Those who are new to indoor gardening with hydroponics will want to know what is required to garden in this manner successfully. Hydroponics gardening is just like any other hobby, you need the right tools in order to get the best results. When it comes to indoor gardening, having the appropriate grow lights is one of the keys to the success or failure of your garden. What is required for indoor garden lighting?
The most energy-efficient yet effective grow lights you can use for hydroponics gardening are HID, or high-intensity discharge, grow lamps. They are relatively small units that produce a great deal of light. They are hydroponics lights that most closely resemble sunlight, which is what plants need in order to grow well. There are several types of lights that are HID, including high-pressure sodium grow lights, also called HPS lights. High-pressure sodium grow lights are very efficient, and are easy lamps to start.
All HID lights require a digital ballast to be used in conjunction with these types of lamps. A ballast's job is to control the flow of electrical current that goes into the grow light via the electrodes in the arc tube. Just the right amount of current is needed, because without enough the bulb won't light, and with too much it will explode. Therefore, an accurate digital ballast is a vital component of your hydroponics lighting system.
You will also want to use some type of reflector with your grow light. A reflector is often made of shiny material, and its purpose is to direct and intensify the light produced by your grow lamp. You will waste money if the light is not placed exactly over the plants, but is being diffused over a wider area, because the plants will not receive the same benefit from being lit in that situation.
Once you have the equipment assembled, you will want to consider the placement of your lights. If you are growing seedlings, for example, you need to be able to keep your light two to four inches above the baby plants. Of course, the plants will grow and get bigger, so you need a way to lift the lights up to the appropriate level. One easy way to do this is to place hooks in the ceiling above the plants, and then put the grow lights on chains. In this way, you can raise and lower the chains as needed to position the light exactly where it will best benefit your plants.
The equipment used in lighting hydroponic gardens, the grow lights, ballasts, and reflectors, can often be found in packages, so you are sure to get parts that connect and are compatible with each other.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow hydroponic onions sets (or starts) that ...
By: Leslie | 01-08-2008
Can I grow hydroponic onions sets (or starts) that will transplant into a soil garden?
HI, does the wether affect using indoor ...
By: abohassan | 22-05-2008
HI,does the wether affect using indoor hydroponics? As in very hot countries where A/C is used most of the year in rooms?Thanks.
Are there any flourescent light available to use ...
By: lightbulb | 09-01-2008
Are there any flourescent light available to use? Will I need to leave grow lights on for eighteen hours if I have four to six hours of indirect sunlight? I want to supplement short-light days with artificial. 300 watts seems kinda high for what I want to do.
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