Hydroponic Lights

In hydroponics, one of the largest contributors to plant growth (other than the nutrient solution) is the illumination. Lights with particular frequencies in the light spectrum are used in every stage of plant growth, this process is called photosynthesis and for plants to conduct this process they will need sufficient amounts of light. Hydroponic lights (commonly called "grow lights") are utilized to stimulate these behaviors in plants. Here are the most typical types of hydroponic lights, and their usage.

Metal Halide (MH)

High Intensity Discharge or HID bulb is the most typical type of grow lights that makes the plants prosper and the leaves to grow due to its affinity to the blue side of the light spectrum. This is the perfect primary lighting source especially when you don't have natural lighting in your garden. Plants that are subjected to Metal Halide have the tendency to increase its width.

There are several kinds of hydroponic lights that are currently used. Among the newest is the LED grow lightHigh Pressure Sodium (HPS)

Also an HID, this bulb covers the orange and red spectrum bands, which is excellent for the flowering and budding stage. This kind of bulb serves as a supplementary lighting for the different kinds of lighting whether natural or artificial. HPS lighting can make plants develop unusually tall and thin.

Fluorescent lights

Used as grow lights, standard fluorescent bulbs are good for seedlings and sometimes lettuce and spinach plants, but in most cases they do not have enough intensity to give other plants the lighting they need. Nevertheless, the newer high-output fluorescent make excellent hydroponic lights, because they can be combined to cover the full light spectrum. Because these bulbs do not emit as much heat as the HID bulbs, you can place these bulbs in close proximity to the plants.

LED lights

LED grow lights are the most recent trend in grow lights because these lights do not only emit intense light but it generates very little heat as well and not only that it covers a wide range of the light spectrum. The down side is that they can be quite costly, and many growers have determined that they can get just as good of a color spread from fluorescent or other less-expensive permutations. The LED lighting may be extremely efficient and gives out good outcomes, but its cost drives people away to look for other options.

Incandescent grow lights

Incandescent bulbs, while generally available, are regarded the least productive choice in hydroponic lights. Aside from the limited spectrum range, these bulbs can also produce so much heat it is not suggested to place these lights close to the plants. Color-corrected incandescent are occasionally used as accent lighting or to supplement other lighting for individual plants, but incandescent should never be used as a primary lighting source.

A number of gardens will use several types of grow lights in order to support the needs of the plants during the different stages of its growth and development. Because diverse plants have different needs, what you grow will establish how your lighting should be organized.