Best Lights for Indoor Growing

If you’re looking to set up an indoor cannabis grow operation, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is what type of lighting to use. In this blog post, we’ll break down the different types of lights available and help you choose the best option for your needs.

There are three main types of lights available for indoor cannabis growing: HID (high intensity discharge), fluorescent, and LED (light emitting diode). Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the right option for your particular grow operation. Here’s a breakdown of each type of light:

HID Lights

HID lights are one of the most popular choices for indoor cannabis growers. They are powerful and efficient, and they produce a lot of light. However, they also produce a lot of heat, so you’ll need to be sure to have proper ventilation in place. HID lights are also more expensive than other options.

Different Types of HID Lights

  1. HPS Lights
    High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights are commonly used for growing weed. HPS lights emit a yellow-orange light that is high in the light spectrum. This type of light is best used in a flowering stage as it has a lot of blue light and high intensity. This type emits a yellow light that is great for flowering plants. This type of light is ideal for growing weed because it promotes bud development. In addition, HPS lights are very bright, which can help to prevent weed growth. However, HPS lights can also be very hot, so it is important to keep them away from flammable materials. In addition, HPS lights can be expensive to purchase and operate.
  2. MH Lights
    MH lights, or metal halide lights, are another type of HID light that can be used for growing cannabis. MH lights emit a bluish-white light that is ideal for promoting vegetative growth in plants. MH lights are not as efficient as HPS lights, but they do not produce as much heat, making them a good choice for growers who are concerned about heat build-up in their grow room.
  3. CMH Lights
    CMH lights, or ceramic metal halide lights, are a newer type of HID light that is becoming increasingly popular with growers. CMH lights emit a full-spectrum light that is ideal for both vegetative growth and flowering. CMH lights are also very efficient and do not produce as much heat as HPS or MH lights.

Best HID Grow Lights for Indoor Growing

  1. The Sunlight Supply AMP 1000 Watt HPS Grow Light System is one of the best HID lights for growing cannabis. This system includes a ballast, reflector, and bulb, and is designed to provide your plants with the intense light they need to grow quickly and produce large yields.
  2. The Hydrofarm Xtrasun 600 Watt HPS Grow Light System is another great option for growers looking for an affordable HID light system. This system includes a ballast, reflector, and bulb, and is designed to provide your plants with the intense light they need to grow quickly and produce large yields.

Fluorescent Lights

Fluorescent lights are a good choice for small grow operations. They don’t produce as much heat as HID lights, so they don’t require as much ventilation. They are also less expensive than HID lights. However, they are not as efficient and don’t produce as much light.

Best Fluorescent Grow Lights for Indoor Growing

  1. T5 HO Fluorescent Grow Lights
    T5 HO fluorescent grow lights are some of the most popular types of grow lights on the market. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to set up, and provide good coverage for small grow spaces. T5 HO fluorescent grow lights produce a lot of light but generate very little heat, making them a good option for growers who are concerned about heat build-up in their grow space.
  2. Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Grow Lights
    Compact fluorescent (CFL) grow lights are another popular type of grow light. They are less expensive than T5 HO fluorescent grow lights and can be easily found at most hardware stores. CFLs produce a decent amount of light but generate more heat than T5 HO fluorescent grow lights, so they may not be the best option for growers who are concerned about heat build-up in their grow space.
  3. High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) Grow Lights
    High-pressure sodium (HPS) grow lights are typically used by experienced growers who are looking to produce high yields. HPS grow lights produce a lot of light but also generate a lot of heat, so they must be used with caution in small grow spaces. HPS grow lights typically require additional ventilation and cooling to prevent heat build-up in the grow space.
  4. Light Emitting Diode (LED) Grow Lights
    Light emitting diode (LED) grow lights are the newest type ofgrow light on the market and are quickly becoming popular among growers. LED grow lights are more expensive than other types ofgrow lights but use less energy and generate less heat, making them a good option for growers who are concerned about energy costs and heat build-up in their grow space.
  5. Metal Halide (MH) Grow Lights
    Metal halide (MH) grow lights are similar to HPS grow lights in that they produce a lot of light but also generate a lot of heat. MH grow lights must be used with caution in smallgrow spaces to prevent heat build-up. MH grow lights typically require additional ventilation and cooling to prevent heat build-up in thegrow space.

LED Lights

LED lights are now being used in many grow rooms around the world. They are suitable for both vegetative and flowering stages as they emit a red light spectrum which is ideal for photosynthesis. However, LED grow lights should be avoided when using high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs as they emit a blue light spectrum which is not good for plants and can cause eye problems.

Best LED Grow Lights for Indoor Growing:

  1. Apollo Horticulture GL60LED Full Spectrum 150W LED Grow Light
    The Apollo Horticulture GL60LED Full Spectrum 150W LED Grow Light is a great option for cannabis growers. It features 60 high-powered LEDs that emit a full spectrum of light, including UV and IR. The light also has a wide coverage area and is adjustable to fit your needs.
  2. VIPARSPECTRA UL Certified 600W LED Grow Light
    The VIPARSPECTRA UL Certified 600W LED Grow Light is another great option for cannabis growers. It features 120 high-powered LEDs that emit a full spectrum of light, including UV and IR. The light also has a wide coverage area and is adjustable to fit your needs. Additionally, the VIPARSPECTRA grow light is UL certified, meaning it has been tested and approved by Underwriters Laboratories, a global safety organization.
  3. Mars Hydro TS 1000W LED Grow Light
    The Mars Hydro TS 1000W LED Grow Light is another great option for cannabis growers. It features 144 high-powered LEDs that emit a full spectrum of light, including UV and IR. The light also has a wide coverage area and is adjustable to fit your needs. Additionally, the Mars Hydro grow light comes with a 3-year warranty, ensuring that you will be covered in case of any problems.
  4. King Plus 1200W Double Chips LED Grow Light
    The King Plus 1200W Double Chips LED Grow Light is another great option for cannabis growers. It features 120 high-powered LEDs that emit a full spectrum of light, including UV and IR. The light also has a wide coverage area and is adjustable to fit your needs. Additionally, the King Plus grow light comes with a 6-month money-back guarantee, ensuring that you will be satisfied with your purchase.
  5. G8LED 900 Watt MEGA LED Grow Light with Optimal 8-Band plus Infrared (IR) and Ultraviolet (UV)
    The G8LED 900 Watt MEGA LED Grow Light with Optimal 8-Band plus Infrared (IR) and Ultraviolet (UV) is another great option for cannabis growers. It features 90 high-powered LEDs that emit a full spectrum of light, including UV and IR. The light also has a wide coverage area and is adjustable to fit your needs

What to Consider When You Choose Marijuana Grow Lights

  1. How much light you need depends on the stage of growth your cannabis plants are in.
  2. For seedlings and clones, you’ll need a light that doesn’t produce too much heat, like fluorescent bulbs.
  3. As your plants enter the vegetative stage, they’ll need more light, so you’ll want to switch to high-pressure sodium (HPS) bulbs or metal halide (MH) bulbs.
  4. During flowering, your plants will need even more light, so HPS bulbs are the best option.
  5. You also need to consider the color of light your bulbs produce.
  6. Bulbs that produce blue light are better for vegetative growth, while those that produce red light are better for flowering.
  7. You’ll also want to make sure your bulbs are producing full-spectrum light, which means they emit all colors of the visible spectrum.
  8. This is important because cannabis plants use different colors of light for different processes, like photosynthesis and respiration.
  9. Another thing to consider is the wattage of your bulbs.
  10. Higher-wattage bulbs will produce more light, but they also generate more heat, which can be detrimental to your plants

Conclusion

There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing the best lights for indoor cannabis growing. The best option for you will depend on factors like the size of your growing operation, your budget, and your preferred growing method. Be sure to do your research and talk to experienced growers before making a final decision.

What is the difference between High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) and Metal Halide (MH) Bulbs?

The two types of bulbs used by HID grow lights are High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) bulbs and Metal Halide (MH) bulbs. While they both produce heat, they differ in how they produce their heat. HPS generates its heat through vaporization – which means that the bulb itself will get hot while MH emits its heat through incandescence – meaning that the lamp itself will not get hot but the light emitted from it will be warm to touch.