Which lighting for cannabis?
Light is probably the most important factor to consider when growing cannabis indoors, in a greenhouse or outdoors. If you want to grow marijuana indoors, you need to choose the right growth lamp. Without enough light, you will not get a good harvest. The best lighting is usually equal to the highest quality THC, so you must get the best lighting you can afford. With so many different types of plant growth lamps to choose from, it is challenging to find the ideal plant that suits your needs.
Lighting has a significant impact on marijuana production, but optimizing production is not just about exposing marijuana plants to constant bright light. Like all plants, marijuana benefits from the cycle of light and dark light. In addition, the yield of cannabis can be increased by controlling the relative intensity of different wavelengths of light at different stages of the growth cycle of cannabis plants.
Physiologically, there are several reasons why effective lighting is so important for marijuana cultivation. First, cannabis has evolved to thrive in dry, sunny climates. It is recommended that indoor growers create an environment and lighting schematic that matches the ecological impact of the good response of cannabis DNA. Second, cannabis is classified as a short solar cycle plant species, which means that changes in solar patterns directly determine the seed stage of the plant life cycle. As most growers know, the defining photoperiodic characteristics of cannabis occur in the cycle of plant growth and flowering stages, in which 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness causes the plant to bloom. These light durations represent the solar cycle in late summer and autumn. Serious indoor gardeners must adapt to the biological needs of cannabis and the changes in growth patterns associated with lighting.
When designing lighting systems for indoor marijuana gardens, growers must consider the advantages and disadvantages of various technologies. The main growth lamps in the market today are fluorescent lamps, metal halides (MH), single ended high-pressure sodium (SE HPS), double ended high-pressure sodium (de HPS) and light emitting diodes (LED).
Fluorescent plant growth lamp – most suitable for small plant growth
The two types of fluorescent lamps are T5 and CFL. The former is long and narrow, while the latter is twisted into shape. They have cool, warm or full spectrum colors. Growers sometimes use them because they are cheap and low in energy consumption, which can save energy costs. They also provide pleasant colors for indoor planting sites. Fluorescent lamps do not need to invest in additional settings like hid. It is not necessary to include a specific ventilation system to reduce the temperature of the room.
However, the output of fluorescent lamps is lower than that of other plant lamps. You must also place them close to your plants for any benefit. This means that you can use them in a small room, but if you plan to plant several plants, they will not work.
HID grow lights — traditional and energy consuming choice
HID, short for high intensity discharge, is a large bulb that can emit a lot of heat and light. They usually need a complete exhaust fan to remove excess heat, and the power consumption is huge. In addition, they usually need a lot of time and space to establish a working system. HID grow lamps are generally divided into several different varieties:
Metal halide growth lamp
Metal halide or MH growth lamps are mainly used in the plant growth stage. This is a part of the life of the cannabis plant. It begins to grow and its leaves begin to flourish. MH lamps produce strong blue light, which plants prefer at this growth stage.
It may sound strange that plants like some kind of light. However, light of different colors is mostly different in wavelength and intensity. Due to this difference in wavelength, plants prefer stronger or weaker light at different stages of their development.
For the early stage of plant growth, the blue light emitted by metal halide lamps is the best.
High pressure sodium growth lamp
High pressure sodium or HPS growth lamps are more effective than other forms of hid. They emit a softer yellow light, which marijuana prefers during flowering. This yellow light helps to promote strong bud production. In addition, it allows you to configure the final size of the harvest more precisely.
Luminescent ceramic plant growth lamp
Also known as ceramic metal halide lamps, this type of lighting has a collection of ceramic heating elements within the lamp. Manufacturers use ceramic because it has a higher arc tube temperature. Arc tubes help create lighting within MH lamps. As a result, efficiency and color rendering are improved.
Hid plant lamps are old-fashioned and can produce huge harvests, but they consume a lot of power. However, due to their efficiency and power output, they are still widely regarded as the standard for indoor cannabis cultivation.
LED is the abbreviation of light emitting diode, which is a simple light form with high energy efficiency. Because of how the light inside the LED is generated, they use a small amount of electricity to obtain the same amount of light compared with other light sources.
LEDs generate less heat than other lamps. And high efficiency, which means lower energy costs and long service life. But the initial cost is high.
Of course, when purchasing a marijuana lighting system, other factors should also be considered, such as cost, ventilation, safety, space and growth cycle.