6 Different Types of Grow Lights

When talking about grow rooms or indoor plant growth settings, the first thing that comes to people’s minds is the setup and the grow lights. If your grow lights aren’t of the best quality, chances are that your plants won’t get the optimal functioning needed to grow without any interventions. When it comes to indoor and highly sensitive plants where you can’t have them directly under the sunlight, chances are that you need to induce alternative ways to ensure that the plant’s bloom, grow, and flourish the right way.

The majority of the grow lights that are available in the market are skewed with a full spectrum light setting that meets the needs of every plant that you are likely growing. Also, they support plant growth without any complaints, which is another reason why they are such a popular addition to the grow room. However, with so many brands available in the market, getting your hands on the best LED grow lights in 2021 is crucial, to say the least.

Following are some of the different types of grow lights that you need to know of.

1. Fluorescent Grow Lights

The first and likely the most popular type of grow light in the market are the fluorescent grow lights. Unlike the regular household grow lights, these are quite popular, not to mention that they are lightweight and long-lasting too.

These are the most popular options among home growers who are particular about investing in a wider light spectrum to accommodate the needs of users from across the world. You can use them for different stages of the plant’s growth, which again is a benefit that you can’t forfeit.

If you are considering buying these grow lights, we’d recommend using them during the germination or vegetative growth stages. However, compared to the other available types, they are a lot more versatile and effective in the long run.

2. High-intensity Discharge Grow Lights

Next up on the list are the HID grow lights. Unlike other ones, these grow lights consist of a single bulb that produces the light via ignition within the bulb. HID grow lights are further available in three different types –

• High-pressure sodium (HPS) grow lights
• Metal halides (MH) grow lights
• Hybrids (combination of the above two)

These grow lights are extremely efficient and programmed with high-quality tungsten electrodes that produce high-power light sources for optimal growth of the plants in the grow room. Like the previous one, even these work well during the vegetative and flowering phases of the plant.

As for the structure of the HID grow lights, they are designed with a bulb, ballast, and a reflective cover for optimal light dispersion in the grow room.

3. Double Ended Grow Lights

Although not the most popular in the market, the DE grow lights are worth considering. They are a type of HPS grow lights that are connected via a single ballast port. Not only do they have a significant design, but they are also programmed to cover a larger surface area of the grow room so you don’t have to fit multiple grow lights in one space.

The majority of the single-ended light loses efficiency after 10,000 hours of use. With the DE grow lights, you wouldn’t have to worry about the same, mainly because they are designed to withhold 90% of the efficiency for long-lasting usage.

Overall, they feature a sleek and slim design that is ideal for the smaller and more compact grow rooms used for growing highly sensitive indoor plants. The only downside to these grow lights is the fact that their efficiency is eventually hampered because of the nitrogen contact.

4. LED Grow lights

When talking about grow lights, there is nothing that beats the LED grow lights. They are available in abundance, and available for a varying price range, meaning that you wouldn’t have to worry about not finding something in your budget. To be fair, there are products worth under $20 and there are options that are priced over $200.

The best thing about integrating LED grow lights in your indoor grow room is the fact that they emit little to no heat from the setting. This means that you wouldn’t have to worry about the risks of overheating and similar issues that many grow room enthusiasts have. 

One unique feature of the LED grow lights is that their settings are customisable. Most of them are available as full-spectrum lights that you can program according to your needs. They can simulate the ideal color temperatures to ensure ideal settings for both the vegetative and flowering settings.

The LED grow lights are one of the newest forms of additions in the market. However, their growth has been substantial. More and more people are getting used to these because of the efficiency, effectiveness, and overall results they provide with.

5. Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) Grow Lights

Moving on from the LED grow lights, we have the CMH or LEC grow equally popular lights. They are part of the single-ended category of grow lights. The reason why they are considered so efficient is due to the ceramic element that is found inside these grow lights that mimic the functions of the sunlight.

So, if you want to invest in a versatile set of grow lights that can control the heat output, offer optimal color and brightness functions to the plants, this is an option you can consider looking into.

6. Sulphur Plasma Grow Lights

The last on the list is the most underrated option. If you are a home grower, these aren’t for you. Sulphur plasma lights have a very high intensity that is often used in larger and commercial grow rooms. They do come with a higher price tag, which is another reason why they aren’t accessible to every kid on the block.

The best thing about these grow lights is that they are tested to produce light with frequencies and wavelengths that are closest to the sunlight. People are still researching these grow lights to determine their efficiency in the long run.

What are the benefits of Grow Lights?

Unless you have used grow rooms and grow lights for plant growth, chances are that you wouldn’t know the ideal benefits of the grow lights. Following are some of the important pointers worth looking into:

• Faster harvest cycle

The first and likely the most important benefit of grow lights is that they create a faster harvest cycle. It means that they help with the faster growth of your plants. Since the grow lights mimic the function of sunlight, it isn’t surprising that they promote healthy growth through the varying stages. And the grow lights work for every kind of plant setting, be it in a grow room or a hydroponic setting.

• Eco-friendly

While it might not sound like it, grow lights and their functions are eco-friendly. The majority of the grow lights, including the, LED grow lights are recyclable, which means that you aren’t going to hurt the planet using them. Also, most of the grow lights, aside from the ones that are chemical filled are ideal for plant growth without inflicting any kinds of negative impacts.

• Reduced heat emission

The growth of technology is paving the way to refined functions of items. While the earlier grow lights come with high-intensity bulbs that generated a lot of heat, that isn’t the case with the newer variants like the LED grow lights. They are designed to ensure uniform heat dissipation and reduce the risks and damage. So, you wouldn’t have to keep a separate fan for circulation of air just because you have a grow light inside.

• Better proximity

Since there is low heat emission from the grow lights today, they can be placed near the plants, making their functions a lot more viable. This comes in handy for the plant owners who want to witness quicker growth of the plants without any complications.

FAQs

Do all indoor plants require grow light?

If you have set up a grow room, chances are that the indoor plants will need to grow lights for optimal growth. Since the plants aren’t getting direct sunlight, the grow lights are the next best thing.

Does LED grow light work well?

LED grow lights are one of the most popular types of grow lights in the market. Not only are they efficient, but they are also extremely budget-friendly as well, which makes them ideal for everyday use.

Are grow lights better than sunlight?

Not necessarily but when you have no source of sunlight, these mimic the full spectrum light from the sunlight to ensure optimal growth of the indoor plants.

What are the advantages of using LED grow lights?

One of the biggest advantages of using LED grow lights is that they produce less heat. It runs comparatively cooler than HPS bulbs. Besides that, it is also more cost-effective and lowers environmental impact. LED grow lights have low chemical levels and are great for plants. It greatly reduces the need for chemical treatments and pesticides on plants.

Why is LED grow lights so popular?

LED grow lights are popular among growers because they are more efficient and produce less heat. It also provides more grow hours. Typically, LEDs last for 50,000 hours or more, whereas HID bulbs usually last for up to10, 000 to 18,000 hours.

Do white LED grow lights help plants grow?

Yes, white LED grow lights are great for growing plants. It promotes healthy plants by stimulating growth beneath the canopy. It has a healthy amount of green that is great for plant growth.

Does LED grow lights dense buds?

LED grow lights are proves to be very effective in achieving dense buds. However, it depends on the model of the light you are using. You should make sure not to install it too close to the plants to prevent leaf and bud burn. 

Conclusion

 If you are planning on buying some grow lights for your grow room, we hope this article gives you all the answers that you have been looking for. Just ensure that you pick the right variant of grow light that meets the needs of your indoor plants. Also, if possible, check through the pros and cons of each grow light before settling on one purchase.