THE BASICS OF HYDROPONICS.
An Introduction To Indoor Plant Grow Lights.
There are basically three types of grow lights used in horticulture. These are:
Metal Halide.
Metal halide bulbs are designed for plants during their growing cycle. That is, for non-fruiting or non-blooming plants. Metal halide lighting is therefore the best HID choice for the plant's growing phase.
High Pressure Sodium Lights.
The HPS grow light is used primarily for plants that are in their blooming or fruiting phase. Modern high pressure sodium lighting can, however, be bought, which is enhanced for blue spectrum (for vegetative growth) and for red spectrum (for flowering growth). This means that they can be used throughout the entire growing process for most types of plant.
Dual light Systems.
For optimal performance, switchable systems (400 watt and 1000 watt) and dual light systems (250 watt MH + 250 watt HPS giving 500 watt output, 400 watt MH + 400 watt HPS giving 800 watt output and 400 watt MH + 600 watt HPS giving 1000 watt output) are available. This type of grow light system gives the best all round lighting choice.
Metal Halide and HPS grow lights are usually run from remote ballasts. These are external boxes containing the electronics to pre-heat and run the lamp. The ballast is connected to the lamp holder and to the mains power supply. Each ballast used is rated for the lamp wattage and so it is necessary to have different ballasts available for each of the different values of lamp to be used. HID bulbs should be replaced after 12 to 18 months of use. Although HID lamps will continue to light beyond 18 months of use, they will have lost up to 30 percent or more of their lumen output while consuming the same amount of electricity.
Mercury Vapour Lights. Most of these lamps, up to a value of 500 watts, require no additional ballast. You just screw them into the lamp holder supplied with your equipment.
N.B.
Here is a word of warning about lighting.
There are an awful lot of companies out there selling lights for the hydroponics enthusiast. As in all walks of life, there are good and bad suppliers and manufacturers of lighting equipment. Always look for equipment made by a reputable company and backed by an official testing scheme. (For example the C E mark in Europe means that the article is up to European standards of safety and quality).
Cheap, nasty, home made, dangerous lights have dogged the hydroponics market for some years. There are these kinds of light and there are well built, professional grade, horticultural lights on today's market. The first are often death traps, being cobbled together from the cheapest, obsolete, end of the line components that are usually mismatched and wrongly configured.
To think that these poorly built, badly wired, misconfigured lights are being fitted in damp, humid and sometimes even wet, grow rooms is a very scary thought indeed. The installation of these poor quality, dangerous, lights in your home, where your family lives and plays, is always a very grave risk. All this in the name of a bargain!
So don't risk your own life or the lives of those who live with you. Buy from a reputable source! Lighting is possibly the most important decision for indoor horticulture, cheap normally represents a health risk. For the sake of saving a relatively small amount of money, is it really worth it?
You have been warned!
Copyright (C) 2004, 2005 J R Haughton.
--- All Rights Reserved ---
A partner in a thriving retail hydroponics supply business, Rickie Haughton is the owner of hydroponics-gardening-information.com which aims to cater for all levels of expertise in the field of hydroponics gardening. The website is packed with good content about all aspects off hydroponics gardening and offers a free newsletter to all subscribers.
"The Ancient Art of Placement" called Feng Shui (pronounced phung... Read More
No, ghosts of the Donner Party have not started haunting... Read More
The design of your garden has an amazing affect on... Read More
Gardeners, it's time to put your gardening skills to the... Read More
This article is geared towards the beginner water gardener, who... Read More
It's not difficult to create a garden that will attract... Read More
Materials Needed 1 decorative clay or metal planter 1 package... Read More
Summer is over, but for many of us - the... Read More
A sustainable garden means one that can be sustained over... Read More
I would like to know...WHO STOLE SUMMER???What did you do... Read More
What a cruel trick the weather is playing on us.WE... Read More
Here are some of the popular orchid myths#1 Orchids are... Read More
In days gone by, outdoor furniture was cast from iron.... Read More
This may seem contradictory, but you want to leave a... Read More
To keep wood garden sheds, arbors, or trellises looking their... Read More
THE BASICS OF HYDROPONICS.The Success or Failure of Your Plants... Read More
When selecting furniture for their outdoor spaces, many people purchase... Read More
I made my very first garden when I was six... Read More
Following are a few paragraphs about the on going battle... Read More
There's a new garden in town. It is (mostly) easy... Read More
Low Oxygen levels Kill FishUse an oxygen tester and air... Read More
Think of your garden like you would a room in... Read More
Once water temperatures increase in the summer months, fish become... Read More
Whenever you decide to look for a butterfly house for... Read More
Push Reel Mowers are making a "comeback" of sorts, though,... Read More
HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPEWe love hummingbirds and love to watch them... Read More
So you want to grow roses? They are a beautiful... Read More
Potatoes are so easy to grow in the no dig,... Read More
Are you looking for a truly versatile vegetable to grow... Read More
There are many different types of roses. If you are... Read More
As humans, we are always on the lookout for a... Read More
A garden a serves a man's every day need for... Read More
If you are like many people, backyard birding is a... Read More
While traveling the US and occasionally taking the back highways... Read More
A sustainable garden means one that can be sustained over... Read More
Flower gardens are for enjoyment. They provide you with visual... Read More
Do you ever worry about always having to rely on... Read More
Annuals in your pernnial garden are something to think about!... Read More
Do cat repellents work? How to stop a cat from... Read More
Summer is the most enjoyable water gardening season and the... Read More
The first thing you need to grow a pineapple is... Read More
Think of your garden like you would a room in... Read More
Gardening can be one of the most rewarding and relaxing... Read More
February is "Feed the Birds" month in much of North... Read More
Do you want to add something to your outdoor space... Read More
Spring is the season to start planting seeds for the... Read More
Some might ask, "Why grow Italian vegetable seeds?" Why bother... Read More
These are just a few gardening tips for you to... Read More
Worms are not only the gardener's best friend, they are... Read More
Traditionally Hindu tepmples were located either on hills or forests... Read More
Landscape paintings are a beautiful way to spruce up the... Read More
Noted English clergyman Sydney Smith (1771-1845) is quoted as saying,... Read More
Orchids are beautiful flowers. The interesting thing about orchids is... Read More
Bare Root Roses, what to look for when buyingThe first... Read More
Since Victorian times metal garden furniture has become a popular... Read More
It's been time consuming, and there have been a lot... Read More
Every Garden can benefit from the addition of container gardens.... Read More
In the past, the garden has traditionally been a separate... Read More
Do you wish you could grow a sustainable vegetable garden?... Read More
Damping off is the single term used to describe underground,... Read More
Seeds are the most important ingredient in all gardening. Without... Read More
Tired of tomatoes that are rock hard and taste like... Read More
Through the use of various mediums pertaining to the outdoors,... Read More
There is no mention to be found of female leprechauns... Read More
Many gardeners like to enjoy their roses twice - first... Read More
Planting roses isn't actually complicated, as long as you have... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |