Humanrob
Well-Known Member
I feel your pain, as they say. This is a frustrating place for the average small grower on a budget to be, because the manufacturers make claims about what the light can do, and then very knowledgeable growers contradict those claims. When you read the manufacturers website its seems reasonable and affordable, when you read the threads about actual light spread and intensity and optimal levels, and then redo the math, it becomes ridiculously expensive. I want the best quality I can get, but I'm not profiting from the outcome and can't justify limitless spending.
Of course, the whole thing is a big gray area. At the manufacturers recommended footprint, plants will grow, just nothing record breaking. If it is for personal use, depending on your needs the quantity you get could be completely sufficient. It is my understanding that more light will yield more quantity, but not necessarily better quality (unless bud density is considered a factor of quality). Previously when I had this discussion with some knowledgeable people, they seemed to concur that quality would be similar for instance between one plant grown under an Optic 120w vs one under an Optic 200w (quality defined primarily by potency and smoking characteristics). The 200 would have more penetration and more intensity, which would improve yields -- as in bud size, density, and quantity. So consider your needs, enough might be enough.
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