what are the best type lights to grow with?

Just wondering what the most highly recommended type bulb is, i was thinking about going with hps... so anybody else has a suggestion on whats better to use please help me out
 

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
MH is rich in blue light, which young plants need/want for optimum growth and growth regulation (they turn toward blue light, and it's responsible for keeping internodes short).
HPS is rich in the yellows&reds that mature, flowering plants can use well, and HPS produces more light per watt.

There are three other lighting technologies of interest for the grower: fluorescents (with T5, CFL and the "induction plasma" tube lights in tht category), LEDs and RFI plasma.
CFLs are good for small grows, and one can put together a 100-200-watt CFL grow for "cheap".
LEDs are very expensive to purchase per watt, but they last a long time and are very efficient at converting electricity to PAR (photosynthetically available) light. I've also read interesting but unconfirmed gripes: trouble finding diodes in the best part of the red spectrum, airy buds, and buds that have starches (harsh smoking) left in them after harvest ... comments anyone?
I am intrigued by RFI plasma, specifically the Luxim sulfur plasma lamp. it produced the most sunlike light of any of these sources, and is supposed to be very efficient and universal (veg and flower) lighting. I might buy a fixture and give it a go.

hope this is to point ... cn
 

dbkick

Well-Known Member
MH is rich in blue light, which young plants need/want for optimum growth and growth regulation (they turn toward blue light, and it's responsible for keeping internodes short).
HPS is rich in the yellows&reds that mature, flowering plants can use well, and HPS produces more light per watt.

There are three other lighting technologies of interest for the grower: fluorescents (with T5, CFL and the "induction plasma" tube lights in tht category), LEDs and RFI plasma.
CFLs are good for small grows, and one can put together a 100-200-watt CFL grow for "cheap".
LEDs are very expensive to purchase per watt, but they last a long time and are very efficient at converting electricity to PAR (photosynthetically available) light. I've also read interesting but unconfirmed gripes: trouble finding diodes in the best part of the red spectrum, airy buds, and buds that have starches (harsh smoking) left in them after harvest ... comments anyone?
I am intrigued by RFI plasma, specifically the Luxim sulfur plasma lamp. it produced the most sunlike light of any of these sources, and is supposed to be very efficient and universal (veg and flower) lighting. I might buy a fixture and give it a go.

hope this is to point ... cn
good luck with that, I went to my hydro store and noticed an 1800 dollar plasma set for return to manufacturer. I'll give the tech a little while longer, if I were to try anything newer it would probably be induction lighting.
 

Zig No Zag

Active Member
I bought the T5s. 2 -4X4s, I have 6 plants under each one. Seems to be working great. They were pretty cheap too. But, this is my first time growing and learning everything the hard way. If it weren't for veterans like cannabineer, I would have been in trouble...
 

panrod

Member
metal halide in veg and hps in flower. If you cannot afford both go with HPS. If you are using digital ballast buy both bulbs.
 

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member
ive done whole grows in hps. leds and t5's. but i stick with the basic formula...t5's then halide then hps. its pretty standard.
 
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