Grow Lights
Grow lights in hydroponics are an essential part of any growing system. There are several different types of grow lighting systems and grow lamps available on the market, so be careful when choosing the grow light to use with your hydroponic method and size of installation.
Grow lights in hydroponics come in many shapes, functions and sizes. Many of these may be used successfully in your hydroponics system. The three main categories are fluorescent, high-intensity discharge (HID) and light-emitting diode (LED).
Fluorescent grow lights. This light is the most popular among hydroponic growers because of its relatively low cost and efficiency.
There are two subsets of the fluorescent grow light types: compact fluorescent light (CFL) and tube-style light.
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL). CFLs are relatively inexpensive bulbs which can be very versatile in their shape. CFLs are a good choice for minor hydroponic installation because they don’t heat up to a great extent, so you can safely place them next to your plants.
Tube-Style Fluorescent. Tube-style fluorescent lights are available in several different specific types. Tube-style fluorescent lights are wider than their CFL counterparts, generally arranged in parallel rather than in series, and mounted on a sturdy fixed board.
High-Intensity Discharge Grow Lights (HID). HID lights are generally more efficient than fluorescent lights but release more heat; they need continual ventilation. Of these, there are three sub-varieties:
High-Pressure Sodium Lights (HPS). HPS lights give off reds and yellows on the whole colour spectrum. Because of this, HPS grow lights are used more often during the fruiting and flowering stages of plants.
Metal Halide Lights (MH). These emit light within the blue range of the spectrum. Because of this, MH lights are well-suited for the vegetative stages in the life cycle of plants.
Ceramic Metal Halide Lights (CMH). These are similar to MH grow lights on first seeing them. But CMH lights have a broader colour spectrum range than both MH and HPS lights, and they last longer.
Light Emitting Diodes (LED). LEDs are very efficient compared to all the other types of grow light; LEDs emit a large amount of light while only needing very little electricity. They are very lightweight and do not emit much heat. These lights consist of lots of small diodes which produce light. These grow lights may be sourced and arranged to make specific colours on the spectrum.
