As important as the medium in which it grows, light for your hydroponic vegetable gardening needs is critically important. By far the best choice for light is natural sunlight. For an external garden, this is readily available. However, some of you may choose to grow their vegetables indoor using artificial light. If this is the case there are several options available to you. The three primary types of lighting used to grow plants hydroponically are: Incandescent, fluorescent, and high-intensity discharge (HID).
Incandescent lights are the worst choice as grow lights as they are typically inefficient and offer a limited light spectrum. Their spectrum range is typically higher than sunlight above 500nm but far lower than sunlight below 500nm.
HID grow lights are more efficient and produce more light. However this comes at the expense of excessive heat production and higher cost. HID lamps come in two flavors, metal halides and high-pressure sodium. MH lamps tend to have a blue-green tint to them while HPS lamps have an orange red tint to them. HID lamps produce sufficient heat that care must be taken not to hang them too close to the plants.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs, similar to those used on saltwater aquariums, are a popular choice as they are readily available, relatively inexpensive, are full spectrum, and have low heat emissions compared to the HID lights.
Check back next time to learn more about hydroponic vegetable gardening.
Incandescent lights are the worst choice as grow lights as they are typically inefficient and offer a limited light spectrum. Their spectrum range is typically higher than sunlight above 500nm but far lower than sunlight below 500nm.
HID grow lights are more efficient and produce more light. However this comes at the expense of excessive heat production and higher cost. HID lamps come in two flavors, metal halides and high-pressure sodium. MH lamps tend to have a blue-green tint to them while HPS lamps have an orange red tint to them. HID lamps produce sufficient heat that care must be taken not to hang them too close to the plants.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs, similar to those used on saltwater aquariums, are a popular choice as they are readily available, relatively inexpensive, are full spectrum, and have low heat emissions compared to the HID lights.
Check back next time to learn more about hydroponic vegetable gardening.
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