One of the most important elements for successful indoor cultivation is lighting. In this section, we'll do our best to give you as much information and advice as possible on a specific type ofbulb: HPS.
But before we do, let's ask ourselves the following question: why is lighting so important in a grow-box?
The indispensable role of light
Whatever the plant, most plants need light. In the natureit's the sun that provides them with the light energy they need. More precisplants capture sunlight and, thanks to the chlorophyll they contain, undergo a biochemical reaction known as photosynthesis.
This process enables plants to transform light into energy, and CO2 and nutrients (mineral elements) into organic matter. The more light a flower captures, the more energy it creates to grow.
How do you recreate the different types of natural light in your indoor garden?
When it comes to indoor gardening, the sun is obviously out of the picture. Hence the need to install a horticultural lighting system in your indoor garden. This way, even in your grow room, the magic of photosynthesis will work its magic on your plants.
It's also important to know (without talking about exposure time, photoperiod, P.A.R. units, light intensity...) that plant development is divided into different phases and is sensitive to the color of light. Light color, expressed in degrees Kelvin (°K), is highly influential:
- Germination/budding phase: use CFL, MH or neon lamps, for example. Its dominant blue-white color is suitable for the start of young shoots and mother plants;
- Growth phase: cool blue-white bulbs such as CFL, MH or neon (>6500°K) are also preferable;
- Flowering phase: warm red-orange colors are ideal for plants growing in your tent. HPS lamps (<3000°K) give the best results.
The role of HPS in plant development
That's it! With this reminder of the need for light on plants, we return to our main subject: HPS lamps.
As mentioned above, HPS lamps are light bulbs with a light spectrum different from that of an ordinary incandescent lamp, and specific to flowering and fruit ripening. "HPS" means that they contain "high-pressure sodium" vapour.
In tube form, containing sodium, mercury and xenon gases, they emit their famous intense, hot light (2700°K) when an electric arc passes through them. They are available in different wattages on Indoor Discount 150W, 250W, 400W, 600W and 1000W.
HPS cause temperatures to rise. Remember to connect it to a suitable ballast for optimum lamp performance! Also, make sure the lamp is not installed too close to plants.
Advantages and disadvantages of HPS
This type of lamp provides your crop with light that's as close as possible to natural light, placing your planting in the best possible conditions. Its lighting performance can be up to 70% better than other high-pressure mercury vapor lamps. What's more, the life of an HPS is around 9,000 hours. However, the temperature of a high-pressure sodium tube can reach 1200°C, which can heat-stifle your plants. Hence the need to install a ventilation system in your growing space: fans, ducts, extractors/intractors, etc.
Example of horticultural lighting installation
We now present you our different HPS bulbs available on Indoor Discountas well as some useful products for optimal lighting:
- Find the brands Sylvania, Lumatek, Gavitaphilips and Superplant.
- You'll also find HPSs with an " agro " light spectrum, so you can use them for growing: they emit an extra touch of blue. You can also complement an HPS with an MH (Metal Halide: a gas composed of mercury, argon and sodium) to obtain an abundant bloom.
- Other lamps, such as CMH and Superplant'sHYBRIDE, are highly effective for both the growing and flowering phases. In fact, they combine MH and HPS lamp technology.
- LEDs are a good alternative, as they let you control the intensity and composition of the light spectrum to cover all stages of plant development.
- A horticultural bulb has a certain wattage. It therefore needs an appropriate electrical current transformer: the ballast (wattage plate). It's essential that the ballast and the bulb match.
- For efficient, loss-free reflection of the light emitted by the bulb, choose your reflector according to the growing space in your home:
We hope we've given you as much information as possible on horticultural lighting with HPS.
We would also like to remind you that, to avoid damaging this type of bulb, we strongly advise you to use a cloth when handling it. This will prevent uneven heat spots on the tube caused by the acidity produced by the skin.
Enjoy your visit to theIndoor Discount !
