Can You Keep Pot Plants on 24-Hr Light?

When it comes to growing marijuana, ensuring that they receive adequate light is one of the most critical factors. Many growers wonder if providing their plants with 24-hour light exposure will enhance growth and yield. In this article, we'll explore if keeping pot plants on a 24-hour light cycle is a safe and beneficial practice.

The Pros of 24-Hour Light Schedule

The primary benefit of keeping your pot plants on a 24-hour light schedule is that they will get more light, which, in turn, will increase the growth rate of the plants. This means that your plants will move from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage faster, and you'll harvest your buds earlier, but with the caveat that they will be smaller in size.

Additionally, providing your plants with 24-hour light can solve many problems that come with uneven lighting. For instance, when you have a grow room with just one lamp, the plants closest to it will get more light than those farther away from it. Providing 24-hour light to all the plants in the grow room will solve this issue.

The Cons of 24-Hour Light Schedule

The most significant drawback of keeping pot plants under a 24-hour light cycle is that they'll likely suffer from light burn. This occurs when the plants receive too much light, which causes the leaves to turn yellow and dry out. Light burn doesn't kill the plants, but it does decrease the yield and reduce the potency of the buds.

Another disadvantage of providing pot plants with 24-hour light is that they'll need to be watered and fertilized more often. Since the plants are growing faster under continuous light, their water and nutrient requirements will increase. Failing to provide adequate water and nutrients can cause the plants to dry out and die.

Should You Keep Your Pot Plants on 24-Hour Light Schedule?

The decision to keep your pot plants on 24-hour light schedule boils down to personal preference and the available resources. If you have limited space and want to harvest the buds faster, 24-hour light can be a beneficial practice provided you can prevent light burn and provide adequate water and nutrients. However, if your goal is to grow larger buds with a higher potency, it's advisable to switch to a 18/6 light cycle for the vegetative stage and 12/12 for the flowering cycle.

Conclusion

Keeping pot plants on a 24-hour light schedule is a controversial subject, but it can be beneficial if done right. It's crucial to monitor the plants for signs of light burn and provide adequate water and nutrients to prevent drying out. As long as the plants receive proper care, you can move them faster to the flowering stage and harvest the buds sooner.