Hydroponic Grow Lights

1. As you either know or suspect, light doesn't just come in one flavor. A quick look at wavelength absorption curves show that most plants absorb red and blue light best, while they reflect greens. Naturally, plants are green.

2. Intensity, duration and light quality are the three measurable factors that you'll want to consider when buying your grow lights for an indoor garden. Plants may thrive if just given enough light via a window, but more often than not, this is not the case.

3. The variety of indoor grow lights available is impressive. For an indoor grower just getting started, decisions between fluorescent lights, HID (high intensity discharge), metal halide bulbs and LED lights will need to be made.

4. Fluorescents are the cheapest indoor grow lights available and the easiest to employ. However, to reap the full benefit of the bulb, your plant will need to be placed quite close to the light source. Obviously, there are often aesthetic considerations when creating an indoor growing environment that this might violate. Also, many people just don't like the light produced by fluorescent bulbs.

5. HID lights are much smaller and produce intense light. You will need a grow light ballast to control the flow of electricity to the bulb and would probably benefit from a grow light reflector. Because of their intensity, these bulbs require a lot of electricity, and the bill adds up. A properly used reflector will help to mitigate this drawback.

6. Another downside to the HID grow lights is the care that must be taken. If you don't handle them carefully, you may end up with oily fingerprints that will concentrate the light and cause the bulb to explode.

7. Fortunately, grow light kits are widely available for those who don't feel like assembling their own set up. Because of the complexity involved, it is easy to overlook a single component that may jeopardize the success of your indoor gardening.

8. If fluorescent grow lights are your choice, for whatever reason, a grow light reflector can be used in conjunction with fluorescent bulbs, allowing you to place the plant further from the light source.

9. LED grow lights are very efficient, as you know, and do not burn nearly as hot as other sources. While they are initially the most expensive, they will likely pay for themselves with lower electric bills and the absence of expensive cooling systems. With proper care, LED systems will last up to 10 years, so if you're in it for the long haul, this might be the best choice.

10. When planning an indoor lighting system, do not forget about grow light stands. Improperly rigging your equipment to save money will make your lighting system dangerous to your property, plants and yourself.

Find more information in our Hydroponic Grow Lights Helpful Information section!