Ok. Back to the experiment. I have some interesting observations. Since i just started the new 14/14 cycle, i had to just post bullshit until something different happened. This may be a long post.
Im noticing some stark differences between the different breeds, and im trying to form some hypotheses, from them. To start, let me explain the phenos. Grape ape is almost a pure indica. Bay 11 is supposed to be 60% sativa. And pineapple haze is mostly sativa.
With the 16/12 light schedule, i noticed larger buds, and extended flowering period with the indica, which is a 7-8 week flowering time. With the Bay 11, i noticed slightly larger buds, but more of them. It is considered a 8-9 week flowering time, but that seems to be extended as well. The pineapple haze, being a almost pure sativa has a different bud structure than i have seen from most sativas. They usually have thick buds at the end of the branch (at least from all of the pictures ive seen on the internet). These are not as top heavy on the bud structure. They are more evenly spread throughout the branch, almost like an indica. And we all know that sativas have 12-14 week flowering times.
Since the 14/14 switch, the bay 11 and the pineapple haze have started swelling. They are starting to catch up to the grape ape in terms of the top cola. There has been little observable change with the grape ape. To be fair, the grape ape may just be ripening now.
This leads me to my hypothesis. Sativas usually need 12 hours of darkness to get to flowering, but indicas can do so with as little as 8 hours of darkness. And i think it is well established that when you increase the hours of darkness on MJ, it speeds up the flowering process. What if that is why there is such a discrepency in flowering time? Indicas get way more darkness than they need, and sativas get just enough. Therefore it speeds up the indica, and hinders the sativa when they are at 12/12.
I really believe that the extended hours of light limited the stretch of both, which could explain the more bushy buds on the sativa. And the hybrid seems to be splitting the difference.
What would happen, if you started all the plants with 16/12, and kept indicas on 16/12, and switched the sativas to a 12/16? Would they finish at the same time? Would it increase overall yield? Because it might be that indicas are dictated by “days” of flower, where indicas are dictated by hours of daylight.
Like i said, this whole thing is an experiment. I am trying to observe the differences that a 28 hour light cycle causes to the plants. If there are advantages to it, could someone (who what is no way lazy) run 2 tents with the same light (lots of work)? But if there is a linear increase in yield, would they save a thousand dollars on lights, and get 3 or more times the yield? I only say this because im basing this on the difference in my last grow from this one. I am only guessing, but i think i will have 3 times as much as i did on my last grow. I feel pretty confident that i will get 2 pounds at least on this grow. That would represent 1.3 grams per watt with HPS. Imagine if its with LED? That would be 2 grams per watt. But if i get 3 pounds? That would be 2 grams per watt with HPS! If that is possible, what could someone that knows what they are doing accomplish? This very well might be pie in the sky, but i can tell you with absolute certainty, that this is a HUGE improvement. If im wrong, oh well, everyone can just do what they have been doing. But if im right? Imagine the possibilities?
I am basing a lot of this on the fact that nowhere on the internet can i find grape ape buds as big as these. If anyone has evidence to the contrary? Please send pics. Thanks to anyone that suffered through all of that.