Knowing the Grow Lights in Hydroponics Gardening Equipment

One of the major advantages of hydroponics is that you can grow plants in a completely indoor setting.

This is made possible with the technology of hydroponics grow lights, of which there are three main types – fluorescent, metal halide and high pressure sodium.

Keep in mind that not one type of grow light is necessarily better than the others in all aspects. Each one has its pros and cons depending on your hydroponics gardening system needs. Read on and find out.

Fluorescent Lights for Hydroponic Growing Light Bulb Use

Everybody knows what a fluorescent light is! After all, it was the very first grow light in the market, not to mention the most popular of the bunch up until now because of their many advantages.

For one thing, fluorescent lights are the most affordable in terms of initial purchase cost and maintenance costs.

• You can keep your electricity bills as low as possible and yet still maintain healthy plant growth.
• And did we mention that you can readily purchase them from your neighborhood store?

For another thing, fluorescent lights are ideal for various stages of plant growth.

• You will find, however, that these are more suitable for seedlings, cuttings and small plants as well as for other cloning purposes.

Metal Halide Hydroponics Growing Light Bulbs

If you have money to spare, then metal halide bulbs are the next step up in the grow lights hierarchy. In fact, many gardeners highly recommend them because of their various advantages over fluorescent lamps. For example check out AeroGrow AeroGarden Grow Systems, a very popular choice of hydroponic machinery.

Metal halide bulbs have excellent spectral distribution, which means that it mimics the strength and spectrum of the bright summer sun.

As such, the plants are provided with just the right amount of light necessary for photosynthesis, which is a very important component of plant growth.

• Plus, you are assured that metal halide bulbs will gradually lose their lumen brightness instead of suddenly fizzling out. After a year of constant use, you should replace them since majority of their brightness has been lost.

High Pressure Sodium Hydro Grow Bulbs

Where metal halide bulbs are strong in the blue end of the spectrum, high pressure sodium bulbs are strong in the red and yellow end of the spectrum.

• Thus, it is highly advised that both metal halide and sodium bulbs are used together or in cycles to achieve optimum growth.

This way, fruiting and flowering plants are stimulated to maximize their growth potentials. Soon enough, your plants will yield fruits more than just metal halide alone or high pressure sodium bulbs alone can provide.

• You need not even worry about frequent replacement as is the case with metal halide bulbs as sodium bulbs have a longer life expectancy of 2 years.

Now, there are also the so-called conversion bulbs where you can run your sodium bulb with the halide ballast and vice versa.

• This way, there is no need to purchase a new lighting system.

Also, you can always go for the LED grow lights, which are similar to the fluorescent fixtures except that the results are different.

• The plants appear shorter and stockier albeit stronger while the leaves appear greener.

You still have to take care of the nutrient solutions and pest control in order to reap the healthy fruits of your labors.