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All You Need to Know About the Gas Lantern Routine To Grow Cannabis

Created by
NetraManjunathNetraManjunath
Added 13 April 2024

If you’ve grown cannabis for a while, you’re probably using the 18/6 cycle. Meaning, the plants get 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness during the vegetative phase and 12/12 hours during the flowering phase. 

But, what if we told you that some growers have apparently found a better lighting cycle that can work wonders for your cannabis plant? 

It’s called the gas lantern routine or the 12-1 routine, but does it work? There is some truth to it, but the rest is for you to find out on your own if you’re up to the task. In this article, learn about the gas lantern routine and how it may help you. 

What Exactly is the Gas Lantern Routine to Grow Cannabis?

What Exactly is the Gas Lantern Routine to Grow Cannabis?

The gas lantern routine finds its roots in the agricultural practices of the yesteryears, where farmers were trying to deter nocturnal pests from attacking their crops. The farmers would take out lanterns at night to protect the plants, but this had an unexpected side effect. 

The farmers realized that the use of lanterns at night stopped the plants from blooming — the crops were perpetually maintained in the vegetative stage. Fast forward to the present day, and indoor cannabis growers have harnessed this historical anomaly, touting its potential for substantial benefits in plant growth, health, and yield.

Gas Lantern Routine Breakdown 

At its core, the GLR endeavors to emulate a more natural light cycle, diverging from the conventional continuous lighting patterns typical in indoor cultivation. Here's a breakdown of what the GLR entails:

During the vegetative phase, the GLR introduces a distinctive light-dark cycle: five and a half hours of darkness followed by one hour of light, and another five and a half hours of darkness. 

This departure from the standard 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness disrupts the plants' photoperiod, effectively preventing premature transition to the flowering stage.

Growers that use GLR claim that it is a terrific method of growing cannabis. According to them, you can expect accelerated vegetative growth, reduced flowering stretch, and an earlier onset of bud development. 

By subjecting plants to a brief hour of light amidst the darkness, growers claim that GLR supports a surge in flowering hormones while keeping full bloom at bay. Consequently, when the brief light interruption stops, your cannabis plant will exhibit robust and vigorous growth.

Beyond its efficacy in enhancing plant development, the GLR offers practical advantages for cannabis growers. By shortening both the vegetative and flowering phases, you can achieve more frequent harvests. 

Vegetative cycles may be shortened by one to two weeks while flowering stages can be sped up by a week or more, all while maintaining optimal plant health and vigor.

In essence, the gas lantern routine represents a terrific yet unique approach to indoor cannabis cultivation, offering you a naturalistic alternative to conventional lighting methods. 

How Does the Gas Lantern Routine Work for Cannabis?

How Does the Gas Lantern Routine Work for Cannabis?

Did you know that cannabis doesn't need a whopping 18 hours of light during the vegetative phase? Nope, it's true! All it needs is 13 hours of light to keep growing along in its vegetative growth phase. 

So, that 18-hour lighting schedule? Yeah, it's just stressing out your plants, according to growers that use GLR. 

Think about it: even outdoor cannabis plants don't bask in 18 hours of sunlight. Heck, even in the equatorial regions, they don't get that much sunshine in a day. So, if cannabis is all about that outdoor life, why not mimic those natural conditions indoors?

This is where the gas lantern routine comes in. This nifty lighting technique can work wonders not only during the veggie stage but also throughout flowering. During the vegetative phase, you can keep those lights on for 11 hours straight and then give 'em a 13-hour break. Sounds more like what Mother Nature intended, right? 

Most growers still swear by the old 12 hours on and 12 hours off routine, but if you trust users of GLR, it's not doing your plants any favors. They need a schedule that's more in tune with the great outdoors.

Now, let's talk flowering. When your plants are blossoming, it's like they're naturally winding down for the season. Out in the wild, they wouldn't be soaking up a full 12 hours of sunlight at that point. 

That's where GLR swoops in to save the day. By mimicking those outdoor photoperiods as closely as possible, you're giving your plants the best shot at success. Some growers even start with the classic 12/12 setup and gradually dial down the lights, adding a 30-minute shutdown every two weeks. It's like simulating that transition from late summer to early autumn sunlight, right in your grow room. 

So, when your buds are in those final weeks of flowering, they'll be chilling out with a cozy 9 hours on and 15 hours off. Talk about bringing the great outdoors inside!

What are the Potential Benefits of the Gas Lantern Routine?

What are the Potential Benefits of the Gas Lantern Routine?

Let's break down the potential perks of jumping on the GLR bandwagon:

1. Lower Energy Bills 

Tired of those eye-watering electricity bills? GLR steps in to save the day by trimming your energy usage. By limiting the light to just 13 hours daily instead of the standard 18, GLR can save you A LOT of money during each growing season. 

2. Keeps the Grow Room Cool 

Don't let your plants break a sweat! Traditional grow lights, especially HPS and MH ones, can turn up the heat, but GLR keeps things cool and comfy. Thanks to its intermittent dark spells, GLR creates a cooler environment, ensuring your plants stay in their happy place, thriving and flourishing.

3. A More Natural Light Cycle 

GLR aims to mimic Mother Nature's light cycle, giving your plants a more natural lighting regime. This aligns with the plant's biological rhythm, potentially encouraging more organic growth patterns. It's like bringing a slice of the great outdoors right into your grow room!

4. Improved Growth 

With GLR, your plants enjoy extra downtime, leading to robust growth in just a couple of weeks. More growth means more buds, translating to potentially higher yields. And if you're into training techniques, GLR could be the secret sauce for unlocking even more flowering buds, boosting your yield to the max!

5. Better Root Health

Now, here's where things get a bit controversial. Some growers swear by GLR for strengthening the root system. They believe that during the dark hours, cannabis plants focus on root development. So, by giving them more dark hours, you're helping those roots grow stronger. And we all know a solid root system sets the stage for lush, healthy growth.

So, there you have it—GLR isn't just a lighting routine; it can be a game-changer for your plants, your wallet, and even the environment!

What are the Drawbacks of the Gas Lantern Routine?

What are the Drawbacks of the Gas Lantern Routine?

Sure, it can be a game-changer, but is the gas lantern routine right for you? Here are some of the biggest drawbacks of this routine that you should be aware of before jumping in. 

1. Can Stress Your Plant 

Transitioning to GLR isn't always a walk in the park. The sudden shift away from traditional lighting schedules might catch your plants off guard, leading to stress or a temporary growth slowdown as they adapt to the new rhythm.

2. Some Strains are More Sensitive To GLR

Not all cannabis strains are thrilled about GLR's unique lighting routine. Some genetics, particularly those accustomed to lengthy light exposure, might find GLR's interrupted daylight schedule less than ideal, potentially stunting their growth. 

Additionally, certain varieties might unexpectedly enter the flowering stage due to the light stress induced by this method.

3. You Need to Be More Involved 

GLR demands a hands-on approach from growers. Keeping a close watch and potentially making frequent adjustments to the lighting regimen for optimal growth can be time-consuming. This routine calls for keen observation and a readiness to tweak the lighting setup based on your plants' feedback.

4. May Not Always Work — No Guarantee

While some growers sing praises of GLR's ability to boost yields, others may experience the opposite. A drop in yield is possible, particularly if your plants struggle to adapt to the new lighting scheme. Individual experiences vary, highlighting the importance of tailoring your approach to suit your specific circumstances.

Summary: All You Need to Know About the Gas Lantern Routine To Grow Cannabis

In summary, the Gas Lantern Routine offers a unique approach to indoor cannabis cultivation, promising a host of benefits for both you and your plants alike. By mimicking natural light cycles, GLR provides a more energy-efficient, cooler, and growth-promoting environment. 

With accelerated vegetative growth, reduced flowering stretch, and potential for higher yields, GLR has captured the attention of cannabis cultivators worldwide. However, it's essential to weigh the drawbacks, including potential plant stress, strain sensitivity, increased monitoring requirements, and variable performance outcomes. 

Ultimately, whether GLR is right for you depends on your unique circumstances and cultivation goals. So, if you are looking to spice up your cannabis cultivation and potentially find the next best thing to increase your plant’s yields — give GLR a try!








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TastyBudzz
TastyBudzz
Look or better yet measure actual hours of direct sunlight on plants in out door gardens . 8 hours is probably maximum unless you live in the prairies. I run 14 hours of light for veg . To prevent flowering. In theory 8 hours of strong light and 4 hours of low light is all that is needed . Then reduce low light to 2 hours when it's time to induce flowering. Bottom line . My plants are definitely happier and stronger with 14 hours light at veg and 10 hours light flowering. Less stress . Less sighns of nutrition deficiency. The main cause of calcium deficiency is too much light . Too many photons in a 24 hour cycle . I am not concerned about saving electricity. My plants are much healthier and easier to manage. I don't understand why but I believe my internodal lengths are shorter and stems appear to be thicker . Less heat is definitely a bonus . Equipment last longer . Wasn't aware this had a name . I am simply matching natures parameters . It's impossible for a plant to get 18 hours of direct sunlight. For reference I don't do this complex light cycle mentioned in gas lighting. Just run 14 hours for veg and 10 hours for flowering. It's all bro science untill an actual scientific controlled comparison is done lol. So my instincts and observations tell me less hours . Healthier plants . Also I now only feed my plants once a week with half recommended strength of food . Cut my Fox farm soil with perlite at 1 to 1 ratio. In other words less than half the food . Plants show absolutely no sighns of deficiency. Less light , less food . Stronger Healthier plants .
PoopDick
PoopDick
Wow, this is fundamentally misguided. Nobody will bother with such an experiment because existing knowledge virtually precludes it from being possible as far as shaving 1-2 weeks off vege phase or having some profound impact in flower. My bad, "veggies" phase.. I'm assuming this is when someone has an urge for vegetables? This is a technique you can use outdoors to prolong vegetative phase. As long as it doesn't get too cold before harvesting, it can have a positive effect outdoors. There is no use for this indoors. DLI powers production. DLI at varying hours of operations has been shown to give the same yield. Hours of operation without mentioning whether they also made sure to maintain the same DLI is a huge red flag of bro-science and the fact these GLR proponents don't really understand the basics of the existing knoweldge base. They likely compared apples to oranges and never had a control group nor a proper samples size to draw any credible conclusions. They did "something" and they blindly attributed any positive thing they saw to their actions. Bro-science.. 99.9%. FYI, if you reduce hours of light without upping intensity of light you will lose yield by comparison. Also, if you do increase the light intensity proportionally, it will cost roughly the same at 9 or 12 or 18 hours etc. More times than not the slightly more expensive context will be fewer hours of operation due to a loss of efficiency when running equipment "hotter." Adding more lights instead of increasing power to any 1 light could avoid that small extra cost.
m0use
m0use
DLI is key here. to many unknowns about how it saves hydro. and if its main selling point is natural and organic light cycles. no where on earth does the light come on for 1 hr at night and then go away again lol. I fell that extra stress would send a already borderline plant from shit genetics over the edge and waste your effort of growing it, turning it into a hemri. You also don't have to grow 18/6 you can do 17/7 or 16/8 or 15/9 or 14/10 or 13/11 and you don't have to hit the ideal DLI of aorund 35-40 either. You can and likely have gone below it if you using any old school led's. It still grew weed I bet. Just maybe not to its full potential. Plus its doing the same thing of saving hydro. Get a light controller that dims the lights at a sunset and rise function and that's more natural then this idea I feel. From my limited knowledge of all this. plant hormones responsible for inducing flowering in cannabis are light sensitive, they are disrupted by normal daylight and can have a special bonus effect with FR-far red or IR infrared light. I can't recall what one it is. But the FR or IR light breaks down the daytime hormones/compounds that prevent the flowering ones from forming, they normally take a hour and a bit or so to breakdown naturally, its half-life of the daytime compound in the plant. so this in theory allows the flowering hormones to get a jump start in the night cycle and could allow you to shorten your downtime and get a higher DLI in with different lights. .... I have read stories about this so grain of salt with it all. and we have proven "dr.Brugebugbee" that we can push that DLI above 40 when other things are in check like VPD and CO2 are supplementation. Articles need better oversight, if you want it to be an option peace it should not be written like it is factual and state it your opinion, then talk why you feel that way about it as it open the conversation on what it is. Plus sources are great. for when you do state facts. in the footnotes with asterisks or bullet numbers referencing the points in the articles.
FraFra__frankenstoner_Two_days_in_a_day
FraFra__frankenstoner_Two_days_in_a_day
Yes, i feel experimental, and will try my own light cycle. Two days in a day.😀 Plants dont have digital watches. They want light and darkness to work. The temperature is important for the groth.
TastyBudzz
TastyBudzz
Look or better yet measure actual hours of direct sunlight on plants in out door gardens . 8 hours is probably maximum unless you live in the prairies. I run 14 hours of light for veg . To prevent flowering. In theory 8 hours of strong light and 4 hours of low light is all that is needed . Then reduce low light to 2 hours when it's time to induce flowering. Bottom line . My plants are definitely happier and stronger with 14 hours light at veg and 10 hours light flowering. Less stress . Less sighns of nutrition deficiency. The main cause of calcium deficiency is too much light . Too many photons in a 24 hour cycle . I am not concerned about saving electricity. My plants are much healthier and easier to manage. I don't understand why but I believe my internodal lengths are shorter and stems appear to be thicker . Less heat is definitely a bonus . Equipment last longer . Wasn't aware this had a name . I am simply matching natures parameters . It's impossible for a plant to get 18 hours of direct sunlight. For reference I don't do this complex light cycle mentioned in gas lighting. Just run 14 hours for veg and 10 hours for flowering. It's all bro science untill an actual scientific controlled comparison is done lol. So my instincts and observations tell me less hours . Healthier plants . Also I now only feed my plants once a week with half recommended strength of food . Cut my Fox farm soil with perlite at 1 to 1 ratio. In other words less than half the food . Plants show absolutely no sighns of deficiency. Less light , less food . Stronger Healthier plants .