Metal-Halide HID Grow Lamps

The metal-halide HID lamps ensure the growth of the plants almost like under the natural sunlight: their white light ranges from 2700 to 5500 Kelvin with a color rendering index of 65-75. No wonder they are most often used at the places where color rendering is essential: at the supermarkets, manufacturing plants, stadiums, malls, etc. Metal halide lamps, depending on the wattage, may have the usable life span from 10,000 to 20,000 hours. Horticultural metal halide HID lamps feature red light spectrum, which promotes blooming and fruiting.

 High-pressure Sodium Lamps

High-pressure sodium lamps have yellow light (2200K) and are characterized with low color rendering index (22). Nonetheless, they are very long-lived: the life span in some cases may be about two years. High-pressure sodium lamps radiate six times more light per watt   of the consumed energy than the incandescent lamps. Their main benefit, however, when used in the horticulture, is the ability to hasten the reproductive stage of the plants growth cycle, improving flowering and fruiting, as well as promoting better and richer yields. This is achieved with the help of the orange/red spectrum of the given bulbs. At the same time, plants grown under these lamps may look unhealthy and pale due to the mentioned color rendering index, which is quite poor. Still, these lights are often used in the greenhouses and indoor gardens (usually as supplemental lights), besides their frequent usage for lighting street and parking lots.

The drawback of these lamps is that they produce much heat, which can cause insects multiplying and diseases development on the plants. To reduce heat production, specifically designed air cooled bulb reflectors/enclosures may be used.

Combination HPS/MH lamps

Another type of grow lamps is combination high pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide (MH) lamps, where both bulbs types can be enclosed either with two separate ballast assemblies or with a single integrated ballast assembly. Such lights are said to give the perfect spectral mixture of red and blue light along with very good performance.

Switchable, Convertible and Two-way Lamps

A gardener may use either a metal halide lamp or a high pressure sodium bulb with the similar wattage in the same fixture (still, not together) in the convertible, switchable, and two-way lamps. Just insert a metal halide bulb in the fixture when propagating or starting seeds, and then change it with a high pressure sodium bulb during the flowering period of plants growth. Do not forget to place the switch to the necessary setting.

For those of you looking to expand your gardening hobby, or those of you that wish to grow fruits, vegetables, or flowers in a climate that typically makes growing difficult, greenhouse gardening may be the hobby for you. Greenhouse vegetable gardening is becoming growing in popularity as greenhouses are now very economical, available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and can allow you to enjoy gardening in even the smallest of locations all year long.

What Is a Greenhouse?

A greenhouse is simply a structure with a glass, or perhaps a plastic roof, and also generally has glass or plastic walls as well. When located in a sunlit location the solar radiation heats the structure and the air warmed in this manner is retained in the building. The glass used works as a selective transmission medium for different spectral frequencies, which has the effect of trapping the energy within, which in effect heats both the plants and the ground inside. Greenhouses thus work by trapping electromagnetic radiation and preventing convection. These types of structures are often referred to as cold frames.

Common Greenhouse Uses for the Gardening Enthusiast

If you live in an area that supports summer gardening with fruits and vegetables, a greenhouse offers you a way to get a jumpstart on your spring growing. By starting your seeds or seedlings while it’s still cold outside you can later transplant these already growing plants when the weather permits. This therefore allows you to begin harvesting your produce or enjoying your flowers much earlier in the season than otherwise would be allowable.

Also, depending on how much sunlight you typically recieve in winter months you can continue to grow produce and flowers throughout the winter. This provides a year-round source of selected produce such as tomatoes. In addition, a full blooming flower garden is quite a beautiful treat and spirit lifter in the dead of winter.

Types of Hobby Greenhouses

Greenhouses come in a vast variety of shapes and sizes and are available in mental frames, wood frames and plastic frames. There are also a vast number of accessories and supplies that can be purchased along with the greenhouse. Basically your only limitations will be the amount of space that can be allocated for your greenhouse and how much you want to spend.

A good place for beginners to start is an attached greenhouse. This structure literally attaches to your home, garage or perhaps a shed via an outside wall. The advantages of this type of structure is the ability to get to the greenhouse anytime of day or night without having to go outside, as well as the ability to share some of the heat and electricity from your house or garage. The main problem with an attached greenhouse is often the ability to place it on a wall that gets the right amount of sunlight needed to grow your plants.

Whatever type you ultimately decide on, one thing is certain; when you begin to understand what greenhouse vegetable gardening (or flower gardening)can provide in terms of personal satisfaction, relaxation and emotional fulfillment, you will look forward to your special time each day that you spend in this little corner of your world and it will become a treasure that can last you a lifetime.

A grow light, which is, actually, an ordinary electric lamp, is of vital importance for the plants, since it ensures the process of photosynthesis by radiating electromagnetic spectrum, which resembles sunlight. Thus, using grow light, a gardener creates outdoor-like conditions inside the house. However, sunlight is bluish, as it has high color temperature; therefore, rendering index is usually used to check whether grow light is closely similar to the sunshine. 

What Light Spectrum Is Best For Plants

Light spectrum, required by plants, depends on the stage of the plants growth. For example, vegetative stage needs blue light spectrum; while the stage of plants blooming requires red–orange spectrum. A gardener can buy a specific light spectrum bulb, or there are also universal full spectrum lights suitable for different growth stages (for example, those made by Sylvania Grolux). 

To give optimal results the light should be supplied with a reflector and an electrical ballast to regulate and augment light emissions and current. This is done in order to make artificial light as much as possible similar to the natural daylight.

Types of Growing Lamps

High pressure sodium (HPS/SON) and metal halide (MH) lamps are nowadays the most popular and frequently used ones in the professional indoor gardening. They belong to high-intensity discharge lights. Metal halide lamps are mostly used for the initial (vegetative) stage of plants growth, as they emit bluish light along with ultraviolet radiation, which results in the increased production of plants elements, thus improving and strengthening them.

 Reproductive or flowering stage of plants growth requires the use of high pressure sodium lamps, since they hasten the growth rate. They are not suitable for the vegetative stage as this would result in the fast growing of too tall plants. Nevertheless, both types of bulbs are sometimes used by the gardeners for various plants growth stages with the additional reddish spectrum adjusted to the metal halide bulbs and bluish spectrum attached to the high pressure sodium lamps

Incandescent Grow Lamps

Incandescent grow lamps are used only to emphasize and highlight plants groups grown inside, as they have red-yellowish spectrum and low color temperature (about 2700°K). They are never used as the grow lights. The life span of incandescent growing lamps is approximately 750 hours. Furthermore, this type of lights is more energy consuming than other types, and the majority of the consumed energy is transformed into heat, not light. Higher temperature around the plants may cause the increased invasion of pests and insects, thus these lights are not the best options to use in the indoor gardening.

These days fluorescent grow lights (available in various color temperature ranging from 2800°K to 6000°K) are mostly used for starting seedlings and growing green leafy vegetables and herbs. Cool white fluorescent lights are also sometimes used for this purpose. In comparison to the above described lamps, fluorescent ones last much longer (for about 20,000 hours) and emit two times more lumens per watt of the consumed energy. In addition, they are quite cost-effective.

 High output fluorescent lamps are even stronger than standard ones: they produce an average 5,000 lumens per 54 watt bulb and can be purchased in warm (3000°K) and cool (6500°K) variants. Their life span is as many as 10,000 hours. Moreover, these lamps are very convenient to use in the indoor gardens with low ceilings due to the fixtures with extremely thin profiles.

 fluorescents (small lamps) are also available for purchase, being the good option to propagate plants and grow larger species. These lights are supplied with the special reflectors to better illuminate the growings. Fluorescents are also produced as cool (6500K) and warm (3000K) lamps with usable life span of almost 10,000 hours. 

 Finally, there are also hybrid high output fluorescent/HID lamps featuring cool burning combined with the penetration of high intensity discharge technology. Their advantages include even lighting and wide range of light colors, along with reasonable cost and electricity consumption when growing  plants indoors.

LED Grow Lamps

 LED grow lamps belong to the latest developments, which are nowadays successfully integrated into the indoor gardening. They are highly valued by the gardeners for the bright light they radiate, which is in addition of the exact colors necessary for the plants. Moreover, they do not produce much heat and do not need ballasts, consuming at the same time less electricity than some other types of lamps. Finally, they are long-lasting and quite inexpensive.

 A LED lamp is made of a number of narrow-spectrum blue LEDs and a much larger number of wide-spectrum red LEDs of specific wavelengths. They say High Power based LED grow lamps may be used for growing various plants indoor. On the other hand, these lights have a big week-point: they consist of the wavelengths perfectly seen by the humans, while plants may need other wavelengths for the ideal growth. Thus, luminous efficiency of LED lamps could have been better to be used for growing  plants indoors

These are the materials that mimic the soil in everyday gardens. It serves as a support system for your hydroponic indoor garden. They function mainly for anchoring the roots and a reservoir for water and nutrient solutions. Special attention is also placed on aeration or proper plant respiration and drainage. A balance must be kept between keeping the plant nourished and over saturating the roots.

 Types of Growing Mediums

 Choice of a specific growing medium mainly depends on the type of growing system to be used. Certain systems have no mediums used because plant growth is best when roots are suspended in air or water. Improvement made with newer growing medium mixtures has been introduced for optimum plant growth in certain systems. Ideally, an equal mixture of water and air is advised making it available for the roots to utilize at all times. Water by gravity always moves downward through coarse mediums only to be deposited in the bottom of the container. This is eliminated with the use of a hydroponic system as water is constantly circulated in the system. The only system that this would not work would be the Ebb and Flow Systems.

 Clay Pebbles

Recyclables, it can be constantly reused indefinitely reducing upkeep costs for your indoor garden. Size of the pot is one limiting factor as they do not possess good nutrient lifting ability, but effectiveness is enhanced in smaller pots and containers. Another advantage would be their neutral pH and they don’t retain nutrients. Ventilation and aeration are also maximized because of the spaces created between pebbles.

Clay pebbles are usually used together with net pots in drain and flood indoor hydroponic gardening systems. Water flow in roots is enhanced by their natural shapes and spaces hey create between them, therefore maximizing the absorption of nutrients. When using the Drip irrigation hydroponic system, use absorbent mediums to provide better retention and nutrient circulation.

 Coconut Fiber

Shredded husks of coconuts as a growing medium has also been growing in popularity. Packaged in a variety of ways like blocks, pellets, cubes and shredded fiber it can be a good substitute for any type of growing medium. It is also commonly mixed with other growing media such as perlite or rockwool.

 Why Use Coconut Fiber as a Growing Medium?

 Coconut fiber is actually a waste product; its ability to be used for other useful means takes a great step towards recycling and environmental awareness. It is the first totally organic medium which could be utilized for indoor hydroponic gardening. It is superior to rockwool in water handling ability and oxygen capacity. Coconut fibers also possess root stimulating hormones and prevent root disease and fungus infection. In its natural state, coconut fibers provide a good and rich medium for the coconut when it lands in the ground.      

Special attention should be given as to the quality of the coconut fiber to be purchased. Low grade quality is not well suited for gardening as they contain high sea salt content and fine grain texture. 

Perlite

Originally used as an additive to aide aeration and improve soil drainage, it has become one of the popular hydroponic growing mediums. Commonly used with a 50/50 mix with vermiculite, it is derived from volcanic glass with holes throughout produced by exposing it to high temperatures created by water bubbles.

 Advantages of Growing with Perlite

 Inexpensive and readily available is one of the causes of its popularity. Used in wick type hydroponic systems because of its aerate nature thereby giving a good wicking action.

 Disadvantages of Growing with Perlite

 Health hazards come with the use of perlite when inhaled, a mask is suggested when working with perlite as a growing medium. A high degree of care and maintenance is also required. Water retention is one of its weakness therefore constant watering is required.

 Vermiculite

Used in conjunction with another growing medium compliments the qualities of the other. A popular and common mix is that with perlite. In a 50/50 mix vermiculites property which is water retention (200 – 300% of its weight in water) complements perlites very porous quality and a balance is achieved.

 Dangers of Using Vermiculite

 Vermiculite can be a health hazard if not handled properly. Due to its nature of containing small amounts of asbestos, it can be very dangerous when inhaled. It easily dries on an individuals fingers when touched even when wet. It is not also practical to reuse because of the rinsing and drying required. Water retention is also a problem, because of its high water retention if not used in pair with another growing medium, root damage is likely and plant death are the result.

 Rockwool

Rockwool specifically made for indoor hydroponic gardening systems. It has remained as one of the popular growing mediums. Transplanting plants when grow too big from their previous containers is also eliminated. When this happens the existing cube with the plant is merely placed on top of a larger cube and the roots would grow through both cubes. Water retention qualities of rockwool is 10 times greater that of water. Its porous nature makes it virtually impossible to over water. Recyclable, it can be used for the next crop by merely rinsing, making it economical and environment friendly.

 Disadvantages of rockwool

 A natural pH found in rockwool is one of its disadvantages, pre-treatment is required before it is used as a growing medium. Methods of lowering its alkaline content includes mixing it with a solution of pH down, trace mineral solutions and a 24 hour fish emulsion and is then rinsed thoroughly. Gloves should be used when handling rockwool because of skin irritation but is not when rockwool is wet.

A great indoor garden requires a good grow light. It could mean the difference between success and failure. Having the right hydroponic light is the single-most important and costly decision in setting up your garden.

 Hydroponic grow lights come in three main types:

Incandescent lights

These are the usual lights found in homes. They are generally a poor choice for garden grown lights because of their limited light spectrum and inefficiency.

HID (High Intensity Discharge) grow lights

Producing more light (up to 10x more lumens/watt than an incandescent light),are more efficient. Drawbacks would be, they produce more heat, generally more expensive than incandescent lights and requires the additional expense and maintenance with ballast. It takes around 100 hours before hydroponic HID grow lights reach their optimum working conditions, or until they reach light intensity and color stability. 

Natural Sunlight

Expense for acquiring artificial lights can be skipped by using sunlight. This is done with the use of solar room, greenhouse or large windows which allows plenty of sunlight. Or you can do this outdoors; hydroponics does not necessarily mean the cultivation of plants indoors but it growing plants without the use of soil.

Basic setup for an indoor garden is 1000w of lighting for and area of 16-25 square feet of plant area. Reflectors and/or light movers should also be considered as they improve efficiency of the indoor hydroponic gardening system. Ballast may also be needed as numerous hydroponic grow lighting require igniting.

 Some Basic Facts

Before plugging in your grow light

Different plants require different levels or types of lighting, this paragraph would deal on some simple know-how on how to make an effective lighting setup. In setting up your garden, it is essential that you determine your growing area in order to determine the best lighting setup for you. Light is an essential factor in the growth of plants, it is important that the lighting solution you chose for your garden is adequate for its size. A poor or ill advised decision would certainly reflect on the quality of plants you produced. Inappropriate budgeting like cost cutting specially on lighting would just prove to be uneconomical and inefficient in the long run.

A general rule for lighting that area coverage is determined by a light wattage output. Reflectors might be used to increase the light area and reach corners but effectiveness is still determined by this formula.

Day and Night Cycles

The type of plant and its stage of growth generally determine the amount of light needed. A common cycle is that with 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness which is recommended for its vegetative growth phase.

For seedlings, a continuous light source is needed until the first real leaves appear. When the leaves appear, the regular 18/6 light cycle is used. Fluorescent or incandescent lights are best for seedling because of the low heat and soft light they generate. Automated timers maybe used to ensure consistent light cycles. Inexpensive timers are also available; this can be found any hardware or Home Depot/ Lowe’s type store.

Light and Photosynthesis

The plants exposure to light intensity, duration and light color directly affects the amount of energy needed for photosynthesis. The color of the light, Blue simulates the summer sun, Orange for autumn seem to stimulate photosynthesis best. The light spectrum produced by metal halide bulbs (Blue lights) and high pressure sodium bulbs (red/ orange lights) produce this effects. HID grow lights produce these effects owing to their popularity to hobbyist and professionals. Combination of metal halide and high pressure sodium bulbs provides the complete spectrum of light produced by the sun.

Use Caution When Working with Lights

The combination of water, electricity and chemicals in such a closed-in space makes the grow room one of the most dangerous places in your house. Keep in mind to separate your ballast by elevating it from the water-containing areas of your hydroponic growing system. 

Fluorescent Grow Light

 Inexpensive and readily available in hardware stores and be utilized with regular light sockets. Producing less heat or none at all compared to full-size fluorescent grow lights.

Not just because of its small size and low heat output; compact fluorescent lights also produce the widest range of color spectrums to any type of lighting. It is ideal for shelf gardening due to their low heat output making the use of multiple shelves on top of each other possible. Compact fluorescent lights can be used with seedlings and small plants in a well designed hydroponic system indoor garden.

 Common Problems with Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

 Problems with compact fluorescent light bulbs like inefficiency and poor light penetration are common.  Several compact fluorescent bulbs maybe used and consume energy as that of one HPS bulb, but do not produce the same useable light for the hydroponic indoor garden. 

Optimizing Fluorescent Grow Lights

 With the disadvantages of comparative inefficiency compared to HID lights, several things maybe done to counteract this.

Properly matching lights to the corresponding growth cycle.

Increasing Watt ratings increases light penetration

One cheap and easy way to maximize energy consumption is by the use of reflectors. Compact fluorescent lights have a 360 degree of distribution but only 90 degrees of it can be practically used. Reflectors direct the light to corners in order to maximize the light produced.

 High Intensity Discharge Lighting

 HID light bulbs are the most after lighting system by both hobbyist and professional growers. It has made possible all-year, all-season planting for thousands of indoor gardeners and industrial nursery growers. Due to their efficiency ( 10x more light produced than conventional incandescent bulbs) and color spectrums ideal for plants have resulted to better yields and plant quality all year round. Metal Halide (MH) light bulbs mainly produce blue lights, making them ideal for plants undergoing the vegetative phase of development.

Industrial cultivators the world over are the main users of HID grow lights. HID lamps provide numerous advantages that conventional Fluorescent and incandescent lights lack. Monetary benefits abound, it boosts overall plant production giving better harvests, and environmental factors are eliminated allowing all year-round production. HID lights operate stock 110 to 220 volts AC home currents and have a standard three prong adapter to link up. HID grow lights mostly come with a ballast resistor and reflective hood.

Photosynshesis in plants allows plants them to produce their own energy. Chlorophyll in plants enables plants to convert CO2, water and energy from light to nutrients and sugars. When all this elements like CO2 and nutrients are readily and plenty in a desired surrounding, the potential for growth is bound only to the amount and quality of light available.

 High Pressure Sodium (HPS) light bulbs produce reddish light, it is ideal during the fruit phase of the plant cycle. Cooler (blue) and Warmer (orange) color spectrums raise chlorophyll production and fruit energy. The sun produces cooler lights when it is higher in the skyline, seen in the summer calendar months. It is essential for plant growth shape and keep it tight. Warmer light, experienced when the sun is lower in relative position to the skyline is important for blooming plants and during the fruit phase.

Choice of lights can also depend on the type of plants grown. Metal Halide growth lights are ideal for bushy harvests such as cabbage and vegetating herbaceous plants. Blossoming plants on the other hand is better suited by high pressure sodium growth lights. Conversion light bulbs are also available for different organizations. More expensive than other lights, conversion lamps give that extra advantage of starting your plants with a metal halide growth light giving taut, small development and being replaced by high pressure sodium light bulbs when the fruit stage of the plant is reached. Recent developments have introduced convertible ballast resistors for regular metal halide growth lights and high pressure sodium light bulbs.

HID grow lights main advantage is that it eliminates such factors as climate, temperature and time of day. Season dependent plants can be grown throughout the year; they provide an alternative to solar light. For those who are garden and flower hobbyists, this would be a plus.

Hydroponic growth lights also gives you control over light exposure. Allowing us to hasten a plants growth or that flower to bloom. Ideal light color, duration and concentration are the key factors in growing those choice plants.

 High Pressure Sodium Bulbs 

A clear ceramic arc tube suspended inside a glass bulb characterizes High Pressure Sodium Bulbs. Xenon gas is the main component inside the inner tube which is then ignited to produce an arc of light. Sizes range fro 35 watts up to 1000 watts. The most popular of which are the 250 watts, 400 watts and 1000 watts.

 Advantages of High Pressure Sodium Bulbs

 Efficiency is one of its advantages; they provide the best light penetration and have strong light spectrums necessary for plant growth. Mainly producing red and yellow lights or little or no blue lights, they mimic the autumn sun. Popularity for HPS lights are mainly attributed to their low energy to light ratio and is the most economical and efficient than any other type of lighting system. HPS lights work best during the flowering or fruit stage of the plant growth cycle.

 Disadvantages of HPS High Pressure Sodium Bulbs

 High Pressure Sodium Bulbs produce great amounts of heat. Proper ventilation and good garden construction and planning help to offset this negative effect. Like all HID growth light systems price is the main drawback compared to fluorescent lights. HPS lights are currently more cost effective compared to other HID growth light systems.

High Pressure Sodium Light bulbs are replaced after 24 months to ensure their and your gardens efficiency.

 Metal Halide Bulbs

 Metal Halide bulbs are constructed by placing an inner arc tube inside vacuum-sealed glass tubing. Electric currents passed through the inner arc which in turn ignites mercury and iodide materials in the tube.

 Advantages of Metal Halide Bulbs

 Metal Halide Bulbs mimic sunlight during summertime. Producing a blue spectrum of light most ideal for plants in their vegetative growth phase. They are also a good choice for indoor hydroponic garden systems because of their efficiency in producing light.

 Other Metal Halide Bulb Information

 Available from 70 to 1500 watts, Metal Halide bulbs present a wide variety of choices. Most popular and commonly used are the 250, 400 and 1000 watts metal halide bulbs. Ballast specifically tailored for each bulb is also essential. Mounting positions depend on its specific bulb type (marks or guides are usually provided). HOR bulbs are mounted horizontally, BU/BD is vertically mounted and U (universal) bulbs could be mounted either way. The vertical position is the most ideal and provides utmost efficiency.

Temperature is a gauge for optimum production for every plant. When plants are exposed to extreme ranges of temperature, stunted growth and poor fruit yields are the result. Plants have specific temperature ranges for their ideal growth. Warm-season vegetables and most types of flowers have 18o C and 260 C as an ideal temperature range. Cooler season vegetables like lettuces have a 10o C to 18o C range.

Garden Climate Controller

Environment greatly affects plant growth. Environmental factors such as temperature, climate and CO2 levels are just examples. Garden climate controllers give you control over this variables and keep them at ideal ranges for optimum growth of plants.

Basic Garden Climate Controller

The cheap and basic garden climate controller usually control temperature and humidity and turn exhaust fans when needed. CO2 controls could be installed together with them for a small additional charge. This combination is more economical allowing you control over all environmental factors without spending hundreds of dollars for more sophisticated setups not needed. Indoor hydroponic garden systems can be maintained with this basic setup.

Complete Garden Climate Controller

Complete control over CO2 system is another advantage presented by the use of the complete hydroponics garden climate controller. Controllers also allow for coordinated infusion of carbon dioxide with exhaust fans giving minimum waste of CO2.

Other “extras” found with garden climate controllers:

Additional outlets activates when lights are off allowing a “night mode” setup.

Flood Sensors that prevent common gardening mishaps by shutting down the system.

Photo sensors recognize natural sunlight and power ups the “night mode.” This makes the setup more efficient and economical as grow lights are only utilized when needed.