From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Western Massachusetts

Bnot, esheel.... you guys grow indoors. What do you guys think is a good amount of light wattage per plant? Not asking about light spectrum - just wattage of bulbs themselves

10/3/2018 9:00:51 PM

Western Massachusetts

(Austin too) how could I forget you

10/4/2018 1:28:23 AM

Wisconsin

Im planning on 400 or 600 watt HPS for winter grow for one plant. I hope that's enough

10/4/2018 4:53:43 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

It depends on what type of light. Metal Halide and HPS take more wattage for equal PAR than my LED or Ceramic Metal Halide. Using my PAR meter, My 300 watt LED (actual draw about 180 watts) was equal to my 315 watt Ceramic Metal Halide and just under my 600 watt Metal Halide/HPS. This amount of PAR will grow a tomato to full size, but at the end of last year, I started experimenting with side lighting. As the plant gets bigger it seems that the lower leaves are somewhat in the dark. That is the advantage of sunshine...light penetration. I have grown tomatoes with less light before, but they had trouble of getting leggy and produced smaller fruit.

10/4/2018 5:27:51 AM

Western Massachusetts

Bnot... side lighting. Would Strip LEDS work? And thank you Mike, you should do really well

10/4/2018 10:12:48 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

hayden, i do not have any strip lighting so I could not tell you how that it would work. What I was trying was some 150 watt LED's hung on the side of the plant. Last winter I was too late to really determine if it made a difference. I will be trying it again this winter. In another few weeks..I expect to see many questions about how to approach the winter grow. I know I plan to take it easy this winter..probably 2 hydro plants and then a couple of breeder plants to cross in soil.

10/4/2018 6:02:44 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Hayden I wish I could help you.
I grew last year with 2 2 foot t5 bulbs.
Had beautiful plants,but never actually got a set tomato.
I’m searching for a different light source myself this year.

10/4/2018 8:26:10 PM