Hortilux HPS Bulb or a "Regular" MH for Veg?

cylee89

cylee89

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,

I was wondering which of the two would be more appropriate for vegging:

Hortilux HPS

Regular MH

The HPS would definitely have more bands of light in the spectrum for optimal plant growth, but would it compare with the bluer MH light? Which would be better for vegging? What would you do?

I guess this question goes towards the more experienced folks..
 
Mr.GreenJeans

Mr.GreenJeans

Well-Known Member
Either will work well, and most traditionalists would say veg under a MH light, but I've got to agree with DD420 here. I've tried both and I consistently get better results using a modern expanded spectrum HPS like a Hortilux. Plus, I don't have to disassemble my hood/change bulbs/etc everytime I go from veg to flowering.
 
S

SwiftGrow

Active Member
While you can use HPS for everything. MH or Blue LED for Veg is the best as Vegging plants require more blue spectrum to grow and it also promotes shorter internode gap. I've also heard that HPS kind of shocks plants in the cloning/transplanting stages.

Hps = more red spectrum = best for flower

MH = more blue spectrum = best for veg

LED = Mixed or just blue or red = seem to work well in veg but not aswell in flower.

CFL= Work decent for Young Plants especially with mixed bulb types and like 4 or more bulbs.
 
H

Headzaintready

Member
Would 400 Watt Metal Halide be better for vegging than say a 180 watt Extreme Flower LED (3Watt diodes) from Advancedled be best for vegging?
 
danklifefool

danklifefool

Member
From everything I've read over the years, I don't get why people use MH at all? I know MH has better light spectrums or whatever but it seems like people get the same results off floros if the environment is precise. The only reason I can see to use a MH is for large grows or to cover a large area. Otherwise I would say use the HPS, but then you could get some stretching correct? I plan on using all floros for clones and mothers, call me out if I'm on bullshit?
 
Anonymouse

Anonymouse

Active Member
It also depends on the strain. For Autos, the hps with added blue (hort/agro) is totally the way to go. Some strains grow more lanky than others, which MH would probably give some benefit to reduce stretching without good branching. Others grow shorter and bushier and the horti does great.
 
darkdestruction420

darkdestruction420

Well-Known Member
the mh puts out only 1 side of the spectrum while the hps has added blue spectrum, its no contest. Cannabis has 2 type of chloroplast, 1 interacts w/the red side and 1 w/the blue side. Using only one spectrum wastes that energy the plant could of made.
 
MrStickyScissors

MrStickyScissors

Well-Known Member
hortilux bulb is a must when you are flowering. I would never use anything else. for veg though i dont see the need to spend 70 on the bulb. well at my hydro store there 70 probably 110 for sum of you. if you have plants on deck might as well use a t5 to veg.
 
Goldowitz

Goldowitz

Well-Known Member
darkdestruction420 said:
The hps bulb.
Click to expand...
I know that MH is supposed to be better for veg, but I have to agree with this post. Maybe it was a freak thing, but I have always used Hortilux HPS for everything. I have a switchable ballast, so the last time I changed my bulbs I got a MH for the first time, for my mothers. The MH was a sunmaster cool blue. My plants basically shut down under this light and all growth was halted. It was like someone put a pause button on my operation as all plants were growing about 20% as fast as they were.
The hydro store guy tested it and said it was working fine. I still bought a new HPS Hortilux. Since then everything is back to normal and I have not looked back.
 
munchies7

munchies7

Active Member
reviving this post coz i have the same question.. but ppl not reading.. HORTILUX HPS... or NORMAL/FREE BULB MH... its not only MH vs HPS ... its HORTILUX vs FREE/BULB,... and i think i will go with hortilux.. i have the same fkin problem right now... ima try hortilux.. unless someone says the opposite with a good reason
 
SimonD

SimonD

Well-Known Member
munchies7 said:
reviving this post coz i have the same question.. but ppl not reading.. HORTILUX HPS... or NORMAL/FREE BULB MH... its not only MH vs HPS ... its HORTILUX vs FREE/BULB,... and i think i will go with hortilux.. i have the same fkin problem right now... ima try hortilux.. unless someone says the opposite with a good reason
Click to expand...
If you decide on an enhanced spectrum lamp, I'd suggest a Hilux. This being said, an industrial HPS lamp from Sylvania, Philips, or GE isn't that far behind. Hortilux's output is relatively low. The only time I use a MH is when I want to slow the growth down substantially. IMNSHE, it's a relatively poor light for our needs. Good luck.

Simon
 
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