How much grow light do you need? Grow tent size | number of plants | yield per watt

What size grow light do I need? Well it depends on how much you want to yield.
I start with an estimate of the range of potential yield by wattage, by area and by number of plants. When you have converted your target yield into a grow tent size you can then calculate the grow light wattage you need. Once the target wattage and tent size is determined you can decide on the best LED grow light to suit your space and wattage requirements.
In the estimates I provide there is a range of performance which is determined by a number of factors:
Skill of grower
Plant genetics
Growing conditions i.e. temperature and humidity control
Growing medium i.e. soil/coco/hydro
all of these variables will feed into a range of yield performance from your grow setup.
PS I would not be discouraged by the claims of 3 to 4 grams per watt online. 1 grams per watt is a good performance and 2 grams per watt is amazing. I get around 1.5 grams per watt in soil and I am very happy with that.
Take care,

Shane

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[stephania]

You are not only the light guy you are the grow guy. I learned more from your 16 minute video than I have from watching hours and hours of the other guys. I learn from them too but you provide the information the way an old hippie needs to hear it; short and sweet. Thank you!!!

[FInsight-uqnt]

It's about using all the canopy space. You can do that say in a 4' 4' with one big plant or 5 small plants or 9 smaller plants.
More plants less vegging time. As long as the canopy is filling the area nicely it doesn't matter.

[rebelvette]

I can definitely confirm his range for the 4x4 tent dried content weight. It is spot on. I get this range every cycle (2-3 photo plants, no CO2, 4-5 months from seed- they wind up close to the roof) obviously varying by genetics, and I really have no clue what I’m doing and have only been at it a couple years now.

[steveod]

This video is exactly what we needed considering current crazy electric prices, thank you!

[pickerelhunter]

I just finished my first indoor grow in a 5x5 under an SE 7000 730w…four plants …two week slow dry…weighed in at 735g…..thanks for the info….really like your work

[timturk]

No surprises here. Everything you said seems Spot On, from my experience.
The plant numbers, Watts per tent size, umols at the canopy, and expected harvest weight, were the best recommendations I've heard. And all in one short video.
Perfect, Shane. Much Thanks!

[MarioG]

Thank you for doing the homework that most of us are unable, incapable, or lack resources to accomplish.

[Frank-zfyl]

A person I know said she prefers more smaller plants because of the variety. It's great to grow ginormous plants if you have room but I also believe you build a tolerance to one strain so if you've got different varieties you can switch strains and don't have to smoke as much!

[deej]

I've noticed after 6 years genetics makes the difference with yield. But what a great informative watch thanks shane💯😎

[jimbob]

Spot on. Coco/Perlite, no CO2 always reached almost top yield. 16 weeks photoperiod. Great confidence boost, thank you for the videos.

[dmo]

You'll have so much bud after first harvest it will make your head spin. I can see how folks get themselves caught up in this game. The numbers are crazy😂 and i love it

[wealthyandhealthy]

I have been watching your videos for years. your lights are top quality and your tests are great to watch. keep up the great work.

[MattGarver]

Totally enjoyed the casual conversational details. I may need to re-watch just to take in all the information covered.

[eastcoastgrower]

Great video Migro. It really is nice to see someone put it all out there and break it down for people like myself that just want to know what we need to know. This definitely saves me from oversizing a light for my 4×4. Thank you

[tedshred]

I just pulled 14.8 ozs of soil grown autoflower buds from my 3x3 using a Viparspectra KS3000. 1.39 gms per watt.

I'm happy with that.

[Jackson-lo-jy]

I CAN'T STOP THANKING YOU FOR YOUR HOME MADE GROW LIGHTS UP GRAD MY GROW SPACE 2 BY 4 GROW SPACE BLESSINGS AGAIN AND COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITH OUT YOUR HELP ❤❤❤

[hambiscuit]

I'm definitely going to check out your lights. I don't have a problem with my current yeilds, heck I have enough product to roll around in but it's time for a new light and my priority is a safe efficient light

[one]

With good variation and plants about 1.4m + 16L pot in coco i manage to pull 2.1g/W as my record after 8 days of drying. Normally i manage to make about 1.6-1.7 with my LED mars hydro in 1m x 2m high tent. In my best grow i was using CO2 suplementation.

[philipgood]

I've lost count of the grow light videos and finally I come across yourself and long story short I just ordered the array 4×4 all of your work is interesting and above all accurate big thanks Shane

[hollowbullet]

A trick to veg out one photoperiod and harvest during the veg is to stick one photoperiod with a bunch of staggered autoflowers. While the photoperiod veg's out to fill the 4x4 you harvest the autoflowers as they ready to clear up more room for the photoperiod. You might have to take plants out to free up space so need another area to finish an auto or two off every now and then. By the time you harvest the last auto you should have a photoperiod that's taking up the entire space once trained out.