What Kind of Light do I Use?
Incandescent bulbs, those found in most lamps and fixtures will not do the job. They do not reproduce the full spectrum of natural sunlight,
click here to see the difference. Indoor gardeners can choose from a variety of lights designed specifically for gardening,
as seen below. To increase levels of light, attach reflectors to the light so that all of the light is reflected
downward onto your plants. You can also paint the walls of the room a bright color, or paper the walls with a reflective material such
as Mylar so light is reflected back onto your plants.. Keep the lighting units dust free for best results.
You can also add automatic timers, so your plants will receive as many hours of light as they need. If you are relying
on light from windows, you should really invest in a light meter, to make sure your plants are getting enough
light. There are several simple steps you can take to boost the supply of light reaching into your room. Cut back any plants partially
obscuring the window, paint the interior of the window frame and window sill a bright color, line with aluminum foil or a
reflective material such as Mylar.
In There are three primary lamp type choices:
Metal Halide (MH), High Pressure Sodium (HPS), and Fluorescent.
Lamps labeled HOR (horizontal) and
BU (base up) are position oriented lamps, and are designed to give you the highest light output, but burn only in their designated positions.
Lamps labeled U (universal) may be burned in any position.
Universal lamps, however, will not be as bright as a position oriented lamp of the same wattage.
For a complete system you will need to order a Ballast, Reflector and Bulb
Metal Halide (MH) Lighting
For Metal Halide Lighting you will need a Metal Halide Ballast
Ballasts provide system stability by limiting the current that can be drawn. Metal Halide Bulbs required a higher peak starting voltage
than regular bulbs.
Medal Halide Ballasts (MH)
Metal Halide Bulbs
Metal halide lamps were initially preferred to mercury vapor lamps in instances where natural light was desired. Metal halide lamps are used both for general
industrial purposes, and for very specific applications which require specific UV or blue-frequency light. They are used for indoor growing applications, because
they can provide the spectrum and temperature of light which encourage general plant growth. Specialized lamps have been created specifically for the spectral
absorption needs of plants (indoor gardening) or animals (indoor aquariums). We offer Sunmaster, Ventura, Sylvania, and EYE Hortilux, the most dependable names
in lighting.
The unique characteristics of metal halide lighting provide high performance such as:
Long Life
Metal halide lamps have an average life of 15,000-20,000+ hours, more than ten times that of incandescent bulbs.
Better Light Quality
Metal Halide Light Bulbs provide extremely bright light. The output of metal halide lamps is closer to natural sunlight
than most other light sources. People prefer white light because of better visual acuity, even at lower light levels.
Designable Color
Metal Halide Lamps have been selected for use in horticulture applications because of the light spectrum they emit.
Each metal halide class lamp manufactured has had the metal halides inside the ark tube modified to burn at specific color temperatures without the need for
colored glass or coatings. Metal halide lamps can be designed to produce almost any color temperature desired, from 2700K to 20,000K. Specialty colors, including
blue, green, aqua and pink, can also be produced. Metal halide lamps are relatively unaffected by ambient temperature, equally suited for indoor or outdoor use.
Extensive style and wattage options allow for many applications. It is good to note that of all the colors in the spectrum, plants need a larger percentage
of the blue spectrum to be healthy. Blue light drives photosynthesis, trans-locates sugars and keeps the immune system working properly, and promotes
horizontal growth.
The Kelvin 3000 color temperature lamp works very well to promote the bloom cycle of plants as it has had the red spectrum output increased dramatically.
The Kelvin 4000 color temperature lamp works well for general plant growth.
The Kelvin 6000 color temperature lamps work well to promote very fast and prolific bushy vegetation.
High Efficiency
Metal halide lamps generate 65-115 lumens per watt, more than incandescent, fluorescent or mercury vapor lamps.
Positive Environmental Impact
Since metal halide lamps deliver light more efficiently than incandescent, widespread acceptance of the technology has
a positive effect on air quality and the environmental waste stream. Lower electrical power generating requirements means less air pollution. Efficient long-life
systems mean less landfill waste.
MH vs. HPS
While HPS lamps offer long life, they do not deliver the same light quality as metal halide. Because of their dominant sodium content,
HPS lamps yield strong yellow light (2200K) and have a very poor CRI (Color Rendering Index, a measure of a light source’s ability to render colors relative to a
standard of 100) of 20-25. The full spectrum light of metal halide has a much higher CRI.
MH vs. Incandescent
A 100 watt metal halide lamp provides five times the lumen output of a 100 watt incandescent lamp, and will last 20 times longer.
Although incandescent has a low initial lamp cost, metal halide has lower total operating cost over life.
MH vs. Mercury
Vapor Mercury lamps have long life, but are not as energy efficient as metal halide, producing only 35-58 lumens per watt. Their
limited blue-green light spectrum has a lower CRI than metal halide.
MH vs. Fluorescent
Fluorescent lamps are harder to direct because of their larger size. One 100 watt metal halide lamp produces the same light as
three 48" high output T8 fluorescent lamps. Metal halide lamps also tolerate a wider operating temperature range. Fluorescents are often limited to
temperature-controlled indoor applications. T8 fluorescent lamps perform optimally at approximately 77¡F (25¡C), degrading measurably as temperature varies.
T5 lamps perform similarly, but peak at 95¡F (35¡C).
Eye Hortilux Sunlux High Pressure Conversion Lamps
High Pressure Sodium lamps manufactured to only work in a
Metal Halide ballast.
High Pressure Sodium (HPS) Lighting
For Higher Yields, Abundant Blooms and More Fruiting Sites
These are an excellent choice because they provide two times the light output of mercury lamps.
High Pressure Sodium (HPS) Ballast
High Pressure Sodium (HPS) Bulbs
High Pressure Sodium lamps are used in greenhouses to elevate the red, orange and yellow electromagnetic wavelengths hitting the plant,
which produce higher yields and more abundant blooms and fruiting sites. High red content is used for flowering and elongation. The red, orange
and yellow colors of the spectrum are hormonal tripping colors. This is to say that when the plant has these electromagnetic wavelengths pass thru
it's leaves, bloom hormones are produced in the anticipation of the fall and winter seasons. Using quality plant foods and bloom leaf sprays can also
increase fruiting sites. Try Vita Grow Thunder Bloom Foliar Spray
proven to increase fruiting sites by at least 20 percent and up to 100 percent when compared to a control group.
Indoor gardeners, lacking the Sun, may find that HPS lamps do not supply the necessary amount of blue light to keep plants healthy. Blue light
drives photosynthesis, translocates sugars and keeps the immune system working properly. Those growing areas using HPS lamps exclusively
in the bloom stages of growth may experience adverse vertical stretching and blooms located only at the top of the plant. You also may experience
increased insect attack in the final stages of HPS only bloom growth. You can burn a Metal
Halide lamp along side of the HPS lamp to increase sugar production and horizontal growth. It's best to use side lighting
whenever possible, because fruiting sites will not form where shadows fall.
Other options would include using Sunmaster Warm Metal Halide lamps that burn at the 3000 Kelvin
color temperature range. They have enough red, orange and yellow light to trigger bloom hormones and an ample amount of blue to keep plants
healthy and proportional in size.
Sunmaster Metal Halide Conversion Lamps
You can also use Sunmaster's Metal Halide Conversion Lamps, which are manufactured specifically to work in a High Pressure Sodium Ballast.
These Metal Halide Conversion Lamps screw into your HPS ballast to improve plant growth during the grow stage.
Sunmaster designed this high tech lamp exclusively for the plant growth
industry, making it easy to switch from High Pressure Sodium lamps to Metal
Halide lamps during the grow portion of the plant cycle. Remember, plants
need the blue light to be healthy.
Sunmaster Metal Halide Conversion Lamps
Fluorescent Tubes, Fixtures and Compact Grow Lights
Best for establishing seedlings or cuttings.
Standard Double Pin Fluorescent Tubes, for use in standard fluorescent fixtures.
Fluorescent Tubes
Fluorescent Fixtures
Verilux Full Spectrum Incandescent Flood Lights
Bulbs screw into standard household lamp sockets.
Made with pure neodymium glass, a rare earth element, which absorbs significant portions of the yellow spectrum common to ordinary light bulbs.
Verilux Full Spectrum Flood Lights produces more natural light and boosts truer natural colors. Burns up to 5000 hours.
The best flood lamp money can buy. Good lamps! Give them a try.
click here to see the difference
Good for establishing seedlings or cuttings, but don't put too close to the plants, they do put out heat.
Verilux Flood Lights
