Compact Fluorescent Grow Lights
Filed Under Compact Flourescent, Grow Lights | Leave a Comment
Compact fluorescent grow lights produce considerably less heat than the MH or LPS grow lights (virtually no heat is emitted from the bulb itself) but more heat than full sized fluorescent grow lights. They are often a popular choice among home gardeners as they are comparatively inexpensive, readily available, and can be used in regular light sockets.
Compared to regular incandescent lamps rated at the same wattage, compact fluorescent grow lights provide the same amount of visible light. The grow lights use less power and also have a longer rated life.
Compact fluorescent bulbs offer the widest range of color spectrums of any type of grow lights. They are especially good for shelf gardening as their small size and low heat output allows the gardener to place the lights on shelves that are stacked on top of one another. Seedlings and smaller plants are able to thrive in a well thought out indoor garden lit with compact fluorescent lights.
The main disadvantage is their inefficiency when compared to light production abilities of HPS or MH lamps. A bank of compact fluorescent bulbs can use as much power as a single HPS or MH bulb yet not produce the same amount of useable light for your indoor garden.
While they will never rival the output of HID lights, there are several things that can be done to work with this limitation.
- Compact fluorescent grow lights give off 360 degrees of light. By adding a reflector (similar to the MH or HPS lamps) you can direct the light to the area where its needed and maximize your efficient usage of energy and light.
- Plants have varied growing cycles with differing light needs, if you match the lighting to the growing cycle then you will make better use of the available lights.
- Use a higher wattage compact fluorescent grow light, the higher wattage rating will increase the light’s penetration.
- Alternatively, you can increase the penetration of the light by placing it closer to the plants.
Check back again to learn more about grow lights online.
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