Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Grow Lights For Your Indoor Garden

Picking the right grow lights can be quite a process.  There is such a variety of light sources, some more useful than others in a specific type of plant, or growth cycle.  It’s important for indoor plant growers to educate themselves on what grow lights they will need so they can be a smart shopper.  Let’s take a look at some of the pluses and minuses of the options available.
High-Pressure Sodium Lamps
This particular lamp, the HPS, has several specific uses.  First it works best on helping to grow herbs and vegetables as opposed to fruits.  It’s light signature is enough so that it thrives during the reproductive cycle for the crops.  However this same signature also tends to attract pesky insects and other pests that could potentially endanger the farmers indoor crops.  As I said, it’s specialties are limited, but still useful.
The Ever So Useful Fluorescent Lamps
Normally one would think of fluorescent lights only illuminating an office space or a kitchen, but believe it or not they are good for growing indoor plants.  Fluorescent grow lights are used during the initial phases of growing, and again are much better for growing vegetables than fruits and flowers.  They also have a very good bulb life of about 2.5 years, which can save the gardener time and money on replacing less effective lights.
LED Lighting
The LED grow lights, or light emitting diodes have really taken off and become a certified favorite for indoor plant farmers.  The very fact that it produces practically no heat, and has the ability to last as long as 11 years, makes them worth their price alone.  Throw in the advantage of using only the light that a plant needs to grow and eliminating the rest of the spectrum, and that’s icing on the cake.  This grow light has separated itself from other lights in a good way.
The grow light industry is always making advancements and looking for ways to make the most out of indoor plant growth.  These lights mentioned, are but a few, as there are still many more out there.  Stay informed, and you will continue to save money and shop smart.

3 thoughts on “Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Grow Lights For Your Indoor Garden

  1. For now, HID lights are still the most popular, but I think LED will finally take over next year or 2018. It’s really only a matter of time as they get more and more powerful and the prices start to come down.

    1. So true. Some brands are already priced below the equivalent HID light. Granted, most of those brands are not good, but a few are. You can get a good LED for less than the HID light would cost you.

Comments are closed.