| LIGHTING - FAQ |
| What is H.I.D. lighting? |
H.I.D. lighting is an acronym for high intensity discharge lighting,
which
is a special type of lighting that is much more intense than any other
grow light
available. Halide & sodium lighting systems are twice as efficient as
fluorescent
lamps....in other words, it would take 800 watts of fluorescent lights to
put out as much light as one H.I.D. lamp! These lamps are designed
specifically for
plant growth and are ready to plug into a common, 110 volt, household
outlet. |
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Choosing a light that is right for you? |
The first step is to determine the garden size you would
like to light. For
highlight gardens, the rule of thumb for lighting is as follows: 1000
watts will cover up to 64 square feet, 400 watts, 25 square feet; 250
watts, 9 square feet and 175 watts will cover up to 4 square feet. Make
sure that you choose a big enough lamp! Bulbs are not interchangeable to
ballasts, so once you choose your light, you can change wattage only by
purchasing an entirely new system.
Metal halide lighting systems put out light high in the blue spectrum,
which will
appear more natural. The 400 & 1000 watt sizes are available as
Agro-Suns, a color-corrected spectrum designed specifically for plant
growth.
Metal halide lamps are great all-purpose lights and ideal for lighting
gardens in
high-traffic areas, as the light is pleasing to be around. The metal
halide systems
are also less expensive than high pressure sodiums, so they will give you
the
most lamp for the money. This makes them a great choice for setting up a
grow
room on a budget. High pressure sodium lighting systems put out light high
in the red-orange spectrum, and all wattages except for the 1000 watt
system are
color-corrected and high-output-;designed specifically for plant growth.
The sodium bulbs only need to be replaced about every two years, which is
half the frequency of halides. Sodium bulbs also put out more lumens of
light per watt of
electricity. The systems themselves are a little more costly than halides
at initial
investment, but the long-term bulb replacement costs will save the grower
money in the long run. As far as plant performance goes, growers prefer
the halide systems for all-purpose growing, and sodiums for flowering and
fruiting gardens. |
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How much electricity will these lights use? |
Cost will vary according to area of country, of course,
but in the mid-west,
we find that a 1000 watt lamp running 16 hours daily will add about $40.00
per month to your electric bill. This translates to about $19.00 monthly
for a 400 watt light, $9.00 monthly for a 250 watt lamp, and less than
$7.00 per month for a 175 watt system. |
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Are these lights easy to install? |
Yes! All you need to do is hang your light from eye hooks
placed into studs
in your ceiling. The light will plug into any common household outlet. How
many hours should I light my indoor garden? Hours will vary according to
what you are growing, but most gardens will grow well with about 16-18
hours of light daily, during the vegetative stage. Shorter, 12 to 14 hours
of light per day for the flowering stage. |
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| Not Enough Light |
Most plants require a certain amount of light (intensity
and duration) to
maintain old leaves and produce new ones of the same size and color.
Reduced leaf size, increased internode length, changes in stem orientation
and loss of old
leaves are some of the signs that more light is needed. |
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| Too Much Light |
In general, too much light causes plant stunting. Even
with no superficial
symptoms, internal damage may occur that produces this. Leaves curl and
may
appear pale, edged with red. Plants that have been allowed to dry are
susceptible to sunburn. Excessive heat and light break down chlorophyll,
bleaching leaf tissues. Some plants may suffer leaf discoloration's.
Pruning
damaged leaves, reducing light and watering properly restore good growth. |
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Why Is a Light System So Important? |
When you garden outdoors, Mother Nature pays attention to
the proper light
balance and intensity for healthy plant growth. Your plants will sense and
adjust to the seasonal changes in the quality of light from the sun and
use its
patterns, hours, hues, and duration to judge their cycle of life. An
indoor light
system for your garden must be able to accomplish the same task. |
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