Choosing Your Marijuana Seed Grow Lights

Lets take minute and examine all the different types of indoor cannabis grow lights. Choosing the right type of lights, is almost as import as choosing the right type of marijuana seeds. Remember, for centuries cannabis grew freely in the outdoors under natural sunlight. We are trying to replicate that natural sunlight indoors, so the type of light will be the number one environmental factor in the quality and quantity of your cannabis yields. So choosing the right type of lighting will have a direct impact on your grow experience.

We have summarized 4 of the most popular types of lighting used for indoor cannabis growing.

Induction Grow Lights
Invented by the very famous Nikola Tesla (yes, same man the famous car is named after) in the late 1800’s, it is similar to a fluorescent bulb, but tends to be more effiecent and longer lasting. The only issues you will have with these bulbs are their price and availability. Induction lamps are also known as electrodeless fluorescent lamps, have recently adapted to suit the needs of indoor growers.
HID Grow Lights
HID (high intensity discharge) lights have become the industry standard when it comes to indoor growing. Widely used for their combination of efficiency, output and value. They cost a little bit more than incandescent or fluorescent fixtures, but produce far more light per unit of electricity used. So you’re upfront cost is more, but overall operating cost is less. They are not as energy efficient as LED lighting, but they cost as little as one-tenth as much for comparable units. Again, these reasons make them our first choice.
There are 2 main types of HID lamp used for growing are:
• Metal Halide (MH), which produces a blue/white light and are generally used during vegetative growth
• High pressure sodium (HPS), is used more during the flowering stage, produces a light that is more on the red-orange end of the spectrum
In addition to bulbs, HID lighting setups require a ballast and hood/reflector for each light. Some ballasts are designed for specific use with either MH or HPS lamps so check prior to purchasing. Many of the newer designs will run both.
If you can’t afford both MH and HPS bulbs, we recommend to start with HPS as they deliver more light per watt compared to MH. Magnetic ballasts are cheaper than digital ballasts, but run hotter, are less efficient, and harder on your bulbs. Digital ballasts are generally a better option, but are more expensive. But like most things, u get what you pay for. Be cautious of cheap digital ballasts, as they are often not well shielded and can create electromagnetic interference that will affect radio and WiFi signals (we don’t want airplanes crashing because of indoor growing).

Unless you’re growing in a large, open space with a lot of ventilation, such as a warehouse or garage, you will need air-cooled reflector hoods to mount your lamps in. This is due to the amount of heat HID bulbs produce. This requires ducting and exhaust fans, which will increase your initial cost but make controlling the temperature in your grow room much easier. Remember, if you’re going to do it, do it right.
Fluorescent Grow Lights
Fluorescent light fixtures, particularly those that use high-output (HO) T5 bulbs, are very popular with the small home grower. A couple are reasons are:
• They have a cheaper set up cost, as reflector, ballast, and bulbs are included in all in one single package
• Also, they do not require a cooling system since they don’t generate the amount of heat that HID lights do
The main drawback when using fluorescent lights are they less efficient. Typically generating up to 30% less light per watt of electricity used. Space is can be another issue, as it would require approximately 19 four-foot long T5 HO bulbs to equal the output of a single 600 watt HPS bulb.

LED Grow Lights
Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology is nothing new, but only recently has it been adapted to create super efficient light fixtures for indoor cannabis growing. The main drawback to LED grow lights is their cost, well this isn’t a draw back if u have the capital and want to do it right. Most LED fixtures can cost 10 times what a comparable HID setup would. The benefits outweigh the costs as LEDs last much longer, use far less electricity, create less heat, and the best designs generate a fuller spectrum of light, which can lead to bigger yields and better quality of cannabis. Like any industry, you must do your homework first. Unfortunately, there are many sub standard LED lights being produced and marketed towards growers, so do some research and read product reviews before laying down your hard-earned cash.