Sometimes the choice of which lighting to go with can be a daunting decision. One thing to keep in mind, is that lighting is one of the most important factors when it comes to your garden-one that shouldn’t be overlooked or not well thought out.

There are three main types of lighting to choose from-fluorescent, Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium’s. Fluorescent lamps tend to produce less heat and use less energy and are great for starting seedlings and rooting cuttings. They aren’t intense enough to support the growth that more mature plants need. Metal Halides give off a white light similar to that of natural sunlight. This is a good light to use during vegetative growth. High Pressure Sodium’s are more in the red range of the light spectrum, making it a superior choice during the flowering stages of growth.

A newer light source out on the market are T5′s. These linear fluorescent lamps are another option for your seedlings and cuttings. LED’s are making their way on the scene with the recent introduction of the quad band. These have yet to prove that they are effective during flowering stages.

We carry all of these different lighting choices.

All plants need light to grow and bloom. The preferred lighting for a garden is HID, or High Intensity Discharge. HPS (High Pressure Sodium) and MH (Metal Halide) are the two main types of HID lighting used today. HPS lamps give off an orange/red spectrum conducive for flowering and blooming stages, while MH lamps are more blue and green in spectrum which is beneficial during the vegetative/growth stage.

T5 lighting is also a good choice for lighting. These are a high-output fluorescent light that produces less heat and uses less energy consumption. These are great for cuttings, mother plants, and short growth cycles.

We carry all three of these types of lighting with many to choose from that are currently in stock.

The first generation of LED lighting was a great way to reduce heat, allowing a cooler environment with the ability to more efficiently add the benefits of CO2. They also required less energy, but failed to provide the full lighting spectrum in order to provide all the spectra a plant needs in all growing phases.

These next generation LED’s have a lot of benefits for growers:
-less heat
-less energy consumption
-quieter
-less vertical space required as plants can grow closer to LED lights than HID or MH lamps

These LED’s are evolving at the speed of light! Urban gardeners will soon have more options when it comes to growing in small, restrictive spaces.  Stealth Grow LED has their SG 602 LED that is 600 watts, but has an actual wattage output of only 356 watts.  It currently retails for $1599.  You can get more info at www.stealthgrow.com.  Be on the lookout for this lighting of the future!