As we all know, the most important aspect of growing marijuana is increasing your yields. In fact, growers are always searching for various methods to improve production.One of the most often used method for increasing yields is to keep your grow lights on 24/7. However, there are many downfalls to giving a plant to much light.

If the plants are in the vegetative phase, generally it is not an issue if they are overexposed light. Nonetheless, 24 hours of light is really not good for production.Some growers believe that seedlings need 24 hours of light. But in actuality, many experts recommend that you give seedlings 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark.On the other hand, some specialist feels that your seedlings need 16 hours of light, depending on the variety.

Thankfully, marijuana is a hardy plant and can tolerate quite a bit of light without affecting its health. The key is to be insistent as possible when selecting the distance between the light and the canopy.

Always test the light at various heights and read the manufacturers instructions. A good rule of thumb is to start at 12 inches and carefully watch the plants over the next day.If the leaves seem to wilt or burn, then the light is to close. Adjust the distance until you have the perfect exposure.For optimum yields, the light needs to hang at the distance just before light burn happens.

There are basically four growth cycles of a cannabis plant. Each growth cycle requires a certain amount of light and dark for optimum plant growth and higher yields.

1.Germination – cannabis seeds do not need light to germinate. In fact, they require complete darkness for successful germination.

2.Seedling – once the seeds have sprouted, the seedling will need a lot of light. Seedlings need 18 to 24 hours of light, depending on preference and the strain.

3.Vegetative stage – Indoor growers typically give their plants either 18 hours of light and 6 hours of dark each day or 24 hours of light with no darkness.

4.Flowering stage – the flowering stage generally requires 10 to 12 hour light/dark cycle.

In addition, cannabis does not respond well to extreme temperatures. For the best growth, avoid colder temperatures. During the vegetative stage keep temperatures in your grow tent between 68°F to 86°F (20-30°C).During the flowering stage, ideal temperatures should be between 68°F to 77°F (20-25°C). Likewise, perfect humidity levels should stay between 40% to 60% humidity.

Overview

Yes, you can leave grow lights on 24/7. Typically this is done during the vegetative state of growth.Moreover your plants will grow rather big and have a lot of foliage plus stem height.Nevertheless, most plant including cannabis will greatly benefit from a light and dark cycle. In fact, your plants will be a lot healthier and robust.Likewise, during the flowering stage, cannabis requires12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark to produce good buds. Quite frankly, the most potent and large buds come from plants that have a balanced amount of light and dark.Overall, 24/7 light can be productive during the vegetative stage of growth, just be careful not to overdo it. If your plants receive too much light during this stage, they will be prone to disease and have a lower yield.