Marijuana grow light setup

One of the best ways to keep your own personal supply going is to grow your own plants at home. One of the first issues you’re going to run into if you’re a beginner is probably your marijuana grow light setup. Indeed, indoor lighting is one of the most important parts – they imitate the sun and give your plants the energy they need to grow and flower successfully. We’re going to go through the different types of grow lights that you can use, as well as their pros and cons.

Types of grow light setup – HPS, CFL, LED

The three types of lighting that are most used in homegrow systems are HID, High Intensity Discharge such as HPS (High Pressure Sodium) and MH (Metal Halide), CFL, Compact Fluorescent Light and LED, Light-Emitting Diode. Each one of these types of lighting has its own pros and cons, although some growers combine them in order to achieve better results when growing large numbers of plants indoors.

You’ll also need to keep in mind that there are lights designed for the vegetative stage, and then there are lights designed for the flowering period – most growers tend to use dual spectrum lights which produce the right type of light for both periods; it’s much easier than having to switch them out every time you flip the lights in your indoor grow.

HPS Bulbs

The HPS are the most known and used bulbs for indoor growing, since they offer very good results, with an economic cost within the reach of any pocket. They are sodium-based and increase the electricity bill somewhat, especially the 600W or 1000W models.

It should be taken into account that HPS bulbs heat up more than other systems, especially in small spaces, such as closets or small rooms. They are available in different wattages as follows:

• 400W bulbs give good results in 1×1 cabinets, giving yields of between 200 and 300g.
• The 600W are the most used for self-cultivation, since their price is not very high compared to the 400W and they can cover well the 1.20 × 1.20 cabinets. They give better results at higher altitudes, as they have a more penetrating and deeper light, giving yields of up to 450 or 500g.
• As for the 1000W bulbs, these tend to have a more commercial use, since they are the ones that give the highest productions. They are usually used in rooms and can cover up to 2×2, giving productions of up to 800g.

How to install an HPS bulb?

To mount it in a cabinet you need at least a Cooltube Glass Reflector, an extractor, an odor filter, two flexible tubes and a pair of pulleys. If it is going to be mounted in a room it is not necessary to use the Cooltube, but it will be necessary to make sure to have a good ventilation.

The steps to follow are as follows:

• The first thing to do is to hook the Cooltube to the extractor, which this is usually usually done with 2 simple screws, it depends on the model.
• Once they are well hooked, you will have to put the bulb through the Cooltube to screw it into the reflector.
• The pulleys are taken and hooked to the top of the reflector, and on the other side to the ceiling of the room or closet. The free side of the Cooltube should be connected to a flexible tube, and the other side of the tube should be connected to the extractor.
• It is recommended to tighten well with adhesive tape to avoid leaks. Make sure that you connect the extractor in the correct direction, as the heat must be removed or you run the risk of cracking the Cooltube or melting the bulb. We will have one side of the extractor free, to which the other flexible tube can be attached to finish the chain with an odor filter.

In this way, the temperature of the grow tents is lowered enough, allowing to bring the bulb closer without fear of burning the plants. It is recommended to clean the Cooltube after each use, to make sure not to block any light to the plants.

CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light)

CFL Lighting tend to be more used in small growing spaces, since they have the particularity of not getting too hot, so they can be kept closer to the plants without the danger of burning them. They do not give quite big results, but when it comes to taking cuttings or keeping mother plants they are one of the best options.

How to install CFL bulbs?

By using CFL Bulbs there is no problem of getting too hot, so simply a reflector with a socket, the pulleys and the bulb can be installed. It will only be necessary to hook the bulb to the reflector, and to hook the pulleys to regulate its height.

LED (Light Emitting Diodes)

LED lights are a type of lighting that is in full development, showing more and more effective models. LEDs work very well in SOG or SCROG type crops, since their light is not very penetrating and forms everything in the upper part of the plant. The most current models offer a more penetrating light that will reach the base of the plant, allowing us to get much better harvests without the need to put so many plants.

Their price is quite high compared to HPS, but after a few harvests the investment will pay off as the electricity bill will go down.

How to install LED bulbs?

As for its installation, this is simpler and faster, since it does not need a reflector or ballast, and it will only be necessary to hook it to the pulleys and connect it to the light with a normal plug.

One of the best methods of setting up your grow lights is to hang them from the bar or a beam on your ceiling using a handy pulley system or by making your own using chains – it’s incredibly important to make sure that whatever system you have in place can be adjusted; one of the most important parts of a grow light setup is adaptability.

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