Types of Lights to Grow Marijuana
Determining what type of lamp to use when growing marijuana in small areas.
How much money you have to spend is the top determining factor when choosing the best type of lamp to use in your marijuana grow room. High Pressure Sodium lamps are universally known as the best all around grow lamp. They are the most costly to purchase and setup. The colour spectrum is highest in the yellow, orange and red end, which makes the HPS especially suitable for flowering.
Cannabis grow areas should receive 1000-3000 lumens per square foot. A great goal is to get around 2,000 lumens per square foot. During the vegetative stage, plants stretch out when they receive low levels of light. The higher the level of light, the tighter the buds will be. Normally a 1500 watt lamp with shade will be good in a 10 x 10 square foot room. Some cannabis growers prefer a lot more.
TIP: You’ve got to use the proper amount of CO2. More intense light requires greater amounts of CO2 for maximum marijuana plant growth.
When you go to determine what size lamp to buy, take into account the square footage of your garden. That will tell you the lumens you need. Then keep in mind when buying the lights you want to limit the number of ballasts, so higher intensity lamps are best.
Marijuana Lamp Types
High Intensity Discharge Lamps (HID’s) – High intensity discharge lamps are efficient and easy to maintain. Don’t bother with anything low wattage, they are basically for household and outdoor use. They come in two types:
1. METAL HALIDE or MH lamps emit a white light that has a blue tinge to it. The metal halide is usually best for the vegetative state.
2. HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM or HPS lamps emit a pink to orange light. HPS lamps are much more efficient than MH lights, producing more light and less energy consumed. They are often used alone with no detrimental effect on the plants, and will promote faster plant growth than MH lamps during flowering. There are new types of HPS lamps coming out. Visit your local hydroponic store for specifics
3. LED or Light Emitting Diodes are the newest rage in growing marijuana lamps. The LED light system stays cooler than any other light. The LED costs less using up less energy. Less cost, less heat and less energy consumption means less chance of getting discovered.
