Incandescent lighting is the least efficient method of lighting your garden. These bulbs will screw into any ordinary light socket.
They are usually a spot-light type design and have a blue coating on the glass to increase the blue spectrum of the light
(incandescent lights normally produce light in the red end of the spectrum). These lights are a very poor choice to light your
garden because of their inefficiency. Fluorescent lights are a better choice than incandescent bulbs because they are about
2 times as efficient.
HPS
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Fluorescent
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MH
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Reflectors
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HPS Bulbs
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MH Bulbs
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Fluorescent Bulbs
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They will work perfect for with seedlings and cuttings as well as orchids and other flowers that need a lower light condition.
But these lights still aren't all that efficient because the light they produce does not penetratemore than
10 to 15 ". For some plants fluorescent lighting is an excellant choice for lighting up your garden, most vegetables and flowers
usually need full sun and the fluorescent bulb just isn't good enough.
HPS lighting usually costs about 15% to 25% more than MH lights, but the bulbs have a longer life span and have a higher output
than your normal H.I.D. lights. MH bulbs will lose around 12% to 23% of their intensity after 14 months whereas your HPS bulbs will
only lose about 7% of their lumens in the same time frame. MH light systems produce between 75-125 lumens per watt of electricity ,
HPS light systems produce between 96-155 lumens per watt.
Remember that grow light systems will vary in terms of reliability and quality. In general, You get what you pay for.
Choose a system that will give your plants the amount of light they need. Be able to recognize the difference between
a well built system and a cheap imatation. The last think you need is a short circuit or an over heated unit.
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