The world of marijuana cultivation is full of various terms, which can often become very perplexing to cannabis connoisseurs.
Thus, if the phrase lumens for weed has just illuminated you as a weed grower and you seem to be confused on what the heck is the purpose of lumens, after all, don’t get discouraged!
The jargon, regarding marijuana growing, gets easier and easier to grasp as your experience keeps expanding.
In this article, we are digging into explaining lumens in a beginner-friendly manner without missing to point out everything you need to know on the topic.
Are you ready? Let’s detangle the lumens mystery once and for all!
#1 – What’s the Difference between Lumens and Watts?
Now, if we get to sink into the scientific explanation of lumens and watts, you are very likely to curse me until the end of this article!
But I feel you because I have been there – at the very crossroad of decoding the marijuana jargon.
And yes, this sometimes feels as if you are trying to read a business-related article, full of complex terms, which only leave you totally confused (and a tiny bit frustrated).
Okay, I have a deal for you – we are going to speak the plain HUMAN language here.
The only thing you need to remember about lumens is hiding in the very roots of the word itself – lumens = illuminate.
Subsequently,illumination = brightness.
So, on the one hand, you have lumens, which are referring to the brightness, emitted by the grow lights.
On the other hand, you have watts or wattage. Watts also have something to do with brightness.
But the thinnest line between lumens and watts is that 2 grow bulbs, featuring the same wattage, can feature completely different lumens.
The wattage is used to calculate the energy your grow lights consume to produce light in return.
However, that doesn’t automatically mean more watts will provide a brighter light!
Take, for example, LED lights.
LED lights are considered superior for growing cannabis and especially when installing in conjunction with HPS and/or MH lights.
But LED lights don’t function well thanks to the towering wattage but because of the suitable color spectrum of the light, they emit.
In fact, if you have ever seen LED lights in action, you know very well that they are not at all bright!
Now pause.
If things start to sound a bit confusing, here comes the crucial point.
Remember that marijuana plants thrive because of the suitable color spectrum + suitable brightness, which automatically means lumens are interconnected with the best grow lights in a more complex way rather than anything straightforward.
However, your major concern is not to become a professor at a marijuana growing university.
Do you need to understand how to utilize lumens the best way for your personal cannabis cultivation adventure, right?
So let’s get down to work. We will show you how to take advantage of lumens effortlessly below.
#2 – How to Calculate the Best Amount of Lumens for Weed during Vegetation vs. Flowering
As a rule of thumbs, when it comes to marijuana seedlings, you should not bother about considering lumens at all.
While your green princesses are still babies, they are more concerned about feeling warm, well-moist and cozy rather than relying on the power of lumens.
However, you can still take advantage of common CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lights), as well as small LEDs only to ensure seedlings will get a head start.
But above all, you must remember that your seedlings can be easily burnt, so no need to overdo the whole grow lights scenario.
40W LEDs will be more than perfectly well-suited during the first 3 weeks of growing, without much regards to the lumens.
As soon as your emerald beauties enter the 4th week of vegetation, it is time to increase the access to light.
But then again, during the vegetation stage, lumens are not yet THAT crucial.
Keep in mind the following rule – the more light = the more energy. Subsequently, more energy is needed during flowering, when the plants will use this same energy to feed the juicy buds.
Thus, anything between 3000 to 5000 lumens per square foot is more than enough to ensure the proper growth of your marijuana plants from week 4 to the end of vegetation (about week 8 on an average).
Calculating the square foot of your growing space is an easy-peasy one. You simply need to measure the lengths and width of the growing room and multiply them. For example, 3 meters length x 5 meters width = 15 square foot.
Now, when it comes to the most important application of lumens – the flowering stage, you want to give your plants 10 000 lumens per 1 square foot. That’s because you are striving to mimic the natural sunlight in the best way, and the sun is typical puts about 10 000 lumens.
For example, an average HPS grow bulb of 600W emits about 89 000 lumens.
Thus, if your growing room is 9 square foot, a single HPS grow bulb will be just enough as to ensure the 10 000 lumens per square foot ratio.
Simply take a look at the package of your grow lights and you will easily spot the lumens, emitted by the particular model.
Well, it turns out, after all, that calculating and utilizing the most suitable lumens for weed is not that much torture, don’t you think?
But most importantly, remember that each marijuana growing operation will only help you become better and better at understanding the needs of your precious green beauties.
Wish you happy cannabis growing, buddies!