HPS vs LED

[Fish scale]

is it just me or do HPS bulbs work better in the winter? I'm guessing it's because HPS bulbs give out slightly more warmth and help the plants grow better in the winter? I find that my LED light just doesn't work very good in the winter and the plants growth is very slow.

 

[Spliffy Twojoints]

is it just me or do HPS bulbs work better in the winter? I'm guessing it's because HPS bulbs give out slightly more warmth and help the plants grow better in the winter? I find that my LED light just doesn't work very good in the winter and the plants growth is very slow.

The plants like it warm and definitely grow better in warm temperatures, but if it’s too warm they slow down completely.

That said, it may just be the quality of your HPS bulb or your LEDs. To test, you could just measure temperature and humidity with the HPS running, then add a space heater to the room when running the LEDs and get the temperature the same as when you run your HPS. With the temperature the same, the big variable would be the light quality. That space heater may dry the area out more so you may also need a humidifier to duplicate the conditions, but maybe not.

HPS bulbs perform far less effectively after each grow. Don’t just wait until they burn out, replace them after two or three grows.

 

[conor c]

is it just me or do HPS bulbs work better in the winter? I'm guessing it's because HPS bulbs give out slightly more warmth and help the plants grow better in the winter? I find that my LED light just doesn't work very good in the winter and the plants growth is very slow.

If your in the UK or some place that gets colder then there very handy

 

[Boatguy]

If your in the UK or some place that gets colder then there very handy

I am in a cold place and led works fine. In the summer temps and humidity are too high for growing or drying in my basement.
Best part of winter cold is the lack of bugs

 

[Fish scale]

I am in a cold place and led works fine. In the summer temps and humidity are too high for growing or drying in my basement.
Best part of winter cold is the lack of bugs

Do you use a heater with your LED light in the winter? Because I have just been using my LED on it's own and I don't see the plants growing that much. I think HPS lights work better because you get a bit more heat from them in the winter months

 

[Wastei]

It all comes down to the environment, temperature and humidity. I like propane style heater's during winter months with LED's. They add a good amount of CO2.

Cheers!

 

[Hollatchaboy]

I am in a cold place and led works fine. In the summer temps and humidity are too high for growing or drying in my basement.
Best part of winter cold is the lack of bugs

That and the free cold air. I still have to intake cool air for my tent in the winter. LEDs run cooler, but they still add heat to the space.

 

[B|uDreamer]

HPS has a fair amount of IR in addition to the increase in ambient temps and our plants care most about leaf temperature. Those are going to be higher than ambient for plants under HID, and at or below ambient for LED setups that don't incorporate IR. I'm preferential to CMH with LED year round, but as with most cases I think better depends on your particular situation and needs.

 

[conor c]

I am in a cold place and led works fine. In the summer temps and humidity are too high for growing or drying in my basement.
Best part of winter cold is the lack of bugs

You must supplement heat then ? Here in lights off without it you would have issues

 

[go go kid]

It all comes down to the environment, temperature and humidity. I like propane style heater's during winter months with LED's. They add a good amount of CO2.

Cheers!

just remember gass gives off a lot of moisture, so a dehumidifier may be needed

 

[Wastei]

just remember gass gives off a lot of moisture, so a dehumidifier may be needed

Good point! It's not a problem where I'm at with practically 0% humidity during winter months.

Cheers!

 

[Star Dog]

Hid is beneficial in cold humid climates i think, i still use hid to veg/pre flower, I read about savings with led but that's not been the case for me.

It costs me more to use led, the radiated heat from hid deals with heat and humidity better, I get enough heat and light with 400/600w

 

[hillbill]

In coldest weather I trade 1 of 4 100 watt Boards for old 250w CMH which helps keep plants warm as well as containers.
LEDs need temps about 10* warmer than HIDs. CMH also has some UV.

 

[conor c]

Hid is beneficial in cold humid climates i think, i still use hid to veg/pre flower, I read about savings with led but that's not been the case for me.
View attachment 5455272
It costs me more to use led, the radiated heat from hid deals with heat and humidity better, I get enough heat and light with 400/600w

Wow This is the first time I can remember we are actually colder where I'm at than your bit of the country dude it's 9c and windy as hell I seen you post it plenty before and I'm normally always a bit warmer by at least a few c here but not today though lol

 

[Boatguy]

You must supplement heat then ? Here in lights off without it you would have issues

I dont.
My boiler and water heater are in the same area. Doesnt get below 70 down there often unless we have a real cold spell.
With lights on it stays at a comfortable 78 with the assistance of the exhaust. I do had trouble with humidity spikes at lights off though.

A heater would help my exhaust cycle during lights out but fear of fire is a thing, as well as not having much room for extras in a 3x3. So far only one grow with some dense nl5/h did i have to trash a few buds due to mold. It was discouraging but not enough of a loss for me to change my setup.

 

[conor c]

I dont.
My boiler and water heater are in the same area. Doesnt get below 70 down there often unless we have a real cold spell.
With lights on it stays at a comfortable 78 with the assistance of the exhaust. I do had trouble with humidity spikes at lights off though.

A heater would help my exhaust cycle during lights out but fear of fire is a thing, as well as not having much room for extras in a 3x3. So far only one grow with some dense nl5/h did i have to trash a few buds due to mold. It was discouraging but not enough of a loss for me to change my setup.

Oh I see yeah our boilers not in the same place I grow so if I was to switch I'd need to add heat too in lights off here cos here it's only in old properties or apartments you will see it in a cupboard or area of it's own most people have there boiler in there kitchen here if you stay in a house Vs apartment in the uk