Hydroponic Lighting Solutions

Plants may not necessarily need soil, but they still need water and light - which may very well mean LED grow lights. Alternatively, an HPS grow light ("high pressure sodium") or a set of mh lights ("metal halide") may be more appropriate for your growing space. Read on and learn more about LED grow lights and other lighting solutions for your hydroponic garden!

Background

It was sometime during the 1800s that scientists realized that plants absorbed their nutrients in the form of inorganic ions dissolved in water - and thus, did in fact not even need soil! Ultimately, this led to what is now known as hydroponics.

Hydroponic plants still require light however for the process of photosynthesis by which they are able to convert those nutrients into usable energy. You have a few choices when it come to the type of lighting you'll use; each of these has its advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, you may find it best to use some combination of mh grow lights or an hps grow light with LED ones.

Which Is The Right Light?

"MH" means "metal halide." MH lamps are a smaller version of the streetlights installed along city streets and freeways. They pack alot of punch into a small package yet do not require a great deal of energy.
In addition, they offer full spectrum light as well as blue and red. The downside is that you'll have to purchase a specialized fixture.

"HPS" is short for "high pressure sodium." An hps grow light produces the red spectrum and are thus more appropriate for mature plants that are ready to flower. The advantages are power and longevity; the HPS type puts out a tremendous amount of luminosity for the energy it uses, and can last up to two years. The potential downside is that unlike LEDs, the HPS type puts out a tremendous amount of heat, requiring fans and hoods. This may not nessarily be a bad thing, however; if your growing space is on the cold side, one could use 1000 hps lights in combination with LED grow lights in order to provide warmth rather than having to invest in the extra expense of space heaters. Otherwise, it might be better to choose 400 watt hps lights, which will burn cooler.

The LED type of grow light produces virtually no heat and is extremely efficient. This lack of heat however may be a curse as well as a blessing when it comes to plants that require warmth. Unless you are employing 1000 hps lights along with your LEDs, you may have to provide a heat source.

You should be using either 1000 hps lights or 400 watt hps lights in any event, since these provide the red spectrum, whereas LEDs are predominantly blue. LED grow lights, unlike the 1000 or 400 watt hps lights will last almost indefinitely but they may not provide a comprehensive hydroponic lighting solution.