The Different Types Of Grow Lights And Their Benefits
Growing weed indoors can be a great way to control the environment and make sure it is perfect for your plants. There are many benefits of growing weed indoors, one being that you can control the amount of light they get each day. Depending on what you’re looking for, several types of grow lights are available in stores or online.
This blog post will go over some of the different type and their benefits so you can find the best option that fits your needs!
Fluorescent Grow Lights (CFL)
Fluorescent lights used to be the main choice for growing weed. They come in different shapes and sizes, including T5, T12, and T8 bulbs (which are most commonly used). Traditionally, CFLs only produce light in the blue spectrum, which is the color that cannabis plants use to grow. Since they don’t emit as much light, they need to be placed very close to the plant. Otherwise, use a larger CFL bulb that will illuminate your garden better.
This type of light is best for growing small amounts of weed in minimal space. So, for example, if you only have a few plants that you want to grow and need to dedicate a smaller area just for them.
High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) Grow Lights
An HPS grow light is one of the longest-running grows lights used for growing weed. It comes in different sizes that include 250W, 400W, 1000W, and many more. The size is measured in watts based on how much light they produce. This type of light is great for the flowering stage as it produces red and yellow lights, which are what your plants use to flower. It also tends to be more durable than other grow lights.
Metal Halide (MH) Grow Lights
These are one of the most popular lights to use when growing cannabis, especially for beginners. They give off a brighter light and can be used throughout all stages of growth, including vegging and flowering. MH bulbs also come in different sizes, with 180W being the most common size (but they are available up to 1000W). The larger the bulb, the more light it produces, and therefore you can cover a larger area. These bulbs can be used with both HPS and MH ballasts but if you want your plants to flower properly, then use an MH ballast as it only works well with this type of bulb.
LED Grow Lights
LED grow lights have recently gained a lot of popularity. They’re one of the most efficient lights that you can use for growing weed, they don’t produce a lot of heat which means your garden will be kept at a lower temperature, and they last up to 50,000 hours! They also have a heat sink which prevents heat from building up inside the light. LED lights are used during the vegetative and flowering stages. They give off light in the red spectrum, which is what cannabis plants use to flower.
LEDs are also environmentally friendly since they don’t contain any harmful toxins in other types of grow lights, such as mercury and sodium.
HID Grow Lights
HID grow lights (High-Intensity Discharge) can cover large areas. They’re the best choice for growing a more significant amount of weed, or if you need to cover a lot of space with this type of light. HID bulbs have an intense brightness, so they need to be placed about 12 inches away from your plants.
If you move them too close, it can burn the tops of the leaves (even though they’re not supposed to touch the leaves directly). They also use a lot more energy than any other type of grow light. The spectrum that HIDs emit is very similar to what we see when we look at sunlight outside. While that’s often a good thing, it also means that these lights are the most expensive to run.
If you really want to use an HID grow light and the electricity isn’t a concern for you, then, by all means, go for it! However, most people tend to opt for lower-cost options since more experienced growers can get great results with the other types of grow lights.
Which should you choose?
It depends on what you’re looking to achieve when growing your weed. If you want a smaller harvest, it’s probably best to stick with CFLs, LEDs, or MH lights. They tend to be cheaper than HIDs, and they’re more manageable when you only have a few plants in your grow room.
Conclusion
There are many different types of grow lights that you can use to grow weed. Each light has its advantages and disadvantages. LEDs give off more efficient light, while fluorescent bulbs only emit blue light. HPS and MH bulbs produce a brighter and warmer light, and you can also use them for the entire duration of growth. It’s important to choose a light based on what you’re using it for because some kinds are only good for vegging while others work well in all stages of growth.
