Nibarlan
Member
I found this site by accident, but it was absolutely fantastic and thought I must share, I'm posting it here, but if you want to got to the actual site it's http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/guide3.shtml and has more than just lights, but to me that and soil are the most confusing.
Hope it helps other newbies as much as it did me!
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+2]Indoor Plant Grow Light Guide[/SIZE][/FONT]
HID Grow Lights | Fluorescent Grow Lights | Incandescent Grow Lights | LED Grow Lights
Grow Light Comparison Chart | Electrical Cost
Metal Halide - MH
Metal halide bulbs produce an abundance of light in the blue spectrum. This color of light promotes plant growth and is excellent for green leafy growth and keeping plants compact. It is the best type of light to be used as a primary light source (if no or little natural sunlight is available). The average lifespan is about 10,000 cumulative hours. The bulb will light up beyond this time but due to the gradual decline of light, it is not worth your while to wait for the bulb to finally burn out. If you compare their lumen (brightness) per unit of energy consumed, metal halides produce up to 125 lumens per watt compared to 39 lumens per watt with standard fluorescent lights and 18 lumens per watt for standard incandescent bulbs. View MH & HPS grow lights High Pressure Sodium - HPS
High pressure sodium bulbs emit an orange-red glow. This band of light triggers hormones in plants to increase flowering/budding in plants. They are the best grow lights available for secondary or supplemental lighting (used in conjunction with natural sunlight). This is ideal for greenhouse growing applications.
Not only is this a great flowering light, it has two features that make it a more economical choice. Their average lifespan is twice that of metal halides, but after 18,000 hours of use, they will start to draw more electricity than their rated watts while gradually producing less light. HPS bulbs are very efficient. They produce up to 140 lumens per watt. Their disadvantage is they are deficient in the blue spectrum. If a gardener were to start a young plant under a HPS bulb, she/he would see impressive vertical growth. In fact, probably too impressive. Most plants would grow up thin and lanky and in no time you will have to prune your plant back before it grows into the light fixture. The exception to this is using HPS grow lights in a greenhouse or in conjunction another light source that emits light in the blue spectrum. Light sources that have a high output in the blue spectrum like sunlight and MH grow lights offset any stretching caused by HPS bulbs. View MH & HPS grow lights
Until recently, fluorescent grow lights have had a low output and have been too big and bulky to be of much use as a grow light for anything more than starting seedlings. CFL and T5 full spectrum fluorescent lights have changed that. At 75 to 90 lumens per watt, these lights are energy efficient and extremely effective especially when used in numbers. Fluorescent grow lights also have better color rendering properties (more of the light emitted is used by the plant) and produce much less heat than incandescent and HID grow lights. This allows them to be placed closer to plants (within a few inches) greatly decreasing lumen loss from the bulb to the plant. It is recommended that these lights be placed no more than a couple feet from the plants for best results. 2700k to 3000k bulbs provide higher output in the red spectrum which promotes flowering. 5000k to 6500k bulbs are full spectrum with much of the light in the blue spectrum which promote overall green plant growth. View (CFL) compact fluorescent grow lights, View T5 fluorescent tube grow lights
The standard T12 bulbs full spectrum tubes are fine for starts and seedlings and are popular for growing low-light plants like herbs and African violets. These lights are inefficient and are be replaced with high efficiency T5 lights which are a better light source for flowering and budding applications as well. View T5 fluorescent grow lights
These lights are the most inexpensive to purchase but are also the most inefficient and a poor source of light for plants. At best they can provide supplemental light to individual house plants. Incandescent lights have a low lumen output per watt compared to HID and fluorescent grow lights. New smaller CFL grow lights like our 40 watt Green Thumb system produce as much light as a 150 watt incandescent bulb, and more of the light is used by the plant. This type of bulb will pay for itself in energy savings the first 60 days of use.
LED grow lights are the newest lighting option for plants. They are advertised to be the most efficient and coolest running grow lights available. We have tested several different types of LED grow lights and have found none that outperform much cheaper fluorescent grow lights of similar wattage. LED plant grow lights are also not recommended for use with plants that you want to be viewed, because they give plants an unnatural appearance when the light is on. [SIZE=+2]Light Output Comparison Chart
[/SIZE]
Each scenario above represents approximately 50,000 lumens.
Grow Light Comparison Chart
[SIZE=+2]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]
[/SIZE]Grow Light Watts Growing Area Heat Output Recommended Light Height Above Plants Bulb Life
(hours) Primary Secondary Incandescent 150 0.5' x 0.5' 1' x 1' Medium 1' to 2' 2,000 CFL 40 1' x 1' 2' x 2' Very Low 3" to 1.5' 10,000 CFL 125 2' x 2' 3' x 3' Low 6" to 2' 10,000 CFL 200 2.5' x 2.5' 4' x 4' Low 6" to 2' 10,000 2' T5 (single) 24 1' x 2'
1.5' x 2.5' Very Low 3" to 2' 20,000 2' T5 (2 bulbs) 48 1.5' x 2.5'
2' x 3' Very Low 3" to 2' 20,000 2' T5 (4 bulbs) 96 2' x 3'
3' x 4' Low
6" to 2' 20,000 4' T5 (single) 54 1' x 4'
1.5' x 5' Very Low 3" to 2' 20,000 4' T5 (4 bulbs) 216 2.5' x 5' 4' x 6' Low 6" to 3' 20,000 4' T5 (8 bulbs) 432 4' x 6' 6' x 7' Low 1' to 3' 20,000 HPS 250 3' x 3'
5' x 5' Medium 2' to 3' 24,000 HPS 400 5' x 5'
8' x 8' High 3' to 4' 24,000 HPS 600 6' x 6'
10' x 10' High 3' to 4' 24,000 HPS 1000 8' x 8' 12' x 12' Very High 4' to 6' 24,000 MH 250 3' x 3'
5' x 5' Medium 2' to 3' 10,000 MH 400 5' x 5'
8' x 8' High 3' to 4' 10,000 MH 1000 8' x 8' 12' x 12' Very High 4' to 6' 10,000 [SIZE=+1]
Growing Area [/SIZE]
The growing areas listed above assume the light bulbs are being used in a fixture
with a reflector similar in quality to the ones offered on this web site.
Heat Output [/SIZE] The chart above uses a combination of the light bulb temperature and the dimensions of the bulb(s).
Bulb Average Bulb Temperature . Bulb Average Bulb Temperature
T5 100 to 120° F
CFL 130 to 180° F
Incandescent 220 to 260° F
MH/HPS 450 to 550° F
[SIZE=+1]How Long Should Grow Lights Run?[/SIZE] This depends on the type of plant. Foliage plants need about 14-16 hours of light per day. Flowering plants need 12-16 hours of light per day. You should give most plants at least 8 hours of total darkness daily. Try to have the lights on at the same time every day. You can get an automatic timer for your lights to make it easier. [SIZE=+1]
The Electrical Cost to Run a Grow Light System [/SIZE] To get the operating cost per hour for a light, take the lights combined wattage, and divide it by 1000 to get the kilowatts used. Then multiply that number by the amount your electric company charges per kilowatt hour. HID lights will use the number of watts it emits per hour, ie; 600w system will use 600 watts per hour (regardless of spectrum).
(light wattage output / 1000)x electricity cost per kilowatt hour= Operating cost per hour
operating cost per hour x hours used per month = Operating cost per month
280 - 315 nm Includes harmful UVB ultraviolet light which causes plants colors to fade.
315 - 380 nm Range of UVA ultraviolet light which is neither harmful nor beneficial to plant growth.
380 - 400 nm Start of visible light spectrum. Process of chlorophyll absorption begins. UV protected plastics ideally block out any light below this range.
400 - 520 nm This range includes violet, blue, and green bands. Peak absorption by chlorophyll occurs, and a strong influence on photosynthesis. (promotes vegetative growth) 520 - 610 nm This range includes the green, yellow, and orange bands and has less absorption by pigments.
610 - 720 nm This is the red band. Large amount of absorption by chlorophyll occurs, and most significant influence on photosynthesis. (promotes flowering and budding)
720 - 1000 nm There is little absorption by chlorophyll here. Flowering and germination is influenced. At the high end of the band is infrared, which is heat.
1000+ nm Totally infrared range. All energy absorbed at this point is converted to heat.
Hope it helps other newbies as much as it did me!
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+2]Indoor Plant Grow Light Guide[/SIZE][/FONT]
HID Grow Lights | Fluorescent Grow Lights | Incandescent Grow Lights | LED Grow Lights
Grow Light Comparison Chart | Electrical Cost
Horticultural lighting systems allow you to extend the growing season by providing your plants with an indoor equivalent to sunlight. This is a great advantage for those of you who appreciate having a year-round supply of fresh flowers, veggies and herbs. Artificial lighting is also a great way to jump-start spring by starting your seedlings months ahead of the last frost. There are three main types of horticultural lighting systems.
[SIZE=+1] HID (High Intensity Discharge) Plant Grow Lights [/SIZE]
HID lighting is the most efficient way to convert electricity into light that is available to the consumer. There are two types of HID grow lights used for horticultural lighting:
Metal halide bulbs produce an abundance of light in the blue spectrum. This color of light promotes plant growth and is excellent for green leafy growth and keeping plants compact. It is the best type of light to be used as a primary light source (if no or little natural sunlight is available). The average lifespan is about 10,000 cumulative hours. The bulb will light up beyond this time but due to the gradual decline of light, it is not worth your while to wait for the bulb to finally burn out. If you compare their lumen (brightness) per unit of energy consumed, metal halides produce up to 125 lumens per watt compared to 39 lumens per watt with standard fluorescent lights and 18 lumens per watt for standard incandescent bulbs. View MH & HPS grow lights
High pressure sodium bulbs emit an orange-red glow. This band of light triggers hormones in plants to increase flowering/budding in plants. They are the best grow lights available for secondary or supplemental lighting (used in conjunction with natural sunlight). This is ideal for greenhouse growing applications.
Not only is this a great flowering light, it has two features that make it a more economical choice. Their average lifespan is twice that of metal halides, but after 18,000 hours of use, they will start to draw more electricity than their rated watts while gradually producing less light. HPS bulbs are very efficient. They produce up to 140 lumens per watt. Their disadvantage is they are deficient in the blue spectrum. If a gardener were to start a young plant under a HPS bulb, she/he would see impressive vertical growth. In fact, probably too impressive. Most plants would grow up thin and lanky and in no time you will have to prune your plant back before it grows into the light fixture. The exception to this is using HPS grow lights in a greenhouse or in conjunction another light source that emits light in the blue spectrum. Light sources that have a high output in the blue spectrum like sunlight and MH grow lights offset any stretching caused by HPS bulbs. View MH & HPS grow lights
.
[SIZE=+2][SIZE=+1]Fluorescent Plant Grow Lights [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2][SIZE=+1]Fluorescent Plant Grow Lights [/SIZE][/SIZE]
The standard T12 bulbs full spectrum tubes are fine for starts and seedlings and are popular for growing low-light plants like herbs and African violets. These lights are inefficient and are be replaced with high efficiency T5 lights which are a better light source for flowering and budding applications as well. View T5 fluorescent grow lights
[SIZE=+2][SIZE=+1]Incandescent Plant Grow Lights [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2][SIZE=+1]LED Plant Grow Lights [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
Grow Light Comparison Chart
[SIZE=+2]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]
[/SIZE]Grow Light Watts Growing Area Heat Output Recommended Light Height Above Plants Bulb Life
(hours) Primary Secondary Incandescent 150 0.5' x 0.5' 1' x 1' Medium 1' to 2' 2,000 CFL 40 1' x 1' 2' x 2' Very Low 3" to 1.5' 10,000 CFL 125 2' x 2' 3' x 3' Low 6" to 2' 10,000 CFL 200 2.5' x 2.5' 4' x 4' Low 6" to 2' 10,000 2' T5 (single) 24 1' x 2'
1.5' x 2.5' Very Low 3" to 2' 20,000 2' T5 (2 bulbs) 48 1.5' x 2.5'
2' x 3' Very Low 3" to 2' 20,000 2' T5 (4 bulbs) 96 2' x 3'
3' x 4' Low
1.5' x 5' Very Low 3" to 2' 20,000 4' T5 (4 bulbs) 216 2.5' x 5' 4' x 6' Low 6" to 3' 20,000 4' T5 (8 bulbs) 432 4' x 6' 6' x 7' Low 1' to 3' 20,000 HPS 250 3' x 3'
5' x 5' Medium 2' to 3' 24,000 HPS 400 5' x 5'
8' x 8' High 3' to 4' 24,000 HPS 600 6' x 6'
10' x 10' High 3' to 4' 24,000 HPS 1000 8' x 8' 12' x 12' Very High 4' to 6' 24,000 MH 250 3' x 3'
5' x 5' Medium 2' to 3' 10,000 MH 400 5' x 5'
8' x 8' High 3' to 4' 10,000 MH 1000 8' x 8' 12' x 12' Very High 4' to 6' 10,000 [SIZE=+1]
Growing Area [/SIZE]
The growing areas listed above assume the light bulbs are being used in a fixture
with a reflector similar in quality to the ones offered on this web site.
Primary - Use the area in this column if the grow light will be the main or only source of light for the plants. This includes areas where minimal light comes
from windows or standard house/office lights.
Secondary - Use the area in this column if the grow light will be used in a greenhouse or other area that receives direct sunlight for part of the day to supplement the light from the sun.
[SIZE=+1]Heat Output [/SIZE] The chart above uses a combination of the light bulb temperature and the dimensions of the bulb(s).
Bulb Average Bulb Temperature . Bulb Average Bulb Temperature
T5 100 to 120° F
CFL 130 to 180° F
Incandescent 220 to 260° F
MH/HPS 450 to 550° F
[SIZE=+1]How Long Should Grow Lights Run?[/SIZE] This depends on the type of plant. Foliage plants need about 14-16 hours of light per day. Flowering plants need 12-16 hours of light per day. You should give most plants at least 8 hours of total darkness daily. Try to have the lights on at the same time every day. You can get an automatic timer for your lights to make it easier. [SIZE=+1]
The Electrical Cost to Run a Grow Light System [/SIZE] To get the operating cost per hour for a light, take the lights combined wattage, and divide it by 1000 to get the kilowatts used. Then multiply that number by the amount your electric company charges per kilowatt hour. HID lights will use the number of watts it emits per hour, ie; 600w system will use 600 watts per hour (regardless of spectrum).
(light wattage output / 1000)x electricity cost per kilowatt hour= Operating cost per hour
operating cost per hour x hours used per month = Operating cost per month
[SIZE=+2]How the Sunlight Affects Plant Growth [/SIZE]
200 - 280 nm UVC ultraviolet range which is extremely harmful to plants because it is highly toxic.
280 - 315 nm Includes harmful UVB ultraviolet light which causes plants colors to fade.
315 - 380 nm Range of UVA ultraviolet light which is neither harmful nor beneficial to plant growth.
380 - 400 nm Start of visible light spectrum. Process of chlorophyll absorption begins. UV protected plastics ideally block out any light below this range.
400 - 520 nm This range includes violet, blue, and green bands. Peak absorption by chlorophyll occurs, and a strong influence on photosynthesis. (promotes vegetative growth) 520 - 610 nm This range includes the green, yellow, and orange bands and has less absorption by pigments.
610 - 720 nm This is the red band. Large amount of absorption by chlorophyll occurs, and most significant influence on photosynthesis. (promotes flowering and budding)
720 - 1000 nm There is little absorption by chlorophyll here. Flowering and germination is influenced. At the high end of the band is infrared, which is heat.
1000+ nm Totally infrared range. All energy absorbed at this point is converted to heat.
