as he is recommending- I start my flowering at 11.5 on 12.5 off and drop a half hour every 2 weeks. My results have surpassed my expectations.
If this veg system works good- I will be getting some crazy bud.
Dropping the light cycle also shortens the flower period- in my opinion- my entire room has been close to 8 weeks- all strains.

Bud man 43 said:

I find this really interesting- I have been doing the same in flower as he is recommending- I start my flowering at 11.5 on 12.5 off and drop a half hour every 2 weeks. My results have surpassed my expectations.
If this veg system works good- I will be getting some crazy bud.
Dropping the light cycle also shortens the flower period- in my opinion- my entire room has been close to 8 weeks- all strains.View attachment 5311329View attachment 5311330

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I'm on a 12/12 cycle right now, gonna try this at an hour every three weeks, only because of my timers limitations. What timer are you using that does the half hour cycles? Might have to upgrade here soon. Flowers look AMAZING,

Week4@inCharge said:

I'm on a 12/12 cycle right now, gonna try this at an hour every three weeks, only because of my timers limitations. What timer are you using that does the half hour cycles? Might have to upgrade here soon. Flowers look AMAZING,

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I am using hard wired Woods Pro timers- I prefer the mechanical timers.

Bud man 43 said:

I am using hard wired Woods Pro timers- I prefer the mechanical timers.
View attachment 5311337View attachment 5311338

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And I have only had 1 failure so far- but I always have an extra on hand- they are inexpensive and good quality

Bud man 43 said:

I find this really interesting- I have been doing the same in flower as he is recommending- I start my flowering at 11.5 on 12.5 off and drop a half hour every 2 weeks. My results have surpassed my expectations.
If this veg system works good- I will be getting some crazy bud.
Dropping the light cycle also shortens the flower period- in my opinion- my entire room has been close to 8 weeks- all strains.View attachment 5311329View attachment 5311330

Click to expand...

What strain is that and how many watts did you grow her under? Just curious, because that's a beauty.

Tolerance Break said:

What strain is that and how many watts did you grow her under? Just curious, because that's a beauty.

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This is Wedding Cake from MSNL
I lost count of the total watts a couple new fixtures ago- i will have to count them again.
I am growing in a 11x10 dedicated room so the entire space is flooded with light from all the fixtures- they get light on all sides.
I have a second one of this strain that is still going- colas are just as fat but not quite as big

Bud man 43 said:

This is Wedding Cake from MSNL
I lost count of the total watts a couple new fixtures ago- i will have to count them again.
I am growing in a 11x10 dedicated room so the entire space is flooded with light from all the fixtures- they get light on all sides.
I have a second one of this strain that is still going- colas are just as fat but not quite as big

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I'm laughing because you make it sound so easy..lol, some of us measure PAR and struggle for even lighting and hearing your answer to this...brilliant. I use a mechanical timer too, well maybe it can do the half hour.

Here's one of the main reasons I believe this 12-1 cycle could work for me personally. Like clock work on every grow, mid to late flower, my plants seem like they want to go to bed/retire couple hours before the lights go out. The leaves begin to drop. They have expired their uptake capabilities it seems like and just want to rest. This 12-1 schedule would allow them to recuperate at a faster rate. That's my thought process at the moment.

Week4@inCharge said:

Here's one of the main reasons I believe this 12-1 cycle could work for me personally. Like clock work on every grow, mid to late flower, my plants seem like they want to go to bed/retire couple hours before the lights go out. The leaves begin to drop. They have expired their uptake capabilities it seems like and just want to rest. This 12-1 schedule would allow them to recuperate at a faster rate. That's my thought process at the moment.

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Considering the fact that nowhere on earth gets 12 hours of day and night for 8+ weeks a year, it makes total sense.

For veg I use 3 hours of low light, then 12 hours full light, followed by 3 hours of low light.. They love it and I save $$$$ on electric.

Bud man 43 said:

I find this really interesting- I have been doing the same in flower as he is recommending- I start my flowering at 11.5 on 12.5 off and drop a half hour every 2 weeks. My results have surpassed my expectations.
If this veg system works good- I will be getting some crazy bud.
Dropping the light cycle also shortens the flower period- in my opinion- my entire room has been close to 8 weeks- all strains.View attachment 5311329View attachment 5311330

Click to expand...

This makes so much sense! More like nature.

So you're down to 10 hours on,14 off for weeks 7 and 8?

I may try this...I have a couple "extras" in a closet that I had to remove from my tent for room. and they just started week 4 today. They are on 12/12, but I could drop them to 11.5 hours on as an experiment. I wonder if that would still work?

hmmmmm

manfredo said:

This makes so much sense! More like nature.

So you're down to 10 hours on,14 off for weeks 7 and 8?

I may try this...I have a couple "extras" in a closet that I had to remove from my tent for room. and they just started week 4 today. They are on 12/12, but I could drop them to 11.5 hours on as an experiment. I wonder if that would still work?

hmmmmm

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Yes I believe it will stimulate flowers to mature-
I am currently at 9.5 hrs light and will finish everything at 9 on 15 off-

Bud man 43 said:

I find this really interesting- I have been doing the same in flower as he is recommending- I start my flowering at 11.5 on 12.5 off and drop a half hour every 2 weeks. My results have surpassed my expectations.
If this veg system works good- I will be getting some crazy bud.
Dropping the light cycle also shortens the flower period- in my opinion- my entire room has been close to 8 weeks- all strains.View attachment 5311329View attachment 5311330

Click to expand...

That carzy gonna try it on my next tiva. 12-14 weeks is tourture. Are you saying your yeilds and quality have both increased above the standard 12/12 timing?

VaSmile said:

That carzy gonna try it on my next tiva. 12-14 weeks is tourture. Are you saying your yeilds and quality have both increased above the standard 12/12 timing?

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Yes-
It was controversial when I brought this up a while back- everyone was stuck on “ if you are cutting the light time lower than 12 you are only hurting your quality and yield because light makes photosynthesis which feeds the plant” Which is correct- but only in veg.
The dark period is what is more important for flowering - it tells the plant that winter is coming and I better reproduce.
Dropping the light by 1/2 hour every 2 weeks does the same- the plants go crazy calyxes going sideways as you can see on that big bud. I am at 9 weeks tomorrow- i have already chopped 2 and now taking them down in order of ripeness. So 8 weeks is totally possible with a good environment and lighting.

Actually thats not entirely correct. The accumulated strenghth of light and the number of the light hours harvested by the plant in total adds up in yield. You can also increase your flower time by adding a hour or two light hours(with some strains even a bit more) this will lengthen the flowertime abit. More dark hours, eg 8 light on, and 16 dark will spead it up slightly but gives less yield.

More dark there is in flowering the stonger and the more the flowering hormone builds. The less dark hours the less it builds.

TheWholeTruth said:

Actually thats not entirely correct. The accumulated strenghth of light and the number of the light hours harvested by the plant in total adds up in yield. You can also increase your flower time by adding a hour or two light hours(with some strains even a bit more) this will lengthen the flowertime abit. More dark hours, eg 8 light on, and 16 dark will spead it up slightly but gives less yield.

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I don't know man, did you see the size of his junk?

TheWholeTruth said:

The accumulated strenghth of light and the number of the light hours harvested by the plant in total adds up in yield.

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Jokes aside, this sounds like DLI, that was my big question from the OP.