How many plants per light?
This is sometimes an issue for novice growers and it has a pretty simple solution. The amount of plants per fluorescent grow light depends on the type of plants and how you grow them, apart from the space you have and the potency of the plants.
Practically all bulbs and lights can illuminate the same amount of space, and your plants will adapt to that space and the power of the lights; if you plant four 3 month autoflowering strains with a 600w light, with a 250w light you’ll do the same; the difference is that with a 600w light you can get 400-500g and with a 250w light you can get 120-200g. The second lot will grow slower but you’ll still fit the same amount of plants under the lights.
The Size Of Your Grow Space
When growing cannabis, a good rule of thumb is to use a minimum of 50 watts of light per square foot of grow space/grow tent. We want to flood our plants with light ( food ) so that they have lots of energy to produce big potent buds.
Therefore, we need to calculate the square footage ( length x width ) of our grow space. We’ll then multiply this number by 50w to give us the rough wattage of light we require.
How Many Plants Can I Grow?
In general, each cannabis plant you grow requires at least 1sq ft of space. After germination, I like to pot one plant in a large 5 gallon fabric container, which has a diameter of roughly 1 sq foot. My plant will stay in this pot until it flowers.
Choosing the Right T5 Grow Lights
To use T5 grow lights properly, there are a couple of things you need to know that will determine how successful you will be at growing under these lights. The first thing is how to choose the right T5 fixture and the right bulbs.
Fixtures: When it comes to choosing a grow light fixture, there are a couple of things to think about. First is the size requirements for this grow light. There are more than a dozen size variations, so you need to figure out the size of your indoor garden and then fit the lights to your space. T5 grow lights typically come in two different lengths and around six different bulb configurations. The most common T5 grow lights are 2- or 4-ft. long and have 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 12 bulbs per fixture. If you are thinking of growing only a few small plants, you might get away with having a 1- or 2-bulb set-up that is 2- or 4-ft. long, but if you want to grow a whole bunch of plants, you will have to invest in an 8- or 12-bulb set-up that is 4-ft. long. This larger size will cover a lot of plant mass without using too much electricity.
Bulbs: When it comes to choosing bulbs, there are even more options to choose from. Bulbs not only come in different energy varieties, but also in different color temperatures. When choosing between normal output (NO), high output (HO) and very high output (VHO) bulbs, I recommend going for the middle ones. HO bulbs are the best of both worlds—they are efficient, yet long-lasting, and will provide super-bright light for your plants.
To conclude, there isn’t an exact formula to follow when determining how many plants belong under each light. We recommend taking the following factors into consideration:
Type of plant being cultivated
Light fixture’s total output
Amount of space available — both horizontal and vertical!
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Monday, October 28, 2019
Why buy fluorescent grow lights? 420 Guide for Cannabis Growers
The right kind of grow lights can make all the difference in how your plants perform. Using fluorescent garden lights to enhance plant growth allows you to grow a host of plants in an interior space. Standard indoor grow lights do little to influence photosynthesis, while using fluorescent lighting placed closely to the top of the plants can help drive this important plant process.
Fluorescent grow lights use long glass tube lights that you can use different spectrum bulbs in. These systems allow you to use a single light spectrum bulb in the fixture or mix and match different spectrum bulbs for marijuana grow lights.
The light spectrum produced by these bulbs is almost identical to natural sunlight. These grow lights work very well for seedlings and clones.
They supply the necessary lighting spectrum to the plants while maintaining a cool running temperature. Fluorescent lamps produce less lumen output than HID grow lights but can be placed closer to your plants for increased growth and better results.
Advantages of Fluorescent Grow Lights
Fluorescent grow lights use long glass tube lights that you can use different spectrum bulbs in. These systems allow you to use a single light spectrum bulb in the fixture or mix and match different spectrum bulbs for marijuana grow lights.
The light spectrum produced by these bulbs is almost identical to natural sunlight. These grow lights work very well for seedlings and clones.
They supply the necessary lighting spectrum to the plants while maintaining a cool running temperature. Fluorescent lamps produce less lumen output than HID grow lights but can be placed closer to your plants for increased growth and better results.
Advantages of Fluorescent Grow Lights
- Very low heat emission, making them safe to place close to plants
- High energy efficiency
- Lower initial costs compared to other types of lighting systems
- Can be placed in different positions to ensure all parts of the plant have adequate lighting
- It is the best type of light for seedlings and clones, due to low radiated heat
- Can accelerate plant growth when used as under-lighting for outdoor plants or in greenhouses
- Fluorescent lights produce the right intensity of light for healthy stems and foliage
- They can produce sufficient energy for flowering (though this is not their strength)
- To reduce energy consumption, the fluorescent light can be used to supplement other types of grow lights
Fluorescent Growing Lights: CFL or T5 Tubes?
If you’ve got a very small garden, CFL bulbs (pictured at the beginning of the article) make the most sense.
If your garden is large enough to warrant a larger T5 tube fixture, go with that. And perhaps supplement the light with a few CFLs, especially for plants with high light requirements, like weed.
How much fluorescent light is enough?
When you’re installing fluorescent grow lights, you’ll need to measure coverage yourself using a light meter. There are hundreds of manufacturers of fluorescent lights and too many variables between the lights themselves and their installations to know what kind of coverage you’ll get until you line them up. Make sure your coverage is even and your plants are getting sufficient light.
A very general recommendation for light is 250+ PAR for mature crops. This can be measured with a PAR meter.
Final Words
Thus, you may choose highly efficient T5 grow lights for lots of diverse purposes, including the growth of cannabis. You can use T5 setup not only for gardening but also for having lights at your office or home. Lots of people, who are trying to save energy, are choosing these lights. Whether you grow spices, veggies or fruits, T5 grow lights may be the right alternative. When you are installing the lights, you need to check the height or the point, where you need to mount the fixtures.
Tips For Cannabis Flowering Stage - 2019 Updated for Cannabis Beginners
When Does the Flowering Stage Begin?
Despite the name, the flowering stage doesn’t start with the formation of flowers. Flowering occurs a few weeks into the flowering stage. In fact, it doesn’t even correlate to when you induce flowering.
In fact the flowering stage begins when the cannabis plant notices a change in light. This is how it knows winter is coming.
Many people mistakenly think that this change means a decrease in light. Actually, the change is measured by an increase in the amount of continuous darkness. Soon after the strain’s threshold of darkness is met, the plant will grow rapidly, gaining height and stretching. Some plants may even double in height during the first two weeks of the flowering stage.
THE FIRST FEW FLOWERING WEEKS (WEEKS 1, 2 AND 3)
When the flowering period starts, it isn't an abrupt change in your plants’ growth. Cannabis won’t just stop growing and then go into flowering right away. In these first weeks of flowering, many cannabis strains may indeed undergo a considerable growth stretch. This is important to know when it comes to feeding your plants properly, but also if you want to give them sufficient space to grow.
The pre-flowering phase is an important part of your plant’s life cycle. It starts when the grow light conditions around your plants change and the days become shorter. In a grow tent, this is usually when you switch your light cycle down from 18/6 to 12/12. In nature, this happens naturally at the end of summer.
Cannabis plants undergo a variety of changes when they enter this phase. Pre-flowering plants stop focusing on vegetative growth and instead get ready to reproduce. This is also the time you’ll start noticing the gender of your plants; female plants will start developing calyxes and hair-like pistils, while males will grow round pollen sacs.
The pre-flowering phase can last anywhere between 1–3 weeks—depending on genetics and the environment you’re growing in.
WEEKS 6, 7 AND 8 (LATE FLOWERING STAGE, RIGHT BEFORE HARVEST)
From week six to the last week of flowering, your plants will give you more indications that they are ready for harvesting. The odor becomes even stronger to a point of a stinking stench of cannabis all around the growing space. Whatever you do during this period should be seamless to avoid any mishaps during harvest time. You should also be keener on any deficiencies on the crops by checking out for leaf discolorations and any other deficiencies. Yellow leaves means that you have a nutrient burn but you can still fix the problem before harvest.
Two weeks before the harvest, when the plants are on their final flowering stage, you should flush them. Flushing the plants also means discontinuing nutrient administering and feeding the plants with only water. The water you give the plants during this time should have a good pH balance. the reasons for flushing the plants is to get rid of the salts and minerals in the soil, which helps to improve the cannabis taste. if you harvest the buds without flushing off the minerals and salt, marijuana will have an unpleasant chemical taste and a bad smell.
You also have to remember that while many of the strains reach the end of their flowering stage at the eighth week, others may go beyond even ten weeks. This last stage is very crucial and you should handle the buds with utmost care before HARVESTING stage arrives. This is also the time that you start preparing your plants for the harvest and the best way to do that is by flushing.
Follow these tip wisely to get more resin glands, earlier flowering, and larger buds from every cannabis plant you cultivate.
Despite the name, the flowering stage doesn’t start with the formation of flowers. Flowering occurs a few weeks into the flowering stage. In fact, it doesn’t even correlate to when you induce flowering.
In fact the flowering stage begins when the cannabis plant notices a change in light. This is how it knows winter is coming.
Many people mistakenly think that this change means a decrease in light. Actually, the change is measured by an increase in the amount of continuous darkness. Soon after the strain’s threshold of darkness is met, the plant will grow rapidly, gaining height and stretching. Some plants may even double in height during the first two weeks of the flowering stage.
THE FIRST FEW FLOWERING WEEKS (WEEKS 1, 2 AND 3)
When the flowering period starts, it isn't an abrupt change in your plants’ growth. Cannabis won’t just stop growing and then go into flowering right away. In these first weeks of flowering, many cannabis strains may indeed undergo a considerable growth stretch. This is important to know when it comes to feeding your plants properly, but also if you want to give them sufficient space to grow.
The pre-flowering phase is an important part of your plant’s life cycle. It starts when the grow light conditions around your plants change and the days become shorter. In a grow tent, this is usually when you switch your light cycle down from 18/6 to 12/12. In nature, this happens naturally at the end of summer.
Cannabis plants undergo a variety of changes when they enter this phase. Pre-flowering plants stop focusing on vegetative growth and instead get ready to reproduce. This is also the time you’ll start noticing the gender of your plants; female plants will start developing calyxes and hair-like pistils, while males will grow round pollen sacs.
The pre-flowering phase can last anywhere between 1–3 weeks—depending on genetics and the environment you’re growing in.
WEEKS 6, 7 AND 8 (LATE FLOWERING STAGE, RIGHT BEFORE HARVEST)
From week six to the last week of flowering, your plants will give you more indications that they are ready for harvesting. The odor becomes even stronger to a point of a stinking stench of cannabis all around the growing space. Whatever you do during this period should be seamless to avoid any mishaps during harvest time. You should also be keener on any deficiencies on the crops by checking out for leaf discolorations and any other deficiencies. Yellow leaves means that you have a nutrient burn but you can still fix the problem before harvest.
Two weeks before the harvest, when the plants are on their final flowering stage, you should flush them. Flushing the plants also means discontinuing nutrient administering and feeding the plants with only water. The water you give the plants during this time should have a good pH balance. the reasons for flushing the plants is to get rid of the salts and minerals in the soil, which helps to improve the cannabis taste. if you harvest the buds without flushing off the minerals and salt, marijuana will have an unpleasant chemical taste and a bad smell.
You also have to remember that while many of the strains reach the end of their flowering stage at the eighth week, others may go beyond even ten weeks. This last stage is very crucial and you should handle the buds with utmost care before HARVESTING stage arrives. This is also the time that you start preparing your plants for the harvest and the best way to do that is by flushing.
Follow these tip wisely to get more resin glands, earlier flowering, and larger buds from every cannabis plant you cultivate.
Friday, October 25, 2019
What is the best 1000w HPS bulb? 420 Guides for Beginners
What is a HPS Light?
Invented in 1964, HPS stands for High Pressure Sodium. It’s a light technology that has shaped how we cultivate indoor plants in a huge way. HPS bulbs consist of a narrow arc tube supported by a frame in a bulb. To improve efficiency, the arc tube is kept at an extremely high pressure. Sodium, mercury and xenon are usually used inside the arc tube in order to improve the light spectrum.
The most common way to start the bulbs is with a pulse start. This pulse starts an arc through the xenon gas and the lamp turns sky blue. The arc then heats the mercury which then lights up, giving the bulb a bluish color.
As the bulb heats and the sodium starts to vaporize it strikes an arc over 450° F (240° C). The sodium is then mixed with other impurities to create a more “white” light. Mercury helps add a blue spectrum light to the pure yellow of the sodium.
Here’s a list of the best 1000w HPS bulb for flowering plants:
Best 1000w HPS Grow Bulb For Flowering: Ushio Hi-LUX GRO Double-Ended HPS Bulb
This is the best flowering bulb out there, period. Nothing beats a 1000 watt double ended HPS for flowering, but unfortunately, there are very few good ones available. And the Ushio Hi-LUX GRO is easily the best among them.
At a time when most bulbs are manufactured in China, Ushio’s is engineered in Germany at an ISO9001 certified facility. The result is a very high quality bulb with a color temperature of 2100K and high red and blue spectral ratios for good photosynthesis efficiency. In short: it is perfect for flowering.
It has a lifespan of 10,000 hours, which is typical of good DE HPS bulbs. It provides a huge output of exactly the light your plants need, with a PAR of 2100 umol/s. The main drawback of this bulb is that it is only available in 1000 watts. And the high price, of course.
Pros
Long lifespan of 10,000 hours
High output with a PAR of 2100 umol/s
2100K spectrum, heavy in red/orange light, but with a blue spike: perfect for the flowering stage
Cons
High price
Only 1000w available; other wattages always sold out
Apollo Horticulture GLBHPS1000 1000 – Watt Bulb
High-pressure sodium grow light is a type of lighting for indoor gardening that mimics the rays of the sun. If you want to achieve high yields and fast growth, HPS bulbs will help you achieve all that.
Apollo Horticulture GLBHPS1000 grow lamp works well for indoor gardening. The bulbs work well in stimulating flower growth and fruiting. It is compatible with both magnetic and electronic ballasts.
The main purpose of Apollo Horticulture is to provide you with high-quality hydroponic equipment at affordable prices. The bulbs are perfect for use in greenhouses with good ventilation only.
The bulb feature 2000K Red-Orange spectrum that is perfect for hydroponic plant growth. This makes it perfect for people who are into professional hydroponic cultivation.
Investing in these bulbs will provide you with many years of use. With the improved lamp life, lumen output and 110V power, the bulbs offer a life of 24,000 hours. You can use the bulbs for quite a long time to provide lighting to your plants.
This best 1000 watt hps bulb has a start time of 10 seconds and you should allow between 3-5 minutes of warmup. Also, wait for around 5 minutes after shutting down the power before you strike again.
Eco Farm Double Ended 1000W HPS Grow Bulb
Eco Farm Double-ended bulbs are some if the best grow lights in the market. This professional grade HPS GROW BULB has quality performance that provides your weed crops with full spectrum light for all their growth stages. The grow lamp uses super high output lamp technology to achieve the best lighting for the vegetative and flowering phases of growth.
The lamps offer consistent lighting with high performances. It produces both blue and red lights for healthy plant growth. The lamp has low energy consumption making it one of the most economical lamps in the market. The design is an attractive tubular low profile, which also make it compact and durable.
Now, use code: Vic25off can have a 25% discount of this HPS grow bulbs.
Final Words
HPS grow lights may appear simple in design, but they punch a lot of lumens that will certainly transform the status of your grow room.
However, you must choose good quality HPS to grow lights in order to get that consistent light supply that will help your indoor plants thrive.
Some of the things that we insist you should consider include superior wattage, single ended design, and digital ballast. This combination will give you a superior HPS bulb.
If you have been wondering, HPS grow bulbs can be used in a greenhouse, large/small/medium grow rooms, and of course, in grow tents.
Invented in 1964, HPS stands for High Pressure Sodium. It’s a light technology that has shaped how we cultivate indoor plants in a huge way. HPS bulbs consist of a narrow arc tube supported by a frame in a bulb. To improve efficiency, the arc tube is kept at an extremely high pressure. Sodium, mercury and xenon are usually used inside the arc tube in order to improve the light spectrum.
The most common way to start the bulbs is with a pulse start. This pulse starts an arc through the xenon gas and the lamp turns sky blue. The arc then heats the mercury which then lights up, giving the bulb a bluish color.
As the bulb heats and the sodium starts to vaporize it strikes an arc over 450° F (240° C). The sodium is then mixed with other impurities to create a more “white” light. Mercury helps add a blue spectrum light to the pure yellow of the sodium.
Here’s a list of the best 1000w HPS bulb for flowering plants:
Best 1000w HPS Grow Bulb For Flowering: Ushio Hi-LUX GRO Double-Ended HPS Bulb
This is the best flowering bulb out there, period. Nothing beats a 1000 watt double ended HPS for flowering, but unfortunately, there are very few good ones available. And the Ushio Hi-LUX GRO is easily the best among them.
At a time when most bulbs are manufactured in China, Ushio’s is engineered in Germany at an ISO9001 certified facility. The result is a very high quality bulb with a color temperature of 2100K and high red and blue spectral ratios for good photosynthesis efficiency. In short: it is perfect for flowering.
It has a lifespan of 10,000 hours, which is typical of good DE HPS bulbs. It provides a huge output of exactly the light your plants need, with a PAR of 2100 umol/s. The main drawback of this bulb is that it is only available in 1000 watts. And the high price, of course.
Pros
Long lifespan of 10,000 hours
High output with a PAR of 2100 umol/s
2100K spectrum, heavy in red/orange light, but with a blue spike: perfect for the flowering stage
Cons
High price
Only 1000w available; other wattages always sold out
Apollo Horticulture GLBHPS1000 1000 – Watt Bulb
High-pressure sodium grow light is a type of lighting for indoor gardening that mimics the rays of the sun. If you want to achieve high yields and fast growth, HPS bulbs will help you achieve all that.
Apollo Horticulture GLBHPS1000 grow lamp works well for indoor gardening. The bulbs work well in stimulating flower growth and fruiting. It is compatible with both magnetic and electronic ballasts.
The main purpose of Apollo Horticulture is to provide you with high-quality hydroponic equipment at affordable prices. The bulbs are perfect for use in greenhouses with good ventilation only.
The bulb feature 2000K Red-Orange spectrum that is perfect for hydroponic plant growth. This makes it perfect for people who are into professional hydroponic cultivation.
Investing in these bulbs will provide you with many years of use. With the improved lamp life, lumen output and 110V power, the bulbs offer a life of 24,000 hours. You can use the bulbs for quite a long time to provide lighting to your plants.
This best 1000 watt hps bulb has a start time of 10 seconds and you should allow between 3-5 minutes of warmup. Also, wait for around 5 minutes after shutting down the power before you strike again.
Eco Farm Double Ended 1000W HPS Grow Bulb
Eco Farm Double-ended bulbs are some if the best grow lights in the market. This professional grade HPS GROW BULB has quality performance that provides your weed crops with full spectrum light for all their growth stages. The grow lamp uses super high output lamp technology to achieve the best lighting for the vegetative and flowering phases of growth.
The lamps offer consistent lighting with high performances. It produces both blue and red lights for healthy plant growth. The lamp has low energy consumption making it one of the most economical lamps in the market. The design is an attractive tubular low profile, which also make it compact and durable.
Now, use code: Vic25off can have a 25% discount of this HPS grow bulbs.
Final Words
HPS grow lights may appear simple in design, but they punch a lot of lumens that will certainly transform the status of your grow room.
However, you must choose good quality HPS to grow lights in order to get that consistent light supply that will help your indoor plants thrive.
Some of the things that we insist you should consider include superior wattage, single ended design, and digital ballast. This combination will give you a superior HPS bulb.
If you have been wondering, HPS grow bulbs can be used in a greenhouse, large/small/medium grow rooms, and of course, in grow tents.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
What is the Best Size Pot to Grow Cannabis? 420 Guide for Beginners
Setting up a cannabis garden is a game of choices. Around every corner, there are decisions that impact the health and prosperity of your cannabis plants. Choosing the right container is one of the more important decisions a grower must make.
Selecting the optimal growing containers for weed isn’t always easy and straight forward. While you may be able to get by with the ol’ flower pot for your first grow, you want to choose the right growing containers, that provide for optimal growth and healthy plants.
If we were to simplify things a bit, the optimal growing containers for your weed plants would be those types of pots, that will provide your plants with the best possible environment for their roots. Healthy roots are essential for optimal nutrition and water intake and quite literally are the foundation for the healthy growth of your plants.
Pick a Pot Size
It is best to keep your cannabis plants in grow pots varying between 1.5 – 3 gallons, 3 gallons being the norm (1 gallon is 3.8 liters). If you have a lot of room in your grow tent then you may even want to consider 5 gallon pots.
What is the reasoning behind this? Well, cannabis plants grow long, winding roots; if they are restricted your roots can become “pot bound”. This simply means that there is not enough room for your roots; they cannot develop fully and thus will not be able to supply your cannabis plants the nutrients to the extent they require – leading to nutrient deficiencies.
Follow these rough guidelines for your desired plant length:
30cm plant (12") - 2-3 gallon pot
60cm plant (24") - 3-5 gallon pot
90cm plant (36") - 5-7 gallon pot
120cm plant (48") - 6-10 gallon pot
150cm plant (60") - 8-10+ gallon pot
Planting a seedling in a pot size correlating to your desired height is not guaranteeing your plant will reach that height. A few things to keep in mind:
Too large of a pot, too soon, and your roots will over expand. Root density is important to ensure your plant is absorbing 100% of what it should be. Too small of a pot and your plant's growth will slow. You should also consider what kind of pot is best suited for your needs.
Most of the time (with some exceptions as mentioned above) you will likely start out your seedlings or clones in small containers and transplant them to bigger pots when the right time has come. The reason here is, that a bigger container allows for a larger root system, that your now rather grown-up cannabis plant will require to get all her nutrients.
Transplanting on the other hand can always cause some stress for your plants and if not done carefully, could even kill your plant, say, should you damage the roots when transplanting. It is therefore important, that you move your plants, so that you don’t disrupt their roots in any way.
Finally
Unless you know you cannabis very well, and can gauge exactly how much water each plant needs, it is best to buy a container with holes/perforations in the bottom of it. This will allow any excess water to run out of the container, helping to decrease the chances of root rot – a problem that occurs when soil remains too wet for too long. By placing your containers on trays, you can safely collect any run off and ensure you plants don’t become waterlogged.
Selecting the optimal growing containers for weed isn’t always easy and straight forward. While you may be able to get by with the ol’ flower pot for your first grow, you want to choose the right growing containers, that provide for optimal growth and healthy plants.
If we were to simplify things a bit, the optimal growing containers for your weed plants would be those types of pots, that will provide your plants with the best possible environment for their roots. Healthy roots are essential for optimal nutrition and water intake and quite literally are the foundation for the healthy growth of your plants.
Pick a Pot Size
It is best to keep your cannabis plants in grow pots varying between 1.5 – 3 gallons, 3 gallons being the norm (1 gallon is 3.8 liters). If you have a lot of room in your grow tent then you may even want to consider 5 gallon pots.
What is the reasoning behind this? Well, cannabis plants grow long, winding roots; if they are restricted your roots can become “pot bound”. This simply means that there is not enough room for your roots; they cannot develop fully and thus will not be able to supply your cannabis plants the nutrients to the extent they require – leading to nutrient deficiencies.
Follow these rough guidelines for your desired plant length:
30cm plant (12") - 2-3 gallon pot
60cm plant (24") - 3-5 gallon pot
90cm plant (36") - 5-7 gallon pot
120cm plant (48") - 6-10 gallon pot
150cm plant (60") - 8-10+ gallon pot
Planting a seedling in a pot size correlating to your desired height is not guaranteeing your plant will reach that height. A few things to keep in mind:
Too large of a pot, too soon, and your roots will over expand. Root density is important to ensure your plant is absorbing 100% of what it should be. Too small of a pot and your plant's growth will slow. You should also consider what kind of pot is best suited for your needs.
Transplanting Your Plants Into Bigger Growing Containers
Most of the time (with some exceptions as mentioned above) you will likely start out your seedlings or clones in small containers and transplant them to bigger pots when the right time has come. The reason here is, that a bigger container allows for a larger root system, that your now rather grown-up cannabis plant will require to get all her nutrients.
Transplanting on the other hand can always cause some stress for your plants and if not done carefully, could even kill your plant, say, should you damage the roots when transplanting. It is therefore important, that you move your plants, so that you don’t disrupt their roots in any way.
Finally
Unless you know you cannabis very well, and can gauge exactly how much water each plant needs, it is best to buy a container with holes/perforations in the bottom of it. This will allow any excess water to run out of the container, helping to decrease the chances of root rot – a problem that occurs when soil remains too wet for too long. By placing your containers on trays, you can safely collect any run off and ensure you plants don’t become waterlogged.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Is CMH better than HPS?- 420 Guide for Beginners
CMH Grow Lights vs HPS Grow Lights
Growing plants indoors poses all kinds of problems, but thankfully, modern technology has the solutions that readers are looking for. Arguably the best of these available on today's markets is the ceramic metal halide, or CMH grow light. Whether readers are looking into indoor growing for the first time or they're just looking to upgrade from less efficient and less effective lights, they can read on to find out about a few of the advantages of investing in this impressive, thoroughly modern technology.
What is CMH grow lights?
The crux of the matter; what are LEC lights and why are they sometimes called ceramic metal halide (CMH) or ceramic discharge metal halide (CDM)? Thankfully, all terms mean the same thing, and as awareness of the technology increases, these terms are becoming interchangeable. An LEC light uses a ceramic arc tube, rather than the quartz version found in regular MH lights. The result is a more natural colour, producing more lumens per watt and lasting a lot longer. The most common model of LEC fixture is the 315W with a “4200K” colour bulb.
Advantages of CMH
Spectrum
The CMH spectrum combines the red-heavy HPS spectrum with the blue-heavy MH spectrum in one bulb, making it the perfect light for all stages of growth. With a high CRI, it is extremely close to natural sunlight, which is great for your plants and for your eyes (plants look more natural, making it easier to spot any discolorations or other issues).
Efficiency
CMH bulbs give you a much higher PAR output (the amount of light that is usable by plants) per watt than any other type of lighting, apart from the most expensive LED grow lights.
Color Rendering Index
They also have a more natural CRI (Color Rendering Index). CRI describes how the color of a light source changes how an object appears to the human eyes and how well subtle variations in color shades are revealed. The higher the CRI, the more realistic things look. CMH grow lights are generally rated between 80 to 96 CRI, by comparison, the sun is rated at 100 CRI. This means that CMH grow lights will let you see the true color of your plants without making your grow room look yellow, blue or purple.
Ultraviolet Radiation
CMH grow lights provide UV (ultra violet) radiation, which although being outside of our range of vision is beneficial (at certain ranges and intensities) to plant growth and development. They produce UV-A, UV-B and UV-C Light, but UV-C is generally very harmful to human eyes. So most high quality manufacturers use a glass filter to block the UV-C output while leaving UV-A and UV-B output intact.
Cost Is Falling
Ceramic metal halide bulbs are not the cheapest way to go for grow light options. In fact, they cost many times more than other types. As they continue to take a larger part of the market share of grow lighting, their cost is beginning to come down. As CMH bulbs are being produced in greater and greater quantities, their prices should continue to fall.
Disadvantages of CMH
No lighting solution is perfect, and LEC does carry some disadvantages. The UV-B rays given off are harmful to humans. Adequate safety equipment is needed to reduce any risks to your skin or eyes. At present, the high setup costs of LEC can be off-putting. Because the technology is newer, they cost a lot more than traditional bulbs like CFLs, although this attribute is somewhat of a double-edged sword. The initial cost is higher, but the long-term running costs sit somewhere between HPS and LED bulbs.
They also give off a lot of heat. It is less than HPS or MH lights, but enough to warrant sufficient airflow and cooling options, again potentially adding to the startup cost if you do not already own ventilation equipment. Another consideration would be the positioning of LEC lights versus an HPS grow light. LECs don’t quite match the same light intensity of HPS varieties, so you would need to position the fixture closer to the canopy of your cannabis crop. Lastly, glass blocks UV-B rays given off by LEC bulbs. Growers would need to rethink any obstructions between the lights and plants.
High Intensity Discharge Grow Lights
High intensity discharge lights, or HIDs, are large-bulbed systems that create light by igniting a gas inside the bulb. HIDs are available in two types: Metal halides (MH) and high pressure sodium (HPS). There is a third type, which is a hybrid between the two, as well. All types of HIDs work by arcing an electric current between two tungsten (W) electrodes which then ignites the gas in each particular bulb.
Metal halide lamps burn gas that produces lighting on the blue end of the spectrum which is beneficial during the vegetative phase of a plant’s development. High pressure sodium lamps produce light on the red to orange portion of the spectrum and are useful during the flowering stage of a plant’s cycle.
Pros of HPS Grow Lights
HPS knobs are always dimmable, which can be ideal to modify the measure of required light for a given area.
If utilizing a digital ballast, a wide range of HPS grow lights can be utilized without changing the ballast.
Cons of HPS Grow Lights
HID knobs heat up consistently and this can burn plants if not observed or taken proper care of when you put them into a grow room.
They require extra equipment to work, for example, a reflector and a ballast. Some HID ballast will just work HPS and some will just work MH, which means several ballasts might be needed.
Growing plants indoors poses all kinds of problems, but thankfully, modern technology has the solutions that readers are looking for. Arguably the best of these available on today's markets is the ceramic metal halide, or CMH grow light. Whether readers are looking into indoor growing for the first time or they're just looking to upgrade from less efficient and less effective lights, they can read on to find out about a few of the advantages of investing in this impressive, thoroughly modern technology.
What is CMH grow lights?
The crux of the matter; what are LEC lights and why are they sometimes called ceramic metal halide (CMH) or ceramic discharge metal halide (CDM)? Thankfully, all terms mean the same thing, and as awareness of the technology increases, these terms are becoming interchangeable. An LEC light uses a ceramic arc tube, rather than the quartz version found in regular MH lights. The result is a more natural colour, producing more lumens per watt and lasting a lot longer. The most common model of LEC fixture is the 315W with a “4200K” colour bulb.
Advantages of CMH
Spectrum
The CMH spectrum combines the red-heavy HPS spectrum with the blue-heavy MH spectrum in one bulb, making it the perfect light for all stages of growth. With a high CRI, it is extremely close to natural sunlight, which is great for your plants and for your eyes (plants look more natural, making it easier to spot any discolorations or other issues).
Efficiency
CMH bulbs give you a much higher PAR output (the amount of light that is usable by plants) per watt than any other type of lighting, apart from the most expensive LED grow lights.
Color Rendering Index
They also have a more natural CRI (Color Rendering Index). CRI describes how the color of a light source changes how an object appears to the human eyes and how well subtle variations in color shades are revealed. The higher the CRI, the more realistic things look. CMH grow lights are generally rated between 80 to 96 CRI, by comparison, the sun is rated at 100 CRI. This means that CMH grow lights will let you see the true color of your plants without making your grow room look yellow, blue or purple.
Ultraviolet Radiation
CMH grow lights provide UV (ultra violet) radiation, which although being outside of our range of vision is beneficial (at certain ranges and intensities) to plant growth and development. They produce UV-A, UV-B and UV-C Light, but UV-C is generally very harmful to human eyes. So most high quality manufacturers use a glass filter to block the UV-C output while leaving UV-A and UV-B output intact.
Cost Is Falling
Ceramic metal halide bulbs are not the cheapest way to go for grow light options. In fact, they cost many times more than other types. As they continue to take a larger part of the market share of grow lighting, their cost is beginning to come down. As CMH bulbs are being produced in greater and greater quantities, their prices should continue to fall.
Disadvantages of CMH
No lighting solution is perfect, and LEC does carry some disadvantages. The UV-B rays given off are harmful to humans. Adequate safety equipment is needed to reduce any risks to your skin or eyes. At present, the high setup costs of LEC can be off-putting. Because the technology is newer, they cost a lot more than traditional bulbs like CFLs, although this attribute is somewhat of a double-edged sword. The initial cost is higher, but the long-term running costs sit somewhere between HPS and LED bulbs.
They also give off a lot of heat. It is less than HPS or MH lights, but enough to warrant sufficient airflow and cooling options, again potentially adding to the startup cost if you do not already own ventilation equipment. Another consideration would be the positioning of LEC lights versus an HPS grow light. LECs don’t quite match the same light intensity of HPS varieties, so you would need to position the fixture closer to the canopy of your cannabis crop. Lastly, glass blocks UV-B rays given off by LEC bulbs. Growers would need to rethink any obstructions between the lights and plants.
High Intensity Discharge Grow Lights
High intensity discharge lights, or HIDs, are large-bulbed systems that create light by igniting a gas inside the bulb. HIDs are available in two types: Metal halides (MH) and high pressure sodium (HPS). There is a third type, which is a hybrid between the two, as well. All types of HIDs work by arcing an electric current between two tungsten (W) electrodes which then ignites the gas in each particular bulb.
Metal halide lamps burn gas that produces lighting on the blue end of the spectrum which is beneficial during the vegetative phase of a plant’s development. High pressure sodium lamps produce light on the red to orange portion of the spectrum and are useful during the flowering stage of a plant’s cycle.
Pros of HPS Grow Lights
HPS knobs are always dimmable, which can be ideal to modify the measure of required light for a given area.
If utilizing a digital ballast, a wide range of HPS grow lights can be utilized without changing the ballast.
Cons of HPS Grow Lights
HID knobs heat up consistently and this can burn plants if not observed or taken proper care of when you put them into a grow room.
They require extra equipment to work, for example, a reflector and a ballast. Some HID ballast will just work HPS and some will just work MH, which means several ballasts might be needed.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Best Weed Growing Kits for Beginners - 2019 Updated
Introduction
Growing weed requires several tools and equipment for all the stages. Some of these tools are LED grow lights, fans, CARBON FILTERS, GROW TENTS, hanging ropes, shears, hydroponics soil and many more. You could choose to buy every one of the tools needed for growing separately but this is not only cumbersome, but it is time wasting as you have to probably move from store to store looking for the items.
A growing kit with everything you need also saves you time from researching for the appropriate tools to buy. The problem however comes in choosing the best indoors growing kit in the market considering there are many different types. Because we want you to have fun with your weed farming and at the same time, harvest quality and high yields, we set out to review the best INDOOR WEED GROWING KITS in the market and cane up with the list below.
BEST WEED GROWING KIT & WEED GROW BOX 2019 REVIEWS
TopoGrow LED Grow Tent Complete Kit
LED 300W Grow light: 100PCS x 3W LEDs, 2 cooling fans.
Grow tent: 96% highly reflective waterproof diamond Mylar, heavy duty 600D lightproof oxford cloth, diameter16MM white paint coated metal rods and 16MM plastic corners.
Ventilation: 4" fan, filter & ducting combo. The 100W fan has a 189CFM displacement and 1" carbon filter layer. Comes with 25 feet of 4" double layer ducting.
Suitable for various stage of plant growing. Featuring a user friendly "Full Spectrum" design, you can easily grow your plants in any growth cycle required like germination, seedling, veg, flower.
Package: comes in 3 separated boxes with discreet packaging.
HTG Supply’s 3×3 Grow Tent Combo Package (for all the HPS lovers)
If you are looking for a good weed growing kit at a very affordable price then the HTG Supply’s 3×3 Grow Tent Combo Package is the perfect package for you. HTG supply is the company which is very well known for offering good grow tents with various size of grow tents and many more accessories. All the grow tents from HTG Supply has the feature of plug and play in them. This is what makes the HTG Supply’s 3×3 Grow Tent Combo Package one of the most attractive packages on the market. So, let us get into it right away!
Pros
Cons
Growing weed requires several tools and equipment for all the stages. Some of these tools are LED grow lights, fans, CARBON FILTERS, GROW TENTS, hanging ropes, shears, hydroponics soil and many more. You could choose to buy every one of the tools needed for growing separately but this is not only cumbersome, but it is time wasting as you have to probably move from store to store looking for the items.
A growing kit with everything you need also saves you time from researching for the appropriate tools to buy. The problem however comes in choosing the best indoors growing kit in the market considering there are many different types. Because we want you to have fun with your weed farming and at the same time, harvest quality and high yields, we set out to review the best INDOOR WEED GROWING KITS in the market and cane up with the list below.
BEST WEED GROWING KIT & WEED GROW BOX 2019 REVIEWS
TopoGrow LED Grow Tent Complete Kit
LED 300W Grow light: 100PCS x 3W LEDs, 2 cooling fans.
Grow tent: 96% highly reflective waterproof diamond Mylar, heavy duty 600D lightproof oxford cloth, diameter16MM white paint coated metal rods and 16MM plastic corners.
Ventilation: 4" fan, filter & ducting combo. The 100W fan has a 189CFM displacement and 1" carbon filter layer. Comes with 25 feet of 4" double layer ducting.
Suitable for various stage of plant growing. Featuring a user friendly "Full Spectrum" design, you can easily grow your plants in any growth cycle required like germination, seedling, veg, flower.
Package: comes in 3 separated boxes with discreet packaging.
HTG Supply’s 3×3 Grow Tent Combo Package (for all the HPS lovers)
If you are looking for a good weed growing kit at a very affordable price then the HTG Supply’s 3×3 Grow Tent Combo Package is the perfect package for you. HTG supply is the company which is very well known for offering good grow tents with various size of grow tents and many more accessories. All the grow tents from HTG Supply has the feature of plug and play in them. This is what makes the HTG Supply’s 3×3 Grow Tent Combo Package one of the most attractive packages on the market. So, let us get into it right away!
Pros
- This is a plug and play grow tent. This means that you will not have any difficulties in assembling it and start using it as soon as you get it.
- The HTG Supply’s 3×3 Grow Tent Combo Package comes with all the nutrients that you will need in order to grow a healthy marijuana plant.
- The HTG Supply’s 3×3 Grow Tent Combo Package will come with one of the best grow lights that are the 400W HPS full spectrum bulb.
- This is one of the cheaper options in the market without compromising in quality.
Cons
- The fan is not the best in the market but it is still good enough to do the job at hand.
- It might have some heat issues since it has an HPS bulb.
Hydroponic Grow Room – Complete Grow Tent – 300w LED Grow Light with IR
This Hydroponic grow room is one of the smaller models, making it easier to transport. The durable and high quality grow tent comes with a built in DWC system that is easy to operate and maintain. It’s fully equipped with a 300W LED grow light with IR, a power strip with a built in timer, and 4” inline exhaust fans to keep the grow room ventilated and cool.
4 reservoir tanks are included to hold water, with 4 net pots, 4 outlet air pump and 4 air stones. To complete the kit, there are starter nutrients, clay pebbles and rockwool.
This kit has everything you need to start growing, from the grow room lights to pebbles and rockwool. It also comes with an instruction manual for guided use.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Complete Grow Tent Kit?
There are so many benefits to using a grow box kit. Not only are these kits easy to assemble, but they make your life a little bit easier when you are just getting started. Marijauna grow kits tend to be compact – even if you have a tiny apartment with minimal closet space, you can easily set up a complete weed growing kit inside.
In addition, the best grow tent kit will be comprehensive. Everything will be included and you won’t need to shop around for additional parts – the kit will have everything you could possibly need to begin growing. You’ll have everything, including a light, hangers, a circulation fan, filters, and even nutrients for your plants. All you’ll need to do is purchase your seeds!
Finally, using a complete grow tent kit will make the transition from non-grower to grower easier. Most of the best grow tent kits come with detailed instructional videos and manuals to show you not only how to assemble your tent, but also how to begin growing marijuana. Some of these good grow tent kits even come with soil and containers to help you get going!
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Best 2x2 HPS/CMH Grow Tent Kits Reviews-Complete Kits for Weed Growing 2019
In modern agriculture, choosing the right growing medium would determine the success of your farming business. We also highlight the benefits of using these grow tent kits, buying a well-compacted kit and its ease of use. We specify that these grow tent kits work perfectly depending on the space of your hydroponics and the needs of your plants. You are now equipped with our perfect description to know which kits to buy with your money.
As a modern cannabis grower, you can take advantage of many benefits of using a breeding kit. These sets of kits are easy to configure and they facilitate the growth of your plants in hydroponics throughout the year. The first benefit of buying a complete store of culture is that it is compact. Even if you have a small apartment with small storage space, you can install a complete set of the hydroponic kits for your culturing.
BEST HPS WEED GROWING KIT 2019 REVIEWS
Goldleaf Hydroponics Complete 2 x 2 Grow Tent Kit w/ 1000W HPS — Most Reflective
Want to Grow at Home? Looking for a turn-key indoors growing solution! We have removed ALL the planning, thinking and shopping hassles to growing at home! We’ll deliver you a turn-key growing solution that is designed to deliver the highest possible yield with the lowest level of maintenance. The kit is perfect for a first-time grower and expert grower alike. The kit comes with full video/graphic instructions: — A video to walk you through your kit set up — Step-by-step walk through the growing process From top to bottom, everything you need is included within this kit for an incredible low price (50% below retail)! You won’t believe the details we have gone to formulate this grow solution — we have sourced the BEST soils, hardware and grow materials to make your grow a success. Our objective being to generate an easy to use total growing solution that will deliver an optimal harvest with minimal investment and as a single solution All you need to supply is a seed and tap water!
TopoLite 24″x24″x80″ Grow Tent Complete Packages + Grow Light Kit Hydroponics Indoor Growing System
This plug and play indoor garden system is ideal for your growing needs. It can assist your cannabis growth from the cloning to the flower stage. The fabric is 600D oxford cloth, providing durable protection. The grow tent size is 24” x 24” x 80” (length x width x height). The interior is made of 96% highly reflective waterproof diamond Mylar to best mimic the reflection of sunlight indoors.
The kit comes with 1000W 120/240V Convertible Ballast which can support HPS/MH bulbs, and one of each comes with the kit. The Super Lumen option allows you to switch between sodium and halide power. The pebble aluminum wing reflector can reflect angles up to 180 degrees, so you can direct the light onto the plants as you desire. The 1/8″ rope hangers allows you to support reflectors, light fixtures, carbon filters and ventilation equipment.
Other accessories include a dual timer, which provides 15 minutes on/off timing or 24 hour cycle timing, a removable waterproof floor tray, installation instructions and a growing tent cover.
HTGSupply 2×2 Grow Tent Kit
HTGSupply is one of the best manufacturers of hydroponic kits for indoor cannabis growing. This particular pot growing kit is one of their best as it has wonderful benefits for all weed growers. The kit comes as a complete package and as a plug and play package. This means that you can assemble it as soon as you get it and start your growing process immediately.
Designed and configured by professional MARIJUANA growers, the grow kit has everything you need and you will have absolutely no reason for buying anything else to compliment what you have. The kit has a simple electric system that works well with household electrical outlets. It also comes with an instructions manual that is easy to follow even for those assembling the kit for the first time.
Other accessories that come with the kit are a combo of advanced nutrients, an agromax original grow tent, a grow bright hygrometer and thermometer, a 400 watts HPS grow light bulb, a timer, one pair of grow light hangers, a six inch inline fan with a flange kit, and a HTGSupply of 3.5 gallon DWC HYDROPONIC SYSTEM.
Worms Way Complete marijuana grow kit — Premium looking week grow kit
Let us start out by informing you that this complete marijuana indoor grow tent kit has received nice reviews on Amazon from all the customers. It looks very premium and has a lot of equipment within the package.
To get your plants to thrive and give out the best harvest, you would need to provide it with good atmosphere and consistent care. To do all that you will need both good marijuana to grow kit equipment and proper timing controllers to control the fans and lighting automatically.
This Worm Way weed grow kit has everything that you will need to grow cannabis at home including the monitors and controllers. You just have to get some soil, containers, and seeds to start your indoor marijuana operation.
Are you waiting for having a convenient package with all of the necessary components, Eco Farm will take a lead in your choice list. It has been designed with a solid framework.
The base of this package features with the LED and CMH lamp is another attractive addition in terms of excellent grow light facts. You can choose your favorite cannabis grow lights by yourself.
In response with this grow light, the manufacturers include digital ballast associated with it. It helps to charge the lamp and offers adequate power in it to run for long time.
The essential gardening accessories such as carbon filter and fan facilitates the air circulation. Also, this equipment’s contributes a lot to manage odors and heat.
Again, it combines a hanging hardware. That is suitable for hanging lights and other components if needed. Henceforth, digital hydro-thermometer supports to measure the temperature inside the tent.
This indoor growing tent kit is equipped with a Hydroponic gold membership that allows special discount to the buyers and offers unrivaled supports. Moreover, free gardening instructions are also there to make things easier in set up issues.
The reflector helps in perfect grow light reflection. For an instance the duct kit works for good amount of ventilation to achieve the requirement you are longing for years.
It ensures healthier harvest production. No doubt, it shuts up the harmful pests and raises an odor free environment.
Bottom Line
Thanks for being till the very end of the best complete grow tent kits reviews. From our hand-picked 5 products, you should be able to make one final choice. But one last advice from our side is to keep an eye on the price-quality ratio.
Thanks for being till the very end of the best complete grow tent kits reviews. From our hand-picked 5 products, you should be able to make one final choice. But one last advice from our side is to keep an eye on the price-quality ratio.
Best of luck!
Saturday, October 19, 2019
What is the Difference Between MH and CMH Grow Lights? 420 Guides for Beginners
What Is A Ceramic Metal Halide Grow Light?
First, let’s clear up a point of confusion. I’m sure you’ve seen (even just in this article), several different terms and abbreviations. Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH), Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC) and Ceramic Discharge Metal Halide (CDM) all refer to the same thing. CMH grow light is the most common term.
Another point of confusion concerns their relationship to metal halide lights. CMH bulbs are a variation of MH bulbs, but they are quite different. Instead of using a quartz tube, they use a ceramic tube (more here), similar to an HPS bulb.
This allows a higher arc tube temperature, which in turn allows a better mix of gases to produce a more optimal spectrum. It is, for practical purposes, a perfect combination of MH and HPS in a single bulb.
Advantages of CMH grow lights
Broad spectrum
This is the first winning point of CMH over HID grow lights. CMH bulbs have much a wider and more consistent spectrum.
So besides having enough light intensity, plants also love to have sufficient light colors/quality to have their best growth potential.
More UV rays
Under high pressure, CMH bulbs can produce powerful light output that contains Ultraviolets (UV) like the sun.
These UVs include UV-A, UV-B, UV-C, especially UV-B which is really helpful for plant growth, overall all 3 types of UV are harmful to human eyes.
So you should not look at the bulbs directly for a long period. And most good CMH brands use a protective glass filter to block harmful UV types.
Long-Lasting
Ceramic arc tubes have an advantage over other tubes and bulbs because they are resistant to heat and other problems. This makes the grow lights last longer than others without breaking down. The grow lights run for 24,000 hours, which is equal to running for a period of three years. For 20,000 hours, the grow light keeps a constant lighting and heat strength of 80%.
Heat Consumption
Despite running at high temperatures, CMH grow lights produce less heat compared to many other grow light models in the market. The bulbs of the grow lights do not burn the leaves of the crops and it is one of the best options to use in a grow room or a GROW TENT for a good yield from efficient growth.
Efficiency
CMH bulbs give you a much higher PAR output (the amount of light that is usable by plants) per watt than any other type of lighting, apart from the most expensive LED grow lights.
Disadvantages of CMH
Higher Initial Cost
A ceramic metal halide grow light system costs, on average, twice as much as a comparable HPS/MH system. Of course, you will easily recover that cost within a year or two, since CMH bulbs don’t use as much power to generate the same output and don’t create as much heat either, resulting in lower cooling costs. You also won’t need to change bulbs as often. All of this is reversed when compared to LED.
Weaker in Flowering Than HPS
When it comes to flowering crops, HPS lights are still the “HID King.” This is because HPS grow lights output more light in the red spectrum than CMH lights. Even still, the debate rages on. If you compare CMH to HPS on a watt by watt basis, CMH lights do have a more balanced PAR spectrum than HPS lights. And research is still being done to figure out if the added benefit of a better spectrum improves the overall crop even with the diminished harvest.
Heat Output
CMH grow lights usually output a lot of light in the infrared part of the spectrum (over 700 nm) which makes them output quite a lot of heat. Although it still less heat than other 400w HID bulbs, it’s noticeable even if they’re consuming a lower wattage.
What do MH mean?
MH stands for Metal Halide. These are grow lights that give off a blue color and are designed to project a similar light to spring in order to aid the photosynthesis of your plants. For this reason, MH grow lights are specifically designed to be used during the vegetative stage of your plant’s growth cycle.
Why Use MH Grow Lights?
MH bulbs emit a cool white light (containing large amounts of blue).
MH lighting gets your plants to grow dense, lush canopies. It also prevents stretching during the flowering stage, which leads to a weaker branch structure.
Stretching can be caused by a lack of blue light, which is why MH bulbs are effective in preventing it. Growers flowering with HPS bulbs often see their plants stretch, since HPS bulbs emit virtually no blue spectrum light. Adding a few MH bulbs to balance out the HPS spectrum solves this problem.
Due to the lack of red wavelengths in their spectrum, MH lights are not good at flowering plants on their own, though.
Metal Halide vs. Ceramic Metal Halide
First of all, remember that although similar, CMH and MH are not the same. For comparison purposes, the only disadvantage I can think of CMH over MH is the initial cost.
With that said, we’ve made it clear that CMH has a much better overall spectrum than MH, with higher red and white light overall outputs. CMH grow lights also run cooler, and produce a lot more PAR light when compared watt per watt.
The most noticeable point is degradation time. Standard MH bulbs have a total lifetime of around 20,000 hours, but a quick degradation rate. Which is less than the 24,000 Hours that CMH are rated for.
MH Points
CMH Points
First, let’s clear up a point of confusion. I’m sure you’ve seen (even just in this article), several different terms and abbreviations. Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH), Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC) and Ceramic Discharge Metal Halide (CDM) all refer to the same thing. CMH grow light is the most common term.
Another point of confusion concerns their relationship to metal halide lights. CMH bulbs are a variation of MH bulbs, but they are quite different. Instead of using a quartz tube, they use a ceramic tube (more here), similar to an HPS bulb.
This allows a higher arc tube temperature, which in turn allows a better mix of gases to produce a more optimal spectrum. It is, for practical purposes, a perfect combination of MH and HPS in a single bulb.
Advantages of CMH grow lights
Broad spectrum
This is the first winning point of CMH over HID grow lights. CMH bulbs have much a wider and more consistent spectrum.
So besides having enough light intensity, plants also love to have sufficient light colors/quality to have their best growth potential.
More UV rays
Under high pressure, CMH bulbs can produce powerful light output that contains Ultraviolets (UV) like the sun.
These UVs include UV-A, UV-B, UV-C, especially UV-B which is really helpful for plant growth, overall all 3 types of UV are harmful to human eyes.
So you should not look at the bulbs directly for a long period. And most good CMH brands use a protective glass filter to block harmful UV types.
Long-Lasting
Ceramic arc tubes have an advantage over other tubes and bulbs because they are resistant to heat and other problems. This makes the grow lights last longer than others without breaking down. The grow lights run for 24,000 hours, which is equal to running for a period of three years. For 20,000 hours, the grow light keeps a constant lighting and heat strength of 80%.
Heat Consumption
Despite running at high temperatures, CMH grow lights produce less heat compared to many other grow light models in the market. The bulbs of the grow lights do not burn the leaves of the crops and it is one of the best options to use in a grow room or a GROW TENT for a good yield from efficient growth.
Efficiency
CMH bulbs give you a much higher PAR output (the amount of light that is usable by plants) per watt than any other type of lighting, apart from the most expensive LED grow lights.
Disadvantages of CMH
Higher Initial Cost
A ceramic metal halide grow light system costs, on average, twice as much as a comparable HPS/MH system. Of course, you will easily recover that cost within a year or two, since CMH bulbs don’t use as much power to generate the same output and don’t create as much heat either, resulting in lower cooling costs. You also won’t need to change bulbs as often. All of this is reversed when compared to LED.
Weaker in Flowering Than HPS
When it comes to flowering crops, HPS lights are still the “HID King.” This is because HPS grow lights output more light in the red spectrum than CMH lights. Even still, the debate rages on. If you compare CMH to HPS on a watt by watt basis, CMH lights do have a more balanced PAR spectrum than HPS lights. And research is still being done to figure out if the added benefit of a better spectrum improves the overall crop even with the diminished harvest.
Heat Output
CMH grow lights usually output a lot of light in the infrared part of the spectrum (over 700 nm) which makes them output quite a lot of heat. Although it still less heat than other 400w HID bulbs, it’s noticeable even if they’re consuming a lower wattage.
What do MH mean?
MH stands for Metal Halide. These are grow lights that give off a blue color and are designed to project a similar light to spring in order to aid the photosynthesis of your plants. For this reason, MH grow lights are specifically designed to be used during the vegetative stage of your plant’s growth cycle.
Why Use MH Grow Lights?
MH bulbs emit a cool white light (containing large amounts of blue).
MH lighting gets your plants to grow dense, lush canopies. It also prevents stretching during the flowering stage, which leads to a weaker branch structure.
Stretching can be caused by a lack of blue light, which is why MH bulbs are effective in preventing it. Growers flowering with HPS bulbs often see their plants stretch, since HPS bulbs emit virtually no blue spectrum light. Adding a few MH bulbs to balance out the HPS spectrum solves this problem.
Due to the lack of red wavelengths in their spectrum, MH lights are not good at flowering plants on their own, though.
Metal Halide vs. Ceramic Metal Halide
First of all, remember that although similar, CMH and MH are not the same. For comparison purposes, the only disadvantage I can think of CMH over MH is the initial cost.
With that said, we’ve made it clear that CMH has a much better overall spectrum than MH, with higher red and white light overall outputs. CMH grow lights also run cooler, and produce a lot more PAR light when compared watt per watt.
The most noticeable point is degradation time. Standard MH bulbs have a total lifetime of around 20,000 hours, but a quick degradation rate. Which is less than the 24,000 Hours that CMH are rated for.
MH Points
- More affordable
CMH Points
- Efficiency
- Significantly improved spectrum with a well needed boost in the reds over MH
- Significantly longer life time.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Best 2'x2' Extendable Grow Tent Reviews-2019 Updated
2'×2' grow tents are tiny grow tents normally used for tending to seedlings and germinating seeds. Many brands have the 2×2 grow tents as their smallest models of grow tents. The grow tents are ideal for growing a single plant too. You can use them to grow a single large plant if it can fit in. They are great for anyone who does not have much space. You can always find a small space for them in your house or apartment. Being small does not make the grow tents ineffective. They are quite as effective as the large grow tents, and sometimes even more.
What are the Benefits of The Indoor gardening Tent?
If you are contemplating getting the 2×2 grow tent, it is important to understand the benefits that are associated with such tents. Here are some of the advantages that you stand to enjoy:
If you are contemplating getting the 2×2 grow tent, it is important to understand the benefits that are associated with such tents. Here are some of the advantages that you stand to enjoy:
Portable:
If you have to move, for whatever reason, then you will just move with the budget grow tent. You will not need to worry about losing your crops or having to leave them behind when you are relocating.
If you have to move, for whatever reason, then you will just move with the budget grow tent. You will not need to worry about losing your crops or having to leave them behind when you are relocating.
Economic in Terms of Space:
Some people are yet to come to terms that they can grow their own crops, even when they are living in city apartments. This the beauty of grow tents, they will allow you to go about your gardening, even when there is very little space to use.
Some people are yet to come to terms that they can grow their own crops, even when they are living in city apartments. This the beauty of grow tents, they will allow you to go about your gardening, even when there is very little space to use.
TopoLite 2x2x4 600D Grow Tent
TopoLite grows tents are very popular and considered as the quality 2×2 grow tent worldwide. Although they are designed for the professionals, it can be ideal for the beginners also. So, here you can double up your yield with the first height adjusting grow tent in the world. Besides, to give you a complete package TopoLite products serve for years after years with consistency along with unbeatable performance what you deserve.
Features & Benefits:
- If you don’t want to compromise with your environment, then this TopoLite 600D adds a great option for you providing the EZ view windows which provide the easiest grow snapshots.
- The doors offer you three hundred and sixty-degree convenient access. Also, the larger layouts provide you a frustration free maneuvering.
- In addition, the large 10 inches double cinching ducting ports and thick materials can make the maintaining of a growing space a snap.
- The most important feature that makes TopoLite grow tent not only the safest but also the strongest one is the density of it. However, they are 3 to nine times denser than others which make them 2 to 5 times stronger.
2×2 Gorilla Grow Tent LTGGT22 Tent
Even if there is enough sunlight for a plant, some may not grow as expected in the climate you live in. In that case, you might want to consider buying a growing tent. One excellent option that you can avail is the Gorilla Grow Tent LTGGT22 Tent which is high quality and easily available online.
Height Adjustment
The great part about this product is that its height is adjustable. If case you are looking forward to growing plants that can grow to a good height in a short time, you might want to consider one that is easily extendable. The height is adjustable via extension poles.
Durable
The canvas material used in the making of the tent is high quality, making it durable and robust. This also means that it will be able to hold lights easily and ensure that the plants have a secure and safe environment to live in.
Product Specifications
- You can increase the height of the tent from 5’7″ to almost 6’7″.
- The frame is made up of solid metal.
- It has micro-mesh to keep the bugs out.
Eco Farm extention grow tent is truly promising to offer you the most reliable construction and durability. For safer usage and set up, this another great option for you to buy.
It has higher reflective equipment’s including with thick oxford cloth on the exterior part. The zippers are extremely beneficial for the ultimate protection of the inner gardening as it functions flawlessly.
The multiple vents are fruitful for easier accommodation, covering the unit with necessary fans and air filtration components. This Hydroponic grow tent is excellent where you can grow fruits, vegetables, different kind of herbs that suits your demand.
There are sturdy metal rods that ensure durability. The duel stitched materials are very much protective to prevent any light leaks as well.
The reflective Mylar is expert at its performance for maximizing the reflective effects on the whole unit. This convenient 2×2 small indoor grow tent size gardening tool has easier installation system. It has usual connectors along with a removable floor tray.
You need not to feel worry about its set up. It won’t take more time to do so. The design is extremely intuitive. Plenty of light will shower your plants with no leaks in the whole light system.
Easy assemble of the tent is another worth mentioning in the Eco Farm. The far better feature is its double stitching that will exceed your expectation definitely.
Growing your own marijuana and consuming it will surely bring a whole different level of high to your experience as you will truly know where the end product came from. You will have the satisfaction and a great sense of accomplishment at the end of the grow cycle. So, if you have never tried growing your own weed then this is the perfect way to start as a indoor grow tent is both small yet efficient and will surely give you the experience and allow you to decide if you want to increase your production or not.
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