I got a buddy whose very tight with cash, a cfl for 2 weeks at seedling then hits them with a hps for a month then back to the cfl's.
for the last 2-3 weeks back to the hps, he claims a saving of 50% over me (20/4 constant) with his a little shorter but about the same weight
Im tight with my photos they get 10x14 dark instead the 12x12 norm but I gotta go another 2 weeks to match the 12x12 quality (its a lifestyle thing)
meanwhile Im toking autos ...keep in mind the plant grows in light? but makes the thc in the dark
cheers
I have an extra timer-button of dark on both veg and bloom. But where I live electricity is cheap. For my plants getting a little extra dark, it's because I heard it was better for the plants, and the explanation made sense. Changed my timers and haven't looked back. Don't even remember all the reasoning, just no reason to change back.
For the auto's it is more the principle of the thing. The "seed of the future" requires that indoor growers commit more "carbon footprint sin"
than those running photperiods that are easy to make more of for the home grower - vs something that can't be trained or cloned.
For me it would be regulated to a cash-crop or an ornamental with benefits outside. I won't buy any, but they show up as freebies occasionally.