Tuesday 6 December 2016

Best Hydroponic System

Importance & Types of Light in a Hydroponic System

Light is possibly the most important source of energy for a plant, especially when growing hydroponically. Without the right amount of light, plants might not grow to their full potential. There are many different types of lights on the market, but only a few of them are useful for growing plants. Of course, if you’re growing outdoors, then you don’t have to worry about it. Indoor hydroponic gardeners, however, will have to go out and buy some decent grow lights. Here are some examples of types of lighting you should look for your hydroponic system.

Fluorescent Lights

These lights are a great cost-effective solution for indoor growers. Depending on what sort of plant you wish to grow, fluorescent lighting usually will be able to suffice for vegetating plants at least. Fluorescent lights are cheaper than other types of grow lights and produce no heat. There are two main types of fluorescent lighting which are usually used for growing. There are T5 fluorescent bulbs, which are long tubes ranging from 2 to 8 feet long. Also there are compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s), which are usually smaller and have a similar shape as household light bulbs. Both are equally efficient for growing plants, and either can be useful based on your needs.





Metal Halide Light Bulbs

They are much more powerful than CFL’s and emit many more lumens of light. These are ideal for plants in their vegetative state of growth, but can be used for flowering plants as well. Metal halide lights often range from 75 to 1000 watts, depending on the scale of your indoor garden. Unlike CFL’s, they produce large amounts of heat, and often need to be cooled in order to keep your grow room at ideal temperatures. Also, you must keep them far away from water, as if they come in contact with it, they might shatter or even explode. Metal halide lights are a popular form of lighting for indoor growing.

High Pressure Sodium Light Bulbs (HPS)

They are very popular for indoor growing, as they emit a high amount of light and produce the greatest growth in flowering plants. They often have the highest lumen per watt ratio, making them very attractive to any indoor grower. Often, gardeners use Metal Halide light bulbs during the vegetative stage of their plants’ growth and switch over to High Press Sodium when their plants are flowering. Of course, one of either type of light bulb will suffice. You can get more info about the best Hydroponic System at thereviewgurus.com.