What is cannabis grow light?
Marijuana grow lights are designed to replicate natural sunlight. Cannabis plants need brighter and more stable light to ripen their seedlings. Therefore, plant grow lights are necessary to meet the special needs of cannabis plants. Especially the most popular led plant grow light. Every marijuana grower knows how important proper lighting is for a successful harvest. Together with nutrition and water, it is one of the most critical factors to ensure healthy growth and high yield.
Although natural sunlight is usually best for marijuana cultivation, many growers prefer to grow indoors for a variety of reasons. First of all, not everyone lives in a climate that can be planted outdoors. Secondly, indoor plants growing involves regular artificial lighting, so that growers can better control the nutrition and flowering stage of marijuana.
In fact, growing marijuana indoors has many advantages. Because indoor marijuana is of better quality than outdoor marijuana. This is why cannabis plants grown indoors are used for medicinal and recreational purposes. Moreover, different types of marijuana grow lamps can be used for indoor, and the best grow light will improve the THC level, so as to improve the quality of marijuana. In addition, you can control the amount of lighting as needed at indoors.
There are many different types of indoor plant grow lamps on the market. But not all plant grow lamps are the same; In fact, there are great differences in effectiveness and cost, so different plant grow lamps have different advantages and disadvantages.
Fluorescent lamp (CFL)
CFL, also known as “compact fluorescent lamps”, are especially suitable for small-scale plants growing and will be the most affordable entry grow lamp you can find. Conveniently, these bulbs have standard sockets, so you can use them with any standard lamp. They don’t need any special equipment. Not only low light output (only 1-2 plants) and not suitable for flowering, but only lower yield than the standard. And the service life is often shorter than other lamps.
HID (MH and HPS) grow lights
HID (high intensity discharge) grow lamp is the gold standard in the marijuana cultivation industry to some extent. Many growers have a strong belief in HID lighting and believe that they can produce the best and maximum yield.
There are two main types of HID lamps: MH (metal halide) and HPS (high pressure sodium) lamps. The difference between the two is that MH lamps produce “colder” blue light, while HPS lamps are usually red. This makes MH Lamp more suitable for plant growth stage and HPS lamp more suitable for flowering. Therefore, most advanced growers use a combination of MH and HPS bulbs throughout the process.
But they will emit strong heat, which may cause the indoor high temperature or burn plants. You need additional equipment, including electronic ballasts and reflectors. HID bulbs need replace them regularly. HID lamps consume a lot of electricity, which will significantly increase the electricity charge.
LED grow light
The light emitted by most high-quality LEDs is suitable for both growth and flowering, and the spectrum can be changed according to the appropriate phase. Modern led grow light technology, such as those using COB (“chip on board”) technology or “quantum board”, can now provide stable light intensity and penetration, even for the most demanding growth. It can surpass and even surpass other types of LED lighting today. It can be said that led grow lamp is the best choice among marijuana grow lights. They will not emit any heat that will affect the quality of plants or increase the electricity bill. Although the cost of LED grow lamps in the early stage may be very expensive, in the long run, LED lamps can save costs.
Advantages of LED grow lights
LED lights have the best efficiency.
Integrated cooling system
High quality yield
High power range options
Ballasts are not always required
Disadvantages of LED grow lamps
High initial cost