Cannabis Lighting Types and Intensities

Growing Lighting Types and Intensities

Lumen

A unit of measurement of the total flow of light which is emitted continually from a source. One lumen

is equal to the flow of light which is emitted from a very small wax candle.

The common 40 Watt incandescent bulb emits some 400 lm (lumen). So the efficiency of that bulb is

400lm/40Watt= 10 lm/watt.

LUX

= lm/m2, the intensity of light which falls on a surface.

Colour Temperature

- measured in degrees Kelvin, the color of a light's output in relationship to the degree of heat applied

to produce the specified colour of light. Daylight is measured around 5000 degrees kelvin

If we direct all light from our 40 Watt lamp towards a floor area of 1 square meter the intensity of light on

that area will be 400 lux, (400 lumen distributed over 1 square meter, 400/1 lm/m2 = 400 lux,) which is a

little better than moonlight, but far away from the sunlight intensities we need for growing plants.

The sun gives some 50 000 lm/m2 = 50 000 lux at the earth surface on a clear summerday. See the table

below.

The 40 Watt incandescent lamp is not only too weak for growing plants, it also has too little blue in its

spectrum and is far too inefficient. Fluoroscent tubes and HPS and MH lamps are the better choices.

Cannabis needs 24 hours of strong light for the first 4-6 weeks of vegetative growth. Then it needs 2

months of 12/12 hours of strong light and very dark, to flower and ripen. If they get less than 30000 lux they

will still grow vegetatively but slower. And they will flower less, if at all.

Light Requirements of "High Energy" Plants

1000 - 5000 lux Min. necessary for life

10000 - 15000 lux Min. necessary for consistent but sparse growth

20000 - 25000 lux Min. necessary for robust growth

25000 - 30000 lux Max. Efficiency for Sub Tropical varieties

25000 - 50000 lux Max. Efficiency for Equatorial varieties

Plants need 25000-50000 lux too grow fast. 90000 lux Max. Sunlight Intensity on Earth's surface This is

too much light, it is not good for the plant. Plants subject to intensities at this level or greater are at risk of

"solarization," whereby photosynthesis is retarded. This can happen at noon on a clear Tropical summer

day, especially at high altitudes. 140000 lux Sunlight above atmosphere (Solar Constant)

More advanced theory: Scientific, but has many answers about how and why. Air Temperatures between

Cannabis Lighting Types and Intensities http://growinghelp.com/cannabis/lighting_guide.php

2 of 9 8/9/2013 5:05 PM

23C (70F) and 32C (90F) are ideal for growth; beyond 35C (95F) can adversely affect plants, retarding

photosynthesis, and, in extreme cases, can cause leaf burn if a radiant heat source is nearby. Calculating

with lumen, lux and efficiency: The cheapest and easiest solution to the beginner is to use fluoroscent

tubes. The usual ones are 120 cm (48") long, and give at best 4000 lumen. *****Ed Note: If you care to get

a light meter and measure the light from various distances to your flouros, you'll see immediately that you

will want to keep the lights as close to the top of your plants as possible. ***** Your grow room must have at

least these dimensions: 140 cm high (these plants get big, 180 cm is better, 120 cm long (to accomodate

for the tubes), and wide enough, let's say 60cm (2 feet). The easiest is to build an extra wall, made of silver

tarpaulin or wood. This wall is placed 60 cm from a real wall, to create a space of say 200*260*60cm for

use as a greenhouse or rather two. Build the wall and divide the space up into two small rooms. Make

some type of opening, so you can take care of your plants later. Put in ventilation and cover all inside

surfaces with al-foil using a stapler. We want the light to bounce around in there until it finds a green leaf to

do its work in. As much light as possible is needed for the growth of the plants. The ventilation consists of a

12Volt fan which pushes the warm air from the green house through a plastic tube which ends outside the

house to let the warm moist and odors out. Instead of a fake wall you can disguise the green house as a

very big bass speaker, stereo wall, tv-stand, cupboard or whatever. Buy the fluoros in ready-made units or

do it yourself like this: Buy the bare necessities to put up fluoros, that is reactors, lighters, tube holders,

lighter holders, wire.7mm, capacitors and connectors. Most of these devices have pushcontacts, that

means you don't have to solder or screw much, just strip off the insulation from the cable and push it in.

Put up as many tubes as possible in the ceiling of the green house. You might be able to get 6 tubes into

every green house half. Every green house has a floor area of 0.60m*1.30m=0.78m2 With 6*4000 lumen

you get 24000lumen. Divide by 24000lm with 0.78m2 to get 31000 lux, which is good enough.

Use hanging mounts for the tubes, they are cheapest and easiest to use. They also make it easier to pack

the tubes densely in the cieling or hanging at different levels, hanging only in the thin electric cables. If you

manage to get 10 tubes into the top of the green house you get 40000lm/0.78m2= 51300 lux in there.

As another example, let's take one of the most popular hps grow bulbs:

Lumen Watt lm/watt Kelvin Hours Manufacturer, Name

53,000 430 123.3 2000 16k Philips, SON T AGRO

The Son-T-Agro gives out 53000 lumen. If we use a reflector to direct all of that light towards a floor area of

2 m2 we get a light intensity on that area of 53000 lumen/2 m

2, which is 26500 lumen/m

2 (=lux)

We can see in table 3 above that it fits in: "25000 - 30000 lux =Max. Efficiency for Sub Tropical varieties".

We add some daylight fluoros, 6 fluoros a 4000 lumen=24000 lumen. Divide by floor area 2 m2 to get

=12000lumen/m2=12000lux

Together the hps and the fluoros give 26500+12000=38500lux in the 2 m2 big grow room. see table 3:

25000 - 50000 lux Max. Efficiency for Equatorial varieties.

This combination will draw 430Watt+6*40Watt+100Watt in the ballast units, total =530+240=770Watt of

electricity. Our total efficiency is 53 000 + 24 000 lm divided with 770 Watt, which is 77 000 lumen /770


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Watt = 100 lm/Watt At 38500 lux we have an illumination which is optimal for growth,

Illumination Chart

Light Intensity (lux) as a Function of Area Illuminated (m2)

Light Source lumens 1.0 m2

1.5 m2

2.0 m2

2.5 m2

3.0 m2

3.5 m2

4.0 m2

1000W HPS 140000 -- -- 70000 56000 46700 40000 35000

600W HPS 90000 -- 60000 45000 36000 30000 25700 22500

400W HPS 50000 50000 33300 25000 20000 -- -- --

250W HPS 29000 29000 19300 -- -- -- -- --

1000W MH 115000 -- -- 57500 46000 38300 32900 28800

400W MH 40000 40000 26700 20000 -- -- -- --

For example, from this chart we can see that a 600W HPS used to illuminate an area of 2.5 m2 will result in

a lighting intensity of 36000 lux. Note that this presumes that a reflector is being used so that all the light is

being directed towards this 2.5 m2 area.

LIGHT BULB PRODUCT LIST

HPS Conversion


40,500 360 112.5 1900 24k Philips C150S63/RETROLUX

23,000 215 106.9 1900 24k Philips C215S65/RETROLUX

15,000 150 100 1900 24k Philips C260S64/RETROLUX

High Presssure Sodium (HPS) bulbs


140000 1000 140.0 2100 24000 Philips C1000S52 Ceramalux

130000 1000 130.0 2100 24000 Sylvania LU1000 Lumalux

130000 940 138.3 2100 24000 IwasakiEyeSunluxUltraAceMHcnv)


4 of 9 8/9/2013 5:05 PM


84000 600 140.0 2100 18000 Sylvania LU600 Planta

53000 430 123.3 2100 16000 Philips Son T Agro 430W

51500 430 119.8 2100 18000 Sylvania LU430 Planta



47500 360 131.9 2100 24000 Philips C360S51/EW Ceramalux

45000 360 125.0 2100 24000 IwasakiEyeSunluxUltraAceMHcnv)



27500 225 122.2 2100 24000 Philips C225S50/EW Ceramalux

22000 200 110.0 <2100 24000 Sylvania LU200 Lumalux



MasterColor (MH)


6200 70 88.6 3000 7500 Philips CDM70/U/M

6200 70 88.6 3000 7500 Philips CDM70/C/U/M

9500 100 95 3000 10k Philips CDM100/V/M

9200 100 92 3000 10k Philips CDM100/C/V/M

Metal Halide (MH) bulbs


125000 1000 125.0 4200 12000 Iwasaki MH BSX/BU 1000

115000 1000 115.0 4000 12000 Sylvania MS1000/BU SupMetalarc

115000 1000 115.0 3400 12000 Sylvania MS1000/C/BUSupMetalarc


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111000 1000 125.0 3700 10000 Philips MH1000/U/BT37

40000 400 100.0 4300 20000 Philips MS400/HOR

40000 400 100.0 5000 20000 Philips 5K High Output Metal Halide

39000 400 97.5 4200 20000 Sylvania MS400/HOR SupMetalarc

38000 400 95.0 4200 20000 Iwasaki MH 400 Eye Sunlux

38000 400 95.0 3800 20000 SylvaniaMS400/C/HOR SupMetalarc

34500 400 86.3 3200 20000 Sylvania MS400/3K/HOR Super

Metalarc


23000 250 92.0 4300 10000 Philips MS250/HOR


22000 250 88.0 3800 10000 Sylvania MS250/C/HORSuMetalarc


Metalarc


15000 175 85.7 4300 10000 Philips MS175/HOR


15000 175 85.7 3800 7500 Sylvania MS175/C/HORSMetalarc


Metalarc


9300 100 93.0 4200 7500 Philips 4K Master Color ED-17

8500 100 85.0 3200 10000 Philips MS100/BU/BD/M/3K

7800 100 78.0 4300 10000 Philips MH100/U/ED28/HR

6800 100 68.0 4200 7500 Philips 4K Master Color PAR-38


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Flourescent tubes, 48"


4400 60 73.3 3000 12000 Sylvania F48T12/D830/HODesigner

4250 60 70.8 4100 12000 Sylvania F48T12/D41/HO Designer

4250 60 70.8 3500 12000 Sylvania F48T12/D35/HO Designer

4250 60 70.8 4100 12000 Philips F48T12/SPEC41/HO



3700 40 92.5 5000 24000 Philips F40/AX50 Advantage X




3600 40 90.0 5000 24000 Philips F40T12/ADV50/ALTO




3500 40 87.5 4100 20000 GE Staybright

3500 40 87.5 3500 20000 GE Staybright

3500 40 87.5 3000 20000 GE Staybright

3400 60 56.6 6500 12000 Philips F48T12/D/HODaylight

3300 40 82.5 3000 20000 Philips F40T12HomeLightWarm

3300 40 82.5 4100 20000 Sylvania F40/D841 Desi800

3300 40 82.5 3500 20000 Sylvania F40/D835 Desi800

3300 40 82.5 3000 20000 Sylvania F40/D830 Desi800

3300 40 82.5 4100 20000 Philips F40/41U Ultralume



7 of 9 8/9/2013 5:05 PM



3200 40 80.0 4100 20000 Philips F40T12HomeLightCool

3200 40 80.0 3500 20000 Philips F40T12HomeLightWarm

3000 40 75.0 6500 20000 Sylvania F40/D865 Design800

2325 40 58.1 6500 20000 Philips F40DXDaylightDeluxe

2250 40 56.3 5000 20000 GE F40/SUNSunshineFullSp

1900 40 47.5 3050 20000 GE F40PL/AQ/WS Plant&Aquarium

1875 40 46.9 3400 20000 Sylvania F40GRO/WS Gro-Lux

1600 40 40.0 na 20000 Philips Agro-Lite

800 40 20.0 6750 20000 GE F40PL Gro & Sho

Mercury Vapor bulbs


60500 1000 60.5 4300 24000 SylvaniaH36GW-1000/DXBrWhDlx

23000 400 57.5 3500 24000 SylvaniaH33GL-400/N Warmtone

22000 400 55.0 4300 24000 SylvaniaH33GL-400/DX BrWhDlx

13000 250 52.0 3500 24000 SylvaniaH37KC-250/N Warmtone

12500 250 50.0 4300 24000 SylvaniaH37KC-250/DX BrWhDlx

8900 175 50.9 <3500 24000 SylvaniaH39KC-175/N Warmtone

8400 175 48.0 <4300 24000 SylvaniaH39KC-175/DX BrWhDlx

4500 100 45.0 <3500 24000 SylvaniaH38JA-100/N Warmtone

4100 100 41.0 <4300 24000 SylvaniaH38JA-100/DX BrWhDlx

Tungsten Halogen Quartz double end lamps


22000 1000 22.0 <3200 2000 Sylvania 1000T3Q/CL


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21000 1000 21.0 <3200 3000 Philips 1000T3Q/P/CL cl pl

11000 500 22.0 <3200 2000 Sylvania 500T3Q/CL

10500 500 21.0 <3200 3000 Philips500T3Q/P/CL ClPlusline

10000 350 28.6 3075 2000 GE Q350T3/CL/ULTRA

9200 400 23.0 <3200 2000 Philips 400T3Q/CL Clear

6000 300 20.0 <3200 3000 Philips300T3Q/P/CL ClPlusline

Standard Incandescent Bulbs 110V/230V


400 40 10.0 2000 1000 40 Watt Std. Incandescent Bulb

Equivalences:

1 lm/m2 (lumens per square meter)

= 1 lux (lx)

= 10-4

lm/cm2

= 10-4

phot (ph)

= 0.093 lm/ft2

= 0.093 foot-candles (fc)

1 meter = 3.3 feet

1 square meter = 10.8 square feet

1 foot = 0.3 meter

3 feet = 1 yard = 0.91 meter

CANNABIS GROWING LIGHTS


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Which Grow Light? | Marijuana GrowLight Guide

by Nebula Haze

Which Grow Lights Are Right For

Me?

The marijuana grow lights you choose are definitely not the only

factor that will affect your growing success and yields.

But... when all other factors are equal, the general rule for growing

marijuana is that more light = more buds.

This info will come in handy when trying to choose the best marijuana grow light for you.

How to Compare Marijuana Grow Lights

Introduction: Choose The Best Indoor Grow Lights

Skip right to the cannabis grow light section you want to learn about...

I Want Cheap "Starter" Marijuana Grow Lights

Warning! No matter which grow light you choose, make sure you get a surge

protector

HIDs - High Intensity Discharge Grow Lights

MH - Metal Halide Grow Lights

HPS - High Pressure Sodium Grow Lights

CFLs - Compact Fluorescent Lights

T5 Grow Lights & Other Fluorescent Lighting

LEDs - Light Emitting Diodes

Induction Lighting

Sulphur Plasma Grow Lights

Magnetic Induction Grow Lights

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Which Grow Light? | Marijuana Grow Light Guide | Grow Weed Easy http://www.growweedeasy.com/growing-marijuana-what-type-of-lights

1 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

Introduction to Indoor Grow Lights for MarijuanaIntroduction to Indoor Grow Lights for MarijuanaIntroduction to Indoor Grow Lights for MarijuanaIntroduction to Indoor Grow Lights for Marijuana

Are you ready to get starting growing marijuana with

indoor grow lights?

Marijuana plants are not like your average indoor

houseplant.

They live out their whole lives (seed to harvest) in just one yearone yearone yearone year, and they

need to get a lot of light a lot of light a lot of light a lot of light in order to make enough energy to grow big,

then produce buds (marijuana flowers).

Generally, you will need special types of lighting to grow marijuana,

though some regular house lights can work too, if you know what to do.

Please note: Incandescent light bulbs are NOT suitable for growing

marijuana!

Of course, if you plan on growing marijuana

outdoorsoutdoorsoutdoorsoutdoors, the sun is generally all the light

you need to grow your own weed. When

growing outdoors, your marijuana needs to

grow in a sunny spot with plenty of direct

sunlight throughout the whole day. For best

results, plants should get strong sunlight

for 8+ hours each day.

Yet as an indoor grower, there's a few

things you should know about lights and

growing marijuana. You see, marijuana is a

short-day plant, which means that

marijuana plants don't start making buds until their "days" become short

enough.

The length of time that your cannabis gets light and darkness eachThe length of time that your cannabis gets light and darkness eachThe length of time that your cannabis gets light and darkness eachThe length of time that your cannabis gets light and darkness each

day will determine when it starts flowering (making buds). Mostday will determine when it starts flowering (making buds). Mostday will determine when it starts flowering (making buds). Mostday will determine when it starts flowering (making buds). Most

marijuana plants need long marijuana plants need long marijuana plants need long marijuana plants need long (12+ hours) (12+ hours) (12+ hours) (12+ hours) nights to start flowering.nights to start flowering.nights to start flowering.nights to start flowering.

The major factor that determines when most marijuana plants start

flowering is the length of the photoperiod, length of the photoperiod, length of the photoperiod, length of the photoperiod, or how long the plant

receives light and total darkness each day....

OutdoorsOutdoorsOutdoorsOutdoors, the sun is in charge of when your plants start budding. When

the days start getting shorter as winter approaches, your marijuana plants

will naturally start flowering.

IndoorsIndoorsIndoorsIndoors, you are in control of when your plant starts

budding. You do this by adjusting the plant's daily light

schedule, usually by hooking up your grow lighs to an

automatic timer.

Submit


2 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

Some strains of cannabis are "auto-flowering" "auto-flowering" "auto-flowering" "auto-flowering" which means that they

ignore the length of the photoperiod, but these strains are rare to come

across unless you specifically buy auto-flowering marijuana seeds. Where do I

buy seeds?

Auto-flowering plants tend to be less potent than non-auto-flowering

plants, but not always.

The color spectrum of the light color spectrum of the light color spectrum of the light color spectrum of the light your plants get will also have a small

effect on their vegetative and flowering stages. Light that's closer to the

blue spectrum simulates Spring/Summer while light in the red/yellow

spectrum simulates sunlight from the Fall/Winter.

The color spectrum of your grow light will have a much smaller effect on

your plants than the photoperiod, and I wouldn't worry too much about it

if you're a beginner. As long as you buy a grow light that is meant for

growing weed (like all the ones listed on this page), then your color

spectrum will be close enough to get great results. After you have a few

successful grows under your belt, you can start to worry about

maximizing your light's color spectrum.

(Where can I safely buy marijuana seeds online?)

Wait! I'm Still Confused About Photoperiods. How Much Light Does My Plant Need

To Start Making Buds?

Tell Me More About the Effect of Light Color Spectrum on Growing Marijuana

The big advantage of using indoor growlights is they effectively control all

aspects of your plant's light.

Because of this total control over light when growing indoors, indoor buds can often be even more tasty and

potent than similar marijuana buds grown outside.

The most common types of lights used indoor with marijuana is HighHighHighHigh

Intensity Discharge (HID) lightsIntensity Discharge (HID) lightsIntensity Discharge (HID) lightsIntensity Discharge (HID) lights such as High Pressure Sodium (HPS)High Pressure Sodium (HPS)High Pressure Sodium (HPS)High Pressure Sodium (HPS)

and Metal Halide (MH) lightsMetal Halide (MH) lightsMetal Halide (MH) lightsMetal Halide (MH) lights.

These grow lights are powerful and proven to provide great yields,

though they use quite a bit of energy and produce a lot of heat for a small

grow space.

WIth HID lights, you will get the best results of any grow light, but will

generally also have to install some sort of exhaust system to properly deal

with the heat.

You can also grow marijuana plants using Compact Florescent LightsCompact Florescent LightsCompact Florescent LightsCompact Florescent Lights

(CFLs)(CFLs)(CFLs)(CFLs) and LED grow lightsLED grow lightsLED grow lightsLED grow lights which both use less power and produce less

heat than HID lights.

Each type of light system has their pros and cons, but you will need to


3 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

find the one that fits your budget, grow area, and grow style.

Here's a basic breakdown of marijuana grow lights by grow style..

Starter Grow LightsStarter Grow LightsStarter Grow LightsStarter Grow Lights

CFLsCFLsCFLsCFLs or or or or flourescent lightingflourescent lightingflourescent lightingflourescent lighting

Grow A Few Short Plants

It's Hard to Scale Up to More/Bigger Plants With These Types of Lights

Great If You Just Want to "Dip Your Feet" and Try Growing Out

Cheap to Set Up and Maintain

Stealthy - Low Heat, Low Electricity

Compatible With A Very Small Grow Area, Even Inside A Computer Case!

If You Get Serious About Growing, You'll Probably Have to Upgrade to Another

Type of Grow Light (You'll Still Be Able to Use These Lights For Young Plants,

Cloning, and Supplemental Lighting)

Perfect For A Beginner With a Small Budget

For a cheap, small grow of 1-3 plants, for someone who doesn't have a lot of money to spend,

with a small grow area, where, or who just wants to give growing a try, your best choice is either

CFLs (compact flourescent bulbs) or other flourescent lighting (such as the T5 grow light).

Feel free to check out my tutorial that will show you how to start growing marijana with CFLs for less than

$300.

Deluxe Grow LightsDeluxe Grow LightsDeluxe Grow LightsDeluxe Grow Lights

MH / HPS ComboMH / HPS ComboMH / HPS ComboMH / HPS Combo (HID Grow Lights) (HID Grow Lights) (HID Grow Lights) (HID Grow Lights)


4 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

Grow Unlimited Plants Indoors

Very Easy to Maintain Once Set U

These bulbs cannot be plugged into a regular ligh socket; they need a special

hood and balast (usually sold together)

More Heat Produced & More Electricity Used Than Other Grow Lights

Need A Big Space or An Exhuast System to Deal With Heat

Can Be Expensive to Set Up The Grow Area

Most Tried-And-Tested Grow Lights (Growers Have Spent Decades Perfecting

The Process of Growing Marijuana Indoors With HID Grow Lights)

Consistent Big Yields Of Potent Medical-Grade Marijuana

Because People Have Been Growing With These Lights For Years, There Are Lots of

Growing Resources, Making This One Of The Most Problem-Free Ways To Grow

Recommended for Serious Growers Only Due To Setup & Electricity Costs

If you have a bit more money to get started with, a grow space or closet that no one will see,

and the willingness to put a little more time and effort into setting up, than HPS (High Pressure

Sodium) lights, or a combination of Metal Halide and HPS lights, are your best choice.

HPS lights can be used for the whole grow cycle and work really well. You will get even better

results when you use both types of HID lights, MH and HPS.

Use your Metal Halide bulb for the vegetative stage, and the HPS bulb for the flowering stage.

This combination of grow lights closely mimics the sun's natural light during the different

seasons, and is the most tried-and-tested grow light combination for growing marijuana. Many

modern ballasts come with the ability to support both kinds of bulbs.

"Mad Scientist" Grow Lights"Mad Scientist" Grow Lights"Mad Scientist" Grow Lights"Mad Scientist" Grow Lights

LED Grow LightsLED Grow LightsLED Grow LightsLED Grow Lights

Stealthy - Low Heat, Low Electricity

Easy & Cheap To Maintain Once Everything Is Set Up


5 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

High Inital Cost, LED Grow Lights Currently Cost More Than Most Other Grow

Lights

LED Grow Lights Are The Wave of the Future - LED Grow Lights Are More

Efficient Than Other Grow Lights, But...

New Technology - Some LED Grow Lights Work Great, Others Barely Work At

All... It's Important You Choose the Right Model For Growing Marijuana

Can Be Problematic to Get Everything Set Up Properly Since The Technology Is

Constantly Improving/Changing (Don't Worry, GrowWeedEasy.com Will Walk

You Through The Process of Picking the Right LED Grow Light)

LED Grow Lights Continue To Get Better & Better - Marijuana Yields Are Going

Up While Prices Keep Coming Down

For the advanced grower who wants to use the most cutting edge technology, or for those who

desire low heat and low electricity above all else, than LED grow lights are the best choice for

you.

Supplemental Grow LightsSupplemental Grow LightsSupplemental Grow LightsSupplemental Grow Lights

(easily add more light to your grow)(easily add more light to your grow)(easily add more light to your grow)(easily add more light to your grow)

CFLsCFLsCFLsCFLs, , , , flourescent lightingflourescent lightingflourescent lightingflourescent lighting, or , or , or , or induction lightsinduction lightsinduction lightsinduction lights

Low Heat Produced

Low Electricity Used

Simple Maintainance

Perfect for filling in shadowy parts of the plant with more light, or can be used

as side lighting

If you are in a situation where you need a bit more light in a specific place, but don't want to

significantly affect the temperature or your electricity bill, CFLs, flourescent lighting,

or induction lights can be "plugged in" around your plant to give that extra light you need, to

take your yields to the next level.


6 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

And Now For The Complete Marijuana Grow Light Breakdown...And Now For The Complete Marijuana Grow Light Breakdown...And Now For The Complete Marijuana Grow Light Breakdown...And Now For The Complete Marijuana Grow Light Breakdown...

Metal Halide (MH) & High Pressure Sodium (HPS) Lights

The two main types of High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights used for

growing marijuana are Metal HalideMetal HalideMetal HalideMetal Halide and High Pressure Sodium High Pressure Sodium High Pressure Sodium High Pressure Sodium lights.

MH / HPS lights are generally considered the golden standard for growing marijuana.

View Full Step-By-Step Picture Tutorial on How to Set Up

Metal Halide(MH) and High Pressure Sodium (HPS) Grow Lights

HID lights will help you produce great yields. Many growers believe thatMany growers believe thatMany growers believe thatMany growers believe that

the Metal Halide/HPS grow light combination will acheive the bestthe Metal Halide/HPS grow light combination will acheive the bestthe Metal Halide/HPS grow light combination will acheive the bestthe Metal Halide/HPS grow light combination will acheive the best

cannabis yields,cannabis yields,cannabis yields,cannabis yields, though other types of grow lights can be close

contenders.

Though HPS or MH/HPS grow lights consistently producte great yields,

they use more electricity and produce more heat than pretty much any

other type of grow lights. Therefore you will most likely have to set up

fans and ducting to properly vent out all the heat. Some growers even use

these lights to help heat up their homes in the winter.

Metal Halide (MH) lights produce light that has more blues and whites in it

than the sunlight's natural light spectrum, which makes it most suitable

for use during the vegetative stage of your marijuana plants.


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Metal Halide (MH) for the Vegetative StageMetal Halide (MH) for the Vegetative StageMetal Halide (MH) for the Vegetative StageMetal Halide (MH) for the Vegetative Stage

Many growers use Metal Halide lights for the

vegetative stage of their marijuana plants.

Young marijuana plants explode with green, healthy

growth when exposed to MH grow lights.

Metal Halide grow lights can be used for the entire

lifespan of a marijuana plant, but if you must choose

just one, most growers choose to use HPS for the whole grow.

Metal Halide bulbs produce light in the blue spectrum, which mimics the

sunlight during the Spring and Summer, and gives young vegetating

plants exactly what they need.

This blue-tinted light causes your plants to grow fast vegetative growth

(stems, branches, and leaves only), and encourages young plants to grow

short and bushyshort and bushyshort and bushyshort and bushy.

It's possible to skip the Metal Halide bulb and use a High Pressureuse a High Pressureuse a High Pressureuse a High Pressure

Sodium (HPS) bulb for your whole growSodium (HPS) bulb for your whole growSodium (HPS) bulb for your whole growSodium (HPS) bulb for your whole grow. If you can only afford one bulb

and have to choose between MH and HPS, always choose HPS.

HPS grow lights produce light that is perfect for use during the flowering

stage of your marijuana plants. The light that an HPS emits will appear

amber/yellow or even pinkish. HPS bulbs are often used in street lights or

to light huge areas like stadiums.

High Pressure Sodium (HPS) for the Flowering StageHigh Pressure Sodium (HPS) for the Flowering StageHigh Pressure Sodium (HPS) for the Flowering StageHigh Pressure Sodium (HPS) for the Flowering Stage

Most growers who started out with MH switch to High

Pressure Sodium bulbs for the flowering stage.

This takes advantage of the optimal light spectrum

needed by your plants during the flowering stage to

produce big, potent buds.

High Pressure Sodium grow lights produce a pinkish

yellow light with lots of light in the red/orange spectrum.

This yellowish light causes plants to initially stretch upwards in a last

spurt of growth, and from then on to focus all their energy into growing


8 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

buds.

Choosing your MH or HPS Grow LightsChoosing your MH or HPS Grow LightsChoosing your MH or HPS Grow LightsChoosing your MH or HPS Grow Lights

If it's your first time growing with an MH or HPS grow light, I recommend

buying your bulb(s), ballast, and hood (reflector) together as a settogether as a settogether as a settogether as a set, like

the one pictured to the left.

This just makes things easy and lets you focus on growing marijuana

instead of worrying about matching bulbs, ballasts, and hoods together.

The most important thing to remember is that the type of bulb and thethe type of bulb and thethe type of bulb and thethe type of bulb and the

type of ballast always need to match each othertype of ballast always need to match each othertype of ballast always need to match each othertype of ballast always need to match each other. In practice, this is

really easy and clear; you just match up the numbers. More on that in a

second.

For HID grow lights, 150-250 watt bulbs are suitable for 1-3 plants and

will cover an area measuring 3 feet square (3x3).

I generally recommend against getting an HID bulb that is less thanI generally recommend against getting an HID bulb that is less thanI generally recommend against getting an HID bulb that is less thanI generally recommend against getting an HID bulb that is less than

400W400W400W400W, as they're just not efficient and you'll often get better results in

that small a space with CFLs, LEDs, or fluorescent lighting such as a T5.

Many growers choose to get a 400 and 600 watt bulb/ballast which is

suitable for 4-12 plants.

You can get 1000 watt (or more) bulbs, and this is especially common

with high-yield and commercial operations, which can use light movers,

lots of CO2, and other relatively expensive tactics to get more yield out of

a certain small indoor area.

For a small-time grower, it is often more practical to get 400W or 600W

grow lights, as these produce much less heat than 1000W bulbs. If you

need multiples of 400W and 600W MH/HPS grow lights, they can often be

easier to space out evenly in a small grow space than bigger wattage

bulbs.

Of all the different types of HPS lights, the 600W HPS light is the most600W HPS light is the most600W HPS light is the most600W HPS light is the most

efficient as far as how much light they produce for how muchefficient as far as how much light they produce for how muchefficient as far as how much light they produce for how muchefficient as far as how much light they produce for how much

electricity they useelectricity they useelectricity they useelectricity they use.

Still not sure which HID grow light?

Walk me through the process of picking out the right MH or HPS Grow

Light for my situation.

If you must choose just one type of HID lightIf you must choose just one type of HID lightIf you must choose just one type of HID lightIf you must choose just one type of HID light, most growers choose to

use HPS lights from beginning to end of your marijuana plant's life cycle.

Just be gentle during the seedling stage! HPS lights also tend to cause

young vegetative marijuana plants to stretch, so you may want to employ

some growth control methods so your plants grows exactly the way you

want..


9 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

As far as maintenance and setup, Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium

bulbs are pretty much the same.

Show me how to set up my MH/HPS grow lights step-by-step

All HID lights (Metal Halide or HPS) require that you have a...All HID lights (Metal Halide or HPS) require that you have a...All HID lights (Metal Halide or HPS) require that you have a...All HID lights (Metal Halide or HPS) require that you have a...

Ballast Ballast Ballast Ballast (which usually plugs into a standard power socket)

BulbBulbBulbBulb

Hood (reflector) Hood (reflector) Hood (reflector) Hood (reflector)

Optional: Exhaust Optional: Exhaust Optional: Exhaust Optional: Exhaust (usually a fan plus ducting to vent out heat)

These lights need a ballastballastballastballast to control the flow of electricity to the lamp,

which means they can't just be screwed into any sort of regular light

socket.

The hoodhoodhoodhood is used to reflect light down onto the plants, and the nice ones

have features to help you control and properly exhaust your heat.

Because HID lights produce so much heat when in use, almost all growers

will need to get some sort of exhaust or ventilation system.

This is also why most people prefer an

air-cooled hood (pictured to theair-cooled hood (pictured to theair-cooled hood (pictured to theair-cooled hood (pictured to the

right).right).right).right).

An air-cooled hood allows you to

easily set up a fan to move all the hot

air away from the lights (and out a

window or other direct connection to

the outside).

It's easiest to buy the whole HID

system together as one unit instead of


10 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

buying all the pieces separately. There's nothing more frustrating than

trying to fit parts together that just don't quite work!

By the whole system I mean the bulb, ballast and hood (reflector).By the whole system I mean the bulb, ballast and hood (reflector).By the whole system I mean the bulb, ballast and hood (reflector).By the whole system I mean the bulb, ballast and hood (reflector).

You can purchase a system that suits all your needs, and you can be

confident that everything will fit together properly.

I strongly recommend against against against against buying a used light system to save a few bucks.

Some growers don't take good care of their lights. Additionally, after HID

bulbs have been used for a while, they will start to consume more

electricity while also producing less light.

When this happens, you will need to replace the bulbs anyway.

Why start with someone else's half-used equipment?

There are many cheap options available for new, high-quality equipment,

but you need to know the right places to look.

Help me find the right MH or HPS grow light for my budget

Compact Florescent Lights (CFLs)

The term "CFL" is short for "Compact Florescent Light."

These lights are commonly sold at home improvement

stores, and even in grocery stores.

Many people don't realize that these regular household light

bulbs actually provide a spectrum of light that your

cannabis plants can use to grow!

You will need two or three 42w(150w incandescent equivalent) CFLs per

plant to startto startto startto start.

These lights are easily found at stores such as Home Depot and Walmart,

or that can be purchased online.

You can get lower or higher wattage bulbs, but I like bulbs close to the

40w range because they produce a lot of light, but are still a small,

manageable size.


11 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

Read tutorial on how to grow weed with CFLs

Some of the bigger CFL bulbs (especially the ones over 80W) start to

produce a lot of heat. If you're going to grow a lot of plants, or really big

plants, you may want to upgrade to an MH/HPS combo as CFLs are really

only suitable for a small grow of 1-3 marijuana plants.

By the time your plants have started flowering, you may need to get more

CFL bulbs per each plant to fill in any 'shadowed areas' up to maybe 2 or

3 more CFL bulbs per plant.

Basically, when you're deciding how many lights to get, you want to focus

on making sure the plant has 'full coverage' more than you really care

about a certain number of lights or watts.

If the plant is brightly lit wherever there are green leaves, then you're

good. If there are any 'shadowed' areas, then you know that your plant

needs more lights.

It's optimal to use 'daylight' (6500k) colored bulbs for the vegetative stage

and 'soft white' (2700k) colored bulbs for flowering (though you can use

either kind during either stage and your plant will come out fine). I like to

use a mix to make sure my plants get a full spectrum of light.

If you must choose just one "color" of CFL bulb, it's best to go with all Soft

White (2700K) as this works fine in the vegetative stage and does a great

job to promote budding in the flowering stage.

I recommend getting some heavy duty clamp light sockets which you can

use to power your light bulbs.

These light sockets are able to clamp to most anything and they come

with a reflector for your lights.

When looking for clamp light sockets, avoid anything

that's made of plastic (it's cheap and will break if it

doesn't melt) and try to find something with at least a

9 foot long cord.


12 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

You'd be surprised at how annoying it is to try to find

a way to make a 6 foot cord work.

To maximize the light your plants are getting, you can use a light socket

extender and a twin light socket adapter to fit two lights per each clamp

light socket (without the extender, they probably won't fit).

Setting up 2-4 lights per socket can often be cheaper than buying an

individual light socket for each light, especially if you buy online. It also is

really convenient for arranging around your plant.

Read step-by-step tutorial on how to grow marijuana with CFLs

T5 Grow Lights & Other Fluorescent Lighting

A few years ago, the only real use for

fluorescent tube lighting was as a

supplement to your cannabis plants, or to

be used for young seedlings and clones

only.

In recent years, we've seen the creation of

new high-light-output versions of

fluorescent grow lights which can actually

be used through the entire vegetative

stage.

Some growers even use fluroescent grow lights such as the T5

successfully to flower their plants (if the plants are kept short/small

enough through growth control methods).

In general, I recommend changing to stronger grow lights for the

flowering stage, or to supplement you fluorescent tubes with additional

light during the flowering stage.

For example, after your plants have entered the flowering stage, you

could supplement their light with a few CFL(compact fluorescent light)

bulbs wherever you notice any "shadowy" areas.

The biggest problem with fluorescent tubing is that the light that they

give off is only useful for about a foot or so.


13 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

Any part of the plant that is further away then 1-2 feet from the

fluorescent grow lights is not getting an optimum amount of light.

With the new high output lights such as the T5With the new high output lights such as the T5With the new high output lights such as the T5With the new high output lights such as the T5, fluorescent lights can

be used until the plants are about 24 inches tall, which is just enough to

grow a very short plant through to the flowering stage when you control

your marijuana plant's growth through the vegetative stage.

The great thing about fluorescent grow lights is that

they don't get hot at all, and they can be kept 1-4

inches from the tops of the plants at all times without

having to worry about burning your cannabis leaves

or buds.

The other great thing about fluorescent lights is that they are moremoremoremore

energy efficientenergy efficientenergy efficientenergy efficient than many other types of lights, and therefore won't

make a huge mark on your electricity bill.

There are many different levels of fluorescent grow lights including the

T5, the T8 and the T12. I strongly suggest sticking with the T5 style of

fluorescent grow lights because they are the most advanced, give off the

most amount of light per watt used, and are specifically designed to be

able to support taller plants up to 24 inches.

For optimal results, choose fluorescent light bulbs that are labeled either

as "Cool White" or "Cool" colored for vegetative growth (Cool White is also

labeled as "6500k" colored.

Choose bulbs that are "Warm White" or "Soft White" colored (usually

labeled as "2500K" or "3000K") for flowering growth.

However, you can use either type of lights during either stage and still get

good results. I have also heard of people using "Daylight" (5000K) bulbs

with success.

Check to see that the bulbs you are getting are labeled as "High Output."

This ensures that you're getting the most lumens (light) from your bulbs.

LED Grow Lights

You may or may not know about the LED grow lightLED grow lightLED grow lightLED grow light craze among

marijuana growers.

LED grow lights use less energy and generate much less heat than

standard HID grow lights, so there's good reason for all the attention.

Today, I'll be answering the following questions:

Why is there so much controversy about whether LED grow lightsWhy is there so much controversy about whether LED grow lightsWhy is there so much controversy about whether LED grow lightsWhy is there so much controversy about whether LED grow lights

even work?even work?even work?even work?

1.


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Which companies, if any, have the best LED grow lightsWhich companies, if any, have the best LED grow lightsWhich companies, if any, have the best LED grow lightsWhich companies, if any, have the best LED grow lights

(specifically for growing marijuana)?(specifically for growing marijuana)?(specifically for growing marijuana)?(specifically for growing marijuana)?

2.

Some people say LEDs work great for growing marijuana, while others

claim LED grow lights are junk and can't be used to grow anything.

The truth is that both sides are right.

Now, I'm talking about grow lights made of light emitting diodeslight emitting diodeslight emitting diodeslight emitting diodes,

commonly known as LEDs. You may have seen ads for these lights, which

often resemble UFOs, and claim to be the growing technology of the

future.

First invented in 1927, no one could find any practical use for these tiny

lights until 1962, when LEDs first hit the scene in 1962 as glowing red

indicators on electronics.

After that, LED development has proceeded rapidly.

LEDs, which were originally tiny and dim, have doubled in efficiency anddoubled in efficiency anddoubled in efficiency anddoubled in efficiency and

light output about once every 36 monthslight output about once every 36 monthslight output about once every 36 monthslight output about once every 36 months since the 1960s.

As you probably know, humans have tried growing plants with just about

every type of artificial light we've ever created, and LEDs are no

exception.

Which has all led to the development of LED grow lightsLED grow lightsLED grow lightsLED grow lights.

At first, no one could successfully grow anything using LEDs. Each

individual LED is relatively small and produces only a specific

wavelength(color) of light, and we couldn't seem to successfully replicate

the proper strength and color of sunlight.

But through trial and error, we've now developed some wickedly effective

LED grow lights.

And LED grow light systems have some pretty sweet benefits:And LED grow light systems have some pretty sweet benefits:And LED grow light systems have some pretty sweet benefits:And LED grow light systems have some pretty sweet benefits:

Extremely efficient, using less electricity than other grow lights

LED light systems run cool and many models do not need anything extra to control heat

Most LED light systems can be plugged directly into a regular power outlet, and don't

need a ballast or special light socket like many other grow lights.

Some growers claims that marijuana buds grown under LEDs contain more THC and other


15 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

cannabinoids (which may be because marijuana produces stronger buds when slightly

stressed)

Now, it's been proven that LEDs can be used to grow marijuana plants

from the beginning to the end of their life cycle.

I know this is true because I have personally have grown marijuana plants

from seed to harvest with a Lighthouse Hydro BlackStar 135 Watt LED

grow light system.

My search for LEDs started because I live in an area where heat can be an

issue. I am also a small scale grower who would like to still have a

presentable house for guests.

Where I was living at the time, I didn't want to have install ducting for

ventilation or anything like that, which made HID lights pretty much out of

the question for me.

Based on the experiences of some of my fellow growers, I

discovered many LED grow light systems just don't work for growingmany LED grow light systems just don't work for growingmany LED grow light systems just don't work for growingmany LED grow light systems just don't work for growing

marijuana.marijuana.marijuana.marijuana.

After doing some research, I got my Lighthouse Hydro BlackStar 135

Watt LED grow light in 2012. I got a second one a few months later, I've

grown 3 crops in total under just these BlackStar panels, growing two

small plants under each UFO LED Grow Light panel.

My yields under the Lighthouse Hydro Blackstar were a bit smaller than

normal and throughout the grow my plant leaves appeared a bit beat up

(got occasional spots, brown marks, and other signs of light stress,

especially the leaves close to the LEDS), but the buds produced with the

Lighthouse Hydro Blackstar were always dank, ultra-poten and stickydank, ultra-poten and stickydank, ultra-poten and stickydank, ultra-poten and sticky.

The incredible quality of the buds kept me trying to find ways to up the

total yields.

Plus I was saving money on my electricity bill (electricity use with the

Lighthouse Hydro Blackstar LED Grow Light was minimal), and there was

no heat to speak of, which really simplified the heat situation in my tiny,

tiny closet.

I was pretty satisfied with the results.

Then I had the pleasure of running into other growers who have usedThen I had the pleasure of running into other growers who have usedThen I had the pleasure of running into other growers who have usedThen I had the pleasure of running into other growers who have used

specific models of LED grow lights that work FANTASTICspecific models of LED grow lights that work FANTASTICspecific models of LED grow lights that work FANTASTICspecific models of LED grow lights that work FANTASTIC.

So LED grow lights can work, but at the same time, it is true that some

work much better than others. And there really are dishonest companies

out there who probably just slapped together a bunch of LEDs, which no

consideration to what's really needed to grow a plant, and these LED grow

lights will never grow anything, no matter what you do.


16 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

Not too long ago..Not too long ago..Not too long ago..Not too long ago..

LED grow lights used to always come as a panel with several 1 watt LED bubs. So in the old days, if you got a 90W LED grow

light, it used to have 90 1W LED bulbs.

These days, it's much more common to see LED grow lights with an array

of 3W and 5W bulbs.

Something to keep in mind is that the "real" energy output of LEDs is

actually only 2/3 of the stated output. In other words, a "3W" LED really

only puts out 2W. That's why you'll sometimes see confusing numbers

like a 90W LED Grow light (with 45 X 3W LEDs).

These 3W and 5W LED bulbs are widely considered to have deeper

penetration than the old-fashioned 1W bulbs. Therefore it's

recommended that you get an LED grow light with 3W bulbs or bigger.

While each individual bulb doesn't produce a

whole lot of light, LED bulbs can be

manufactured to produce light that is in the

spectrum that the plant needs to grow.

With other grow lights, while they may be

powerful, but a lot of the light produced is in a

spectrum that the plant just can't use to grow.

Because the newer LED grow lights are being made to produce only the

needed light spectrum without all that extra, they use very little

electricity.

The main benefit of LED lights is they can be more efficient thanThe main benefit of LED lights is they can be more efficient thanThe main benefit of LED lights is they can be more efficient thanThe main benefit of LED lights is they can be more efficient than

other grow lights, meaning they use less energy and produce lessother grow lights, meaning they use less energy and produce lessother grow lights, meaning they use less energy and produce lessother grow lights, meaning they use less energy and produce less

heat.heat.heat.heat.

However, LED grow lights are relatively new, and they have a pretty poor

reputation on the internet for growing marijuana. Some people seem to

report good results with LEDs, while others claim they don't work at all.

The truth is that some models work great, while others just don't work for

growing marijuana. It's hard to tell which is which unless you just try the

different models.

I live in an area where heat can be an issue and I am also a small scale

grower who would like to still have a presentable house for guests.

When I first started growing, I didn't want to have install ducting for

ventilation or anything like that, which made HID lights pretty much out of

the question for me.

I wanted to have neat and easy grows in my

closet.

That's what first attracted me to CFLs, which are


17 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

great for the small-scale home grower.

However, even CFLs were sometimes producing

enough heat to warm up my small grow spaces,

especially when I started getting

bigger 105W CFL bulbs in an attempt to step up my growing game (not

recomended!).

Still not wanting to have to invest in an exhaust system, I became

interested in LED grow lights because they seemed to be even better than

CFLs as far as heat output and electricity use.

Another thing that attracted me to LEDs had to do with how far away the

lights needed to be from the plants.

One of the nuisances with CFLs is that you need to keep the bulbs only

2-4 inches away from the plant at all times for optimal growth. If the bulb

is further away, your plants don't get much usable light. If the lights are

closer than 2 inches, they will literally burn the leaves of the plants

because of the heat of the bulb.

Having to keep your lights in the 2-4 inch distance range can be

inconvenient if your plants are growing rapidly or if you need to be away

from your plants for a few days.

Because LEDs barely produce any heat, it doesn't matter as much if the

plant grows into the lights because the LEDs don't produce enough heat

to burn the leaves.

Because of all the benefits, I knew that I needed to at least try an LED

grow light panel.

See an entire grow (seed to harvest) with LED grow lightsSee an entire grow (seed to harvest) with LED grow lightsSee an entire grow (seed to harvest) with LED grow lightsSee an entire grow (seed to harvest) with LED grow lights

(FOR SERIOUS GROWERS ONLY)(FOR SERIOUS GROWERS ONLY)(FOR SERIOUS GROWERS ONLY)(FOR SERIOUS GROWERS ONLY)

The grower from the above journal above uses a Pro-Grow LED grow

light, one of the more expensive (and highest-quality) LED grow

lights available for medical marijuana.

The Pro-Grow X5 is one of the few LED grow lights

specifically tested for growing marijuana

For those of us who can't afford to spend hundreds of dollars on LED


18 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

grow lights...

I would like to share a cheaper brand of LED Grow Light that has also been proven to workcheaper brand of LED Grow Light that has also been proven to workcheaper brand of LED Grow Light that has also been proven to workcheaper brand of LED Grow Light that has also been proven to work

great for growing marijuanagreat for growing marijuanagreat for growing marijuanagreat for growing marijuana, so you can skip the trial and error.

Lighthouse Hydro BlackStar 135W LED Grow LightLighthouse Hydro BlackStar 135W LED Grow LightLighthouse Hydro BlackStar 135W LED Grow LightLighthouse Hydro BlackStar 135W LED Grow Light

(3W Chipset)

Learn more about the Hydro Blackstar

Hydro BlackStar Verdict:

Great for the small-scale grower who wants to grow 1-2 plants in

a closet

Price:Price:Price:Price: About $180

ProsProsProsPros: Low heat, low electricity use, 1 year warranty, incredible quality of

buds produced (seriously the potency is 10/10), can grow two plants with

one Hydro Blackstar panel

ConsConsConsCons: Smaller-than-average yields, somewhat airy buds, any leaves

closer than 15" to the light can show signs of light stress.

Here are some pictures of the plants which were grown primarily under

the Hydro Blackstar panel. The top three show the plants a month before

harvest, and the bottom two photos are from the day of the harvest. The

purple pictures show what the buds look like under the LED lights. Click

on any of the thumbnails to see a bigger version!

Close-up of the trichromes on one the buds growing under the

135W Blackstar LED Grow Light Panel (3W chipset)

See a complete medical marijuana grow under LED grow lights


19 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

Induction Grow Lights

(Magnetic Induction or Plasma Grow Lights)

Read full article on induction grow lights for marijuana

There are many different induction grow lightsinduction grow lightsinduction grow lightsinduction grow lights appearing on the market

today. These “new” grow lights are supposedly longer-lasting and more

efficient than any other grow light.

But what are induction grow lights, and do the claims live up to the hype?

Induction lights are unique because they use inductioninductioninductioninduction

or electromagnetic fieldselectromagnetic fieldselectromagnetic fieldselectromagnetic fields to transfer power instead of electrical

connection or electrodes.

This technology has recently become more popular in recent years, but

has actually been around for a long time. The idea of electrodeless lights

(induction lighting) came from the famous inventor Nikola TeslaNikola TeslaNikola TeslaNikola Tesla in the

late 1800s.

Lights that this technology are called by many names, depending on the

company and how the light gets put together.

Some names for induction lighting include...

full spectrum plasma lights

sulphur plasma grow lights

MPS grow lights

sulphur lamps

High Efficiency Plasma lamps

HEP lighting

magnetic induction grow lights

electrodeless lamp

electrodeless vacuum tube

fluorescent induction lamps

and probably lots of other names...

Biggest Benefits of Induction Grow LightsBiggest Benefits of Induction Grow LightsBiggest Benefits of Induction Grow LightsBiggest Benefits of Induction Grow Lights

No electrodes means a longer life: Induction Grow Lights can

theoretically be run for up to 100,000 hours

Induction lights don’t lose light intensity as fast as MH or HPS grow

lights, they stay close to their full initial brightness even after

running for tens of thousands of hours.

Because these lights last for so long, they are popular for stadium

lighting, street lights, and other types of lighting where bulbs are

difficult or expensive to replace

Yet are the new generation of induction grow lights ready forYet are the new generation of induction grow lights ready forYet are the new generation of induction grow lights ready forYet are the new generation of induction grow lights ready for


20 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

growing marijuana?growing marijuana?growing marijuana?growing marijuana?

There are two major types of induction grow lights:

Plasma sulfur induction lights

Fluorescent induction lights (magnetic induction grow lights)

Sulphur Plasma Induction Grow LightSulphur Plasma Induction Grow LightSulphur Plasma Induction Grow LightSulphur Plasma Induction Grow Light

I first covered these in 2010. Read my full 2010 review on plasma sulphur

grow lights, which is still surprisingly relevant today as the technology has

remained unchanged.

At that time, a 250W plasma grow light was going for about $1000, and

they weren’t even as effective for growing marijuana as a $150 T5 Grow

Light that used less electricity.

There have been some improvements to plasma sulfur grow lights, in an

attempt to generate light that is more useful for growing plants, but I

don’t believe the technology has significantly changed.

Plasma grow lights just are not ready for marijuana growing primetime.

In fact, it seems like plasma induction grow lights have fallen off the

growing marijuana radar in the last few years as the initial hype died

away.

Yet during that time, magnetic induction grow lights have recently

become “the next new thing” in grow light technology...

Magnetic Induction Grow LightsMagnetic Induction Grow LightsMagnetic Induction Grow LightsMagnetic Induction Grow Lights

Magnetic Induction grow lights seem to be the “hot” type of induction

grow lights on the market today.

The reports I’ve been receiving seem to indicate that the current magnetic

induction grow lights work in situations where fluorescent grow lights

work well. This is because a magnetic induction grow light is basically an

“electrodeless” fluorescent light.

In other words, magnetic induction grow lights are almost the same thing

as a regular fluorescent light (like a T5 or CFLs), only the use induction

instead of electrodes to supply energy to the bulb.

This means that these lights will last longer than fluorescent grow lights,

with few other major benefits.

Magnetic induction grow lights seem to work very well as a supplement to

sunlight or other grow lights, or can be used by themselves.

Should You Go Out and Invest In Magnetic Induction Grow Lights?Should You Go Out and Invest In Magnetic Induction Grow Lights?Should You Go Out and Invest In Magnetic Induction Grow Lights?Should You Go Out and Invest In Magnetic Induction Grow Lights?

Remember, magnetic induction grow lights are basically the same thing as

fluorescent lights without electrodes. No matter what sellers try to say

otherwise, don’t fall for some of the outrageous marketing claims!


21 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

If you’re looking for a magical grow light that doesn’t produce any heat,

uses next to no electricity, and produces humongous yields compared to

LEDs, MH, or HPS grow lights, then you’re kidding yourself. Magnetic

induction grow lights just aren’t what you’re looking for.

But...

If you’re looking for a type of grow light that is low heat, uses a relatively

low amount of electricity, has a good form factor for your grow area and

you hate replacing your fluorescent bulbs, than magnetic induction grow

lights may be the right choice for you.

Learn more about induction lighting for growing marijuana!

I hope that helps you as much as it would have helped me when I first

looked into grow lights!

If you haven't started growing marijuana yet, today is the day!

Our one-of-a-kind 2-page Stealth Growers Cheat Sheet will teach you

everything you need to know to discretely start growing a few pounds of

marijuana a year, out of a spare closet.

Click here to learn how to grow weed and download your cheatClick here to learn how to grow weed and download your cheatClick here to learn how to grow weed and download your cheatClick here to learn how to grow weed and download your cheat

sheetsheetsheetsheet: http://growweedeasy.com/learn-how-to-grow-weed

If you run into any problems while you're growing marijuanarun into any problems while you're growing marijuanarun into any problems while you're growing marijuanarun into any problems while you're growing marijuana, you

don't have to figure everything out alone. Use our handy marijuana

problem picture guide to quickly diagnose your

plant: http://growweedeasy.com/marijuana-symptoms-pictures

About the Author: Nebula Haze

In response to the need for more tutorials aimed at new growers,

Nebula co-founded GrowWeedEasy.com in 2008 with fellow

grower Sirius Fourside.

Since then, Nebula has published dozens of growing articles in

print and online, stars in online video lessons, and continues to

dedicate herself to serving the needs of the medical marijuana

growing community.

"My mission is to show other medical marijuana patients how easy and fun it can be to grow pounds of

killer weed out of your closet."

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22 of 24 8/12/2013 11:51 PM

FOR SERIOUS GROWERS ONLYFOR SERIOUS GROWERS ONLYFOR SERIOUS GROWERS ONLYFOR SERIOUS GROWERS ONLY You've told me you're looking for a complete guide to growing marijuana thatcovers everything, from beginner to ultra-advanced. And picking the right grow lights is just one technique to getting seriously killerharvests. If you want to learn ALL the secrets... Learn from the best! Invest in the most advanced Grow Bible Available: Invest in the most advanced Grow Bible Available: Invest in the most advanced Grow Bible Available: Invest in the most advanced Grow Bible Available: Growing Elite Marijuana + 6bonuses (including one-of-a-kind comprehensive strain guide) Total care explained step-by-step... indoors... outdoors... Monster cropping... advanced growth control... bud production secrets... andmuch, much more... Over 700 pages of pictures, tutorials and advanced insider tips!Over 700 pages of pictures, tutorials and advanced insider tips!Over 700 pages of pictures, tutorials and advanced insider tips!Over 700 pages of pictures, tutorials and advanced insider tips! Get Instant AccessInstant AccessInstant AccessInstant Access to It All Right Here: GrowWeedEasy.com/growing-elite-marijuana I thought I already knew it all, but after I went through this grow bible, Idiscovered that there were still lots of easy ways I could increase my yields andgrow even more potent buds! I find myself going back to it again and again fornew ideas. -Nebula

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Grow Light Guide

Horticultural lighting systems allow you to extend the growing season by providing your plants with an

indoor equivalent to sunlight. This is a great advantage for those of you who appreciate having a

year-round supply of fresh flowers, veggies and herbs. Artificial lighting is also a great way to jump-start

spring by starting your seedlings months ahead of the last frost. There are three main types of horticultural

lighting systems. HID (High Intensity Discharge) Lighting

HID lighting is the most efficient way to convert electricity into light that is available to the consumer. There

are two types of HID grow lights used for horticultural lighting:

HID Light Efficiency

One 1000 watt HPS bulb

puts out as much light as111 incandescent 100 watt bulbs.

One 400 watt MH bulb

puts out as much light as

20 fluorescent 40 watt tubes.

Metal Halide - MH

Metal halide bulbs produce an abundance of light in the blue spectrum. This color of light promotes plant

growth and is excellent for green leafy growth and keeping plants compact. It is the best type of light to be

used as a primary light source (if no or little natural sunlight is available). The average lifespan is about

10,000 cumulative hours. The bulb will light up beyond this time but due to the gradual decline of light, it is

not worth your while to wait for the bulb to finally burn out. If you compare their lumen (brightness) per unit

of energy consumed, metal halides produce up to 125 lumens per watt compared to 39 lumens per watt

with fluorescent lights and 18 lumens per watt for standard incandescent bulbs.

High Pressure Sodium - HPS

High pressure sodium bulbs emit an orange-red glow. This band of light triggers hormones in plants to

increase flowering/budding in plants. They are the best lights available for secondary or supplemental

lighting (used in conjunction with natural sunlight). This is ideal for greenhouse growing applications.

Not only is this a great flowering light, it has two features that make it a more economical choice. Their

average lifespan is twice that of metal halides, but after 18,000 hours of use, they will start to draw more

electricity than their rated watts while gradually producing less light. HPS bulbs are very efficient. They

produce up to 140 lumens per watt. Their disadvantage is they are deficient in the blue spectrum. If a

gardener were to start a young plant under a HPS bulb, she/he would see impressive vertical growth. In

fact, probably too impressive. Most plants would grow up thin and lanky and in no time you will have to

Cannabis Lighting Types and Intensities http://growinghelp.com/cannabis/lightguide_guide.php

2 of 4 8/9/2013 5:07 PM

prune your plant back before it grows into the light fixture. The exception to this is using a HPS light in a

greenhouse. Sunlight is high in the blue spectrum which would offset any stretching caused by HPS bulbs.

HID Light Output Primary Growing AreaSupplemental Growing Area

100 watts 2' x 2'3' x 3'

250 watts 3' x 3'4' x 4'

400 watts 4' x 4'6' x 6'

600 watts 6' x 6'8' x 8'

1000 watts 8' x 8' 12' x 12'

HID Lighting Helpful Tips

.Hanging height: Due to the heat that is emitted from these types of fixtures, you should hang them

according to size. Smaller wattage systems (100 and 250) should be hung about 2 to 3 feet from the

top of the plants. Medium wattage systems (400 and 600) should be hung around 4 feet from the top

of the plants. High wattage systems (1000 and up) should be placed at least 4 to 6 feet from the plant tops.

.How long should lights run? This depends on the type of plant. Most plants and vegetables need

about 10 to 12 hours of light to promote growth. Plants that produce fruits or flowers will show

improvement with up to 16 hours a day of supplemental light.

Fluorescent Lighting

This type of light is perfect for starts and seedlings. They are also popular for growing low-light plants like

herbs and African violets. Fluorescent lights are low intensity and need to be placed within 8" (up to 15" for

shade loving plants) of the plants to be effective. They are a poor light source for flowering and budding

primarily because of their low lumen output.

Incandescent Lighting

These lights are also good for starts and seedlings and provide an inexpensive alternative to HID lights,

because they do not require a ballast. These lights are only good for individual plants or small groups of

plants because of their low lumen output and limited range. The Cost to Run a Lighting System

To get the operating cost per hour for a light, take the lights combined wattage, and divide it by 1000 to get

the kilowatts used. Then multiply that number by the amount your electric company charges per kilowatt

hour. HID lights will use the number of watts it emits per hour, ie; 600w system will use 600 watts per hour

(regardless of spectrum).

(light wattage output / 1000) x electricity cost per kilowatt hour = Operating cost per hour


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operating cost per hour x hours used per month = Operating cost per month

How the Sunlight Effects Plant Growth

200 - 280

nm

UVC ultraviolet range which is extremely harmful to plants because it is highly toxic.

280 - 315

nm

Includes harmful UVB ultraviolet light which causes plants colors to fade.

315 - 380

nm

Range of UVA ultraviolet light which is neither harmful nor beneficial to plant growth.

380 - 400

nm

Start of visible light spectrum. Process of chlorophyll absorption begins. UV protected

plastics ideally block out any light below this range.

400 - 520

nm

This range includes violet, blue, and green bands. Peak absorption by chlorophyll occurs,

and a strong influence on photosynthesis. (promotes vegetative growth)

520 - 610

nm

This range includes the green, yellow, and orange bands and has less absorption by

pigments.

610 - 720

nm

This is the red band. Large amount of absorption by chlorophyll occurs, and most

significant influence on photosynthesis. (promotes flowering and budding)

720 -

1000 nm

There is little absorption by chlorophyll here. Flowering and germination is influenced. At the

high end of the band is infrared, which is heat.

1000+ nm

CANNABIS LIGHT GUIDE


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Easy Beginner Grow Cannabis Guide w/CFL Grow Lights | How to GrowMarijuana

This easy indoor hydroponic cannabis grow guide uses common CFL

bulbs as grow lights and forgiving coco coir as a growing medium. It's

designed for the beginner beginner beginner beginner as a cheap and easy way to introduce yourself

to growing marijuana.

Growing weed doesn't have to be hard!Growing weed doesn't have to be hard!Growing weed doesn't have to be hard!Growing weed doesn't have to be hard!

Startup Cost:Startup Cost:Startup Cost:Startup Cost: Around $300 to get started

Maintenance Cost:Maintenance Cost:Maintenance Cost:Maintenance Cost: $50/month

What to expect: What to expect: What to expect: What to expect: 1 ounce/plant (if you don't run into

problems), up to about 8 ounces/plant.

Recomended for: Recomended for: Recomended for: Recomended for: People who need a few ounces of

weed a month and want a super cheap, super easy,

"low-maintenance" grow style.

Don't be fooled just because it's easy. Even

though I was a complete beginnercomplete beginnercomplete beginnercomplete beginner when I

started, I ended up getting 6.2 ounces6.2 ounces6.2 ounces6.2 ounces of

dried buds off my very first cannabisoff my very first cannabisoff my very first cannabisoff my very first cannabis

plantplantplantplant from my very first grow, which I grew using this system! (Pics

below)

It helps to use a high-yielding strain (Northern Lights is great because it's

high-yielding, tends to grows short, and is low odor).

I still grow this way today in a spare cupboard and I get an average of get an average of get an average of get an average of

8-14 ounces of dried buds off each plant8-14 ounces of dried buds off each plant8-14 ounces of dried buds off each plant8-14 ounces of dried buds off each plant, though I use advanced

growth control techniques to take advantage of the great light that CFLs

produce within 2-8" of the bulb.

These results are not typical for your first try unless you've put in a lot of

extra research and really watch and tend to your plants throughout your

grow. Which brings me to my next point..

This method is not for everyone!This method is not for everyone!This method is not for everyone!This method is not for everyone!

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Easy Beginner Grow Cannabis Guide w/ CFL Grow Lights | How t... http://growweedeasy.com/easiest-grow-method-cfl-coco-coir

1 of 11 8/12/2013 11:52 PM

That's because growing weed with CFLs isn't the highest yielding method.

It's not suitable for a large grow, and it's not going to work if you aren't

willing to watch over your plants.

But it's super cheapsuper cheapsuper cheapsuper cheap, super easysuper easysuper easysuper easy, and if you just need a few ounces ofjust need a few ounces ofjust need a few ounces ofjust need a few ounces of

dried budsdried budsdried budsdried buds a month, it's the perfect "low-maintenance" way to growperfect "low-maintenance" way to growperfect "low-maintenance" way to growperfect "low-maintenance" way to grow

weedweedweedweed.

I think it would be safe to assume that even a beginner can expect to get

1-4 ounces of dried buds if you just follow these instructions. Even if you

mess up (and you will), you'll still get at least that if you can get your

plants to harvest.

Here's a pic of my very first grow using this method! Here's a pic of my very first grow using this method! Here's a pic of my very first grow using this method! Here's a pic of my very first grow using this method!

You will be growing your marijuana plants indoors in a soil-less medium

called Coconut Coir (often called coco coir, or even just coir). Coco coir is

a natural fiber made from the husk of coconuts that naturally stimulates

the roots of plants and is forgiving when growing marijuana.

For feeding (water plus nutrients), you will hand-water them whenever

your plants get dry and you will provide them with all the nutrients they

need right in their water.

For lights, all you need are some cheap CFLs (Compact

Florescent Lights) like the ones you get from your local

hardware store.

These common bulbs are much more efficient than old

fashioned light bulbs (which can't be used to grow

plants) and CFLs don't use much electricity or produce as much heat

compared to some other grow lights.

For a stealth marijuana grow inside a tinyl space, nothing can beat CFLs as

marijuana grow lights.

Because CFLs have a short light range (8 inch max) theis tutorial works

best for growing plants that are kept shorter than 3-4 feetgrowing plants that are kept shorter than 3-4 feetgrowing plants that are kept shorter than 3-4 feetgrowing plants that are kept shorter than 3-4 feet. You want

Submit


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to focus on training your plants to grow wide instead of tall.

That means you will choose either...

A compact grow when you keep your marijuana plants small and

harvest often OR

A controlled grow where you allow your plants to get bigger / wider,

but you maximize the CFL light range by training your marijuana

plants to grow short and bushy

You can still get at least a couple of ounces off each plant, even when

plants are kept short and you will be able to harvest your crop in only 3-4

months.

This system reduces many of the problems associated with an indoor soil

grow, and is also much easier than almost any other hydroponic style

grow.

It is a great way to learn about how marijuana plants grow and after doing

one harvest yourself, I guarantee that you will start getting millions of

ideas on how you want to do your next grow.

Pros of Growing Marijuana with CFL Grow LIghts and Coco CoirPros of Growing Marijuana with CFL Grow LIghts and Coco CoirPros of Growing Marijuana with CFL Grow LIghts and Coco CoirPros of Growing Marijuana with CFL Grow LIghts and Coco Coir

Cheap and easy to start

Cheap and easy to maintain even for a complete beginner

Forgiving way to learn how to grow weed

Perfect for growing 1-2 plants

Will produce a smokable harvest in 3-4 months

Get 1-8 ounces/plant (harvest yields depend mostly on two things:

how big you grow your plant and the light intensity you provide to

the buds during the flowering stage)

High quality bud since the plant is fed hydroponically

Best method for a very small grow space

Can be used with any strain of marijuana, whether it was started

with seeds or clones

ConsConsConsCons of Growing Marijuana with CFL Grow LIghts and Coco Coir of Growing Marijuana with CFL Grow LIghts and Coco Coir of Growing Marijuana with CFL Grow LIghts and Coco Coir of Growing Marijuana with CFL Grow LIghts and Coco Coir

CFL grow lights are not cost effective when growing more thannot cost effective when growing more thannot cost effective when growing more thannot cost effective when growing more than

1-2 flowering marijuana plants1-2 flowering marijuana plants1-2 flowering marijuana plants1-2 flowering marijuana plants at a time, if you're growing more

than a handful of plants, you'll probably want to invest in a LED Grow

Light or an even brighter marijuana grow light to supplement your

light intensity, instead of just trying to add more CFLs.

Hand-watering plants is simple, but can be a pain if you have a lot

of plants OR very small pots (which need to be watered more often)

You have to adjust your CFL bulbs 1-2 times a week, as your plants

will be rapidly growing into them

For best results and to be able to harvest several ounces/plant with

this method, you will need invest your time to learn how to keep

your marijuana plant short with basic marijuana growth control

techniques


3 of 11 8/12/2013 11:52 PM

This is really a perfect way to grow your first harvest if you "just want to

get your feet wet" because it's so forgiving and you will really learn an

incredible amount about growing by using this method.

I used this technique for my first grow, and even though I made a lot of

mistakes, my plants produced great buds.

.

What you will need

Marijuana Marijuana Marijuana Marijuana SeedsSeedsSeedsSeeds or or or or ClonesClonesClonesClones

High-quality hydroponic nutrientsHigh-quality hydroponic nutrientsHigh-quality hydroponic nutrientsHigh-quality hydroponic nutrients which are designed for

marijuana. I recommend Fox Farms Hydroponic Liquid Nutrient trio

since that's what I exclusively used with good results on my first

grow. Another good choice is Canna Coco Nutrient A & B which is a

two part system made specifically for coco coir. You can usually find

these brands of nutrients at any hydroponic store which is usually

going to be cheaper than purchasing online if you count the price of

shipping.

PotsPotsPotsPots to plant your marijuana in. I recommend getting pots that are

2-3 gallons each. Only get 5 gallon pots if you need to be able to go

a long time without watering or if you want to grow tall plants.

Coco coirCoco coirCoco coirCoco coir (and perliteperliteperliteperlite if you'd like) which can be purchased online

or at a hydroponic garden store, Sometimes you can find a soilless

mix that already has both coco coir and perlite in it.

CFLs (Compact Florescent Lights)CFLs (Compact Florescent Lights)CFLs (Compact Florescent Lights)CFLs (Compact Florescent Lights). You will need about two

40w(150w incandescent equivalent) CFLs per plant to start. These

lights are easily found at the store or online. You can get different

wattage bulbs, but I like bulbs close to the 40w range because they

are a small, manageable size but still produce a lot of light. By the

time your cannabis is flowering, you may need to get more bulbs to

fill in any 'shadowed areas' up to maybe two or three more lights per

plant. It's optimal to use 'daylight' (6500k) colored bulbs for the

vegetative stage and 'soft white' (2500k) colored bulbs for flowering

(though you can use either kind during either stage and your plant

will come out fine). I like to use a mix to make sure my plants get a

full spectrum of light.


4 of 11 8/12/2013 11:52 PM

Enough light sockets for all your lightbulbsEnough light sockets for all your lightbulbsEnough light sockets for all your lightbulbsEnough light sockets for all your lightbulbs (they're less than $5

apiece at my hardware store, usually they also come with some sort

of clip you can use to clip your lights anywhere. You can double-up

light bulbs to a socket (more info below) so that you have less total

sockets you have to deal with.

A timerA timerA timerA timer to make your lights go on and off when you want. You can

get a cheap one for $5 or spend up to $30 getting a nice digital one

You don't necessarily need one to start if you veg your plants in light

24 hours a day, but you will need to get a timer by the time you

start flowering your plant (about a month in) unless you want to turn

the lights on and off manually every day. You can buy timers at your

hardware store or online.

pH Control KitpH Control KitpH Control KitpH Control Kit: : : : This contains pH Up and pH Down (to adjust pH of

your water) and a simple strip test. Another option for testing pH is

a fancy (and more expensive) digital pH tester though my plants did

just fine with the strip test that comes in the much cheaper pH

Control Kit. All hydroponic stores and some gardening stores with

sell pH Control Kids. You will want to adjust your water so it's

around 5.5-6.0 pH when you water your plants. How do I check and

adjust the pH of my water?

Estimated Total Cost for Growing Five PlantsEstimated Total Cost for Growing Five PlantsEstimated Total Cost for Growing Five PlantsEstimated Total Cost for Growing Five Plants

Marijuana Seeds or Clones: Free - $10/plant

Nutrients: Fox Farms Hydroponic Nutrient Trio (quart) or Canna Coco

Nutrient A & B (1 Liter) - $25-$45

Coco Coir - $25 / big bag

Perlite (optional) - $10 / bag

Five 2-gallon pots - $1 - $5 each x 5

Four 40w CFLs per plant - $7 - $10 each CFL, or $28 - $40 per

plant x 5

Four light sockets per plant at $4 - $7 each or $16 - $28 per plant

x 5

Power timer $5 - $30

pH Kit - $10 - $30

Total: Total: Total: Total: $290 - $555 in total start-up costs

Ten ounces of bud retail value: Ten ounces of bud retail value: Ten ounces of bud retail value: Ten ounces of bud retail value: You may get even more but a

reasonable estimate is a total harvest of two ounces of dried bud from

each of the five plants. At $30-$70/ eighth, ten ounces is equal to $2400

- $5600 which is worth 5-10 times the money you need to put in to get

started. I got a total 6.2 ounces6.2 ounces6.2 ounces6.2 ounces of dried buds off my first cannabis plant I

grew using this system (pictured below in flowering section). I still use

this method today and on average I get 3-4 ounces off each cannabis

plant.

After your first grow, you will only need to get more plants, more coco

coir, and more nutrients which will significantly bring down the start-up

costs for subsequent grows.


5 of 11 8/12/2013 11:52 PM

Remember, you can start out with fewer lights and light sockets(start with

2-3 per plant), and will only need to get more as you notice shadowy

patches on your plants that aren't getting enough light. The great thing

about all of the items needed for this technique is they can all be used in

future grows, even if you decide not to continue with this method. For

example, even if you end up getting HID lights eventually, you will always

be able to use the CFLs for starting out new plants, or for adding

additional side lights.

A Note about Using CFL Lights

You need about two You need about two You need about two You need about two 42w(150w incandescent equivalent) CFLs42w(150w incandescent equivalent) CFLs42w(150w incandescent equivalent) CFLs42w(150w incandescent equivalent) CFLs per per per per

plant to start.plant to start.plant to start.plant to start.

These lights are easily found at the store or online. You can get lower or

higher wattage bulbs, but I like bulbs close to the 40w range because

they produce a lot of light, but are still a small, manageable size.

By the time the plants are flowering, you may need to get more lights per

each plant to fill in any 'shadowed areas' up to maybe two or three more

lights per plant.

It's optimal to use 'daylight' (6500k) colored bulbs for the vegetative stage

and 'soft white' (2500k) colored bulbs for flowering (though you can use

either kind during either stage and your plant will come out fine).

I like to use a mix to make sure my plants get a full spectrum of light.

I recommend getting some heavy duty clamp light sockets which you can

use to power your light bulbs. These light sockets are able to clamp to

most anything and they come with a reflector for your lights.

When looking for clamp light socketsWhen looking for clamp light socketsWhen looking for clamp light socketsWhen looking for clamp light sockets, avoid anything that's made of

plastic (it's cheap and will break) and try to find something with at least a

9 foot long cord. You'd be surprised at how annoying it is to try to find a

way to make a 6 foot cord work.

To maximize the light your plants are getting, you can use a light socket

extender and a twin light socket adapter to fit two lights per each clamp

light socket (without the extender, they probably won't fit).

Setting up two lights per socket can often be cheaper than buying an

individual light socket for each light, especially if you buy online. It also is

really convenient for arranging around your plant.


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Click here to learn more about grow lights and the length of time you provide light to

your cannabis plants each day.

How to get started

Optionally fill the first couple inches of your pots

with perlite for extra drainage, and then fill the rest

of the pot with coco coir.

Water your pot with coco coir thoroughly until water

drains out the bottom before adding your seeds or

clones.

Set up your lights so that they can start around the height of your pots

and eventually be raised to the final height of your plant (2-3 feet

depending on your marijuana strain and how long you let you plants stay

in the vegetative stage).

Once you have everything set up as described, simply add your marijuana

seeds or clones and set up your lights so that they're about 4 inches away

to start.

Watering Schedule

You will want to start feeding your plants with

nutrients at quarter strength for the first week, then

work your way up to full strength slowly.

I recommend following the instructions exactly as

provided by the nutrients.

For example, if you are using Fox Farms Hydroponic

Liquid Nutrient trio, just follow the feeding chart that comes with the

bottles and water your plant with nutrients every other watering.every other watering.every other watering.every other watering.

When not using nutrients, make sure you still pH your plain water before

your feed your marijuana!

This is important! This is important! This is important! This is important! Water your marijuana plants until you get at least 20% 20% 20% 20%

extra runoff water extra runoff water extra runoff water extra runoff water out the bottom.

Then don't water your marijuana plants again until the top of theThen don't water your marijuana plants again until the top of theThen don't water your marijuana plants again until the top of theThen don't water your marijuana plants again until the top of the

coco coir starts feeling dry.coco coir starts feeling dry.coco coir starts feeling dry.coco coir starts feeling dry.


7 of 11 8/12/2013 11:52 PM

This will start out with you watering the plants every couple of days, and

may end up with you watering them once a day towards the end of the

marijuana flowering cycle.

This bears repeating, you want to ensure that you have about 20-30%

extra run-off water come out the bottom of the container every time you

water your plants.

The reason for this is that coco coir tends to form natural salts if it the

fertilizers just sit in there and never get washed out. Making sure you

keep adding water until you get run-off is also a great way to make sure

that your plants are draining properly.

As I said before, make sure to feed your marijuana plant with plain, pH'ed

water every other watering.

This will greatly help reduce the amount of salt buildup and prevent

nutrition problems from occuring. If your marijuana shows signs of

droopingdroopingdroopingdrooping, chances are you are over or under-watering.

In order to prevent over or under-watering, make sure you watermake sure you watermake sure you watermake sure you water

thoroughly every time, and wait to water again until the top inch ofthoroughly every time, and wait to water again until the top inch ofthoroughly every time, and wait to water again until the top inch ofthoroughly every time, and wait to water again until the top inch of

coco coir feels dry.coco coir feels dry.coco coir feels dry.coco coir feels dry.

Vegetative Period

After your plants have grown accustomed to

their new environment (after a couple of

days for transplanted clones, or when your

seeds grow their second set of leaves) then

you will want to move your CFLs so that

they are about an inch away from the plant.

CFLs lose a lot of light the further away they

are and their light is almost useless once the plant is 6-8 inches away.

Your biggest task when growing your marijuana will be adjusting the

lights.

The CFL bulbs should always be as close as possible to the plants, yet

they need to be far enough away that your marijuana doesn't grow into

the lights and burn its leaves.

If you check on your plants constantly, you can keep the lights closer. If

you're going to be away for a while, you should move the bulbs away to

give your marijuana some growing room.

Personally for me, adjusting the lights was one of the most fun parts of

growing marijuana using this method because it gave me something to do

while I was hanging out in my grow room.

As a beginner, I always wanted to keep checking in on my marijuana


8 of 11 8/12/2013 11:52 PM

plants all the time, and adjusting the lights gave me something I could do

to sastisfy that urge. You may also want to rotate your plants every day in

order to provide the most even amount of light from all sides.

Your marijuana can't get really get too much light from CFLs and the only

thing you need to worry about with the CFLs is burning your plants if they

get too close.

Basically if you put your hand where your plants are closest to the light,

and the light feels too hot to be comfortable, then the light is too close. If

your hand just feels warm, but not hot, than your plants are at the perfect

distance. I generally kept my CFL bulbs 1-2" from the leaves during the

whole grow.

If you notice that your plant is growing with a lot of space between nodes

or otherwise seems like it's 'stretching' upwards, that means that it

probably needs more light. Try adding an extra CFL or two or move tem

closer. If you notice your plant is having any other issues or something

doesn't seem right, check out the Plant Problems and Symptoms Guide.

Flowering Stage

When your cannabis plants are about half

their final desired height, you will change

them over to the flowering stage so they

start growing buds.

By half the final desired height, I mean, if

you wanted your plant to achieve a final

height of 2 feet, then you would switch your

marijuana to flowering when they're about 1

foot tall, or half of 2 feet.

If you wanted your marijuana to grow to be

5 feet tall, then switch them to flowering

when they're at a height of 2.5 feet.

The reason for this is that marijuana will

generally double in height after being

switched over to the flowering stage.

To initiate the flowering stage, you will switch your light schedule so that

your lights are onononon for 12 hours a day, and offoffoffoff for 12 hours a day.

During the 'off' period, your marijuana should be in total darkness.

This light schedule will trick your marijuana into thinking that the days are

getting shorter and fall is coming.

The 12-12 light schedule will cause your plants to begin the flowering

stage and start focusing on making buds instead of just growing.


9 of 11 8/12/2013 11:52 PM

If you don't change your schedule to 12-12, chances are your marijuana

will just keep growing forever and never make buds.

After switching to 12-12, you should start noticing your plant making it's

first sex organs after a week or two. Females will grow white hairs and

males will start growing grape-like balls.

In order to maximize on the amount of bud you get, you will want to

make sure you remove any males so they don't impregnate you females.

If they stay together than your females will get pollinated by the males

and will end up making lots of seeds instead of buds.

Unless you have a reason to keep males (for example breeding), you

probably want to just kill any male plants because they won't make any

usable bud anyway.

When growing with CFLs, it becomes harder and harder to fully illuminate

the plants as they get bigger and grow more branches. You will maximize

the total amount of buds you get by keeping the plant smaller (and

therefore easy to bathe in light), and then harvesting more often since

your plants will be ready to harvest much sooner.

As the plants get taller and starte blooming, you may need to get a couple

more CFLs to light them from the sides. Basically if you see any dark or

shadowy areas that are more than 6 inches from a CFL, then you should

get another CFL to plug in that 'hole.'

Towards the end of the flowering cycle as your marijuana approaches

harvest time, you may notice that some of the oldest leaves startoldest leaves startoldest leaves startoldest leaves start

turning yellow and falling offturning yellow and falling offturning yellow and falling offturning yellow and falling off. This is totally normaltotally normaltotally normaltotally normal and is a sign that

your plant is taking nitrogen out of the leaves and putting them into the

buds/flowers.

You will want to stop feeding your marijuana any nutrients for the last two

weeks before harvest to ensure the best tasting bud. Simply feed them

plenty of water without nutrients for these last two weeks, but make sure

you're still adjusting the pH so they absorb any leftover nutrients in the

coco coir.

I usually stop feeding my cannabis nutrients and start feeding them water

when about 75% of all the pistols (hairs) have turned dark and started

curling in towards the buds.

Harvesting

Pleast view the Harvest Section of my general

cannabis grow guide for more information about

when and how to harvest your plant. This guide

should tell you exactly what to look for as far as

determining if your cannabis is ready for harvest.


10 of 11 8/12/2013 11:52 PM

Final Thoughts

When using this method I've found my cannabis to be really resistant to

issues or problems, especially considering this method was the one I

used for my very first harvest and I had no idea what I was doing when I

started.

Over the course of my first grow I made several mistakes, including

dropping a light on one of my plants and accidentally burning some of

the leaves on the lights. Every time something happened to a plant, it

seemed to take it in stride and just keep growing.

Despite all my mistakes, I still got 6.2 ounces of dried buds off my first

plant grown with this grow method!

I really like this technique for a

beginning cannabis grower because

it's a really good way to get a feel for

how plants grow and how the

cannabis plant grows in particular.

It can be hard to decide what you

want to do for you first grow, and

this is a really cheap yet effective

way to get started with growing and get good results.

After having one successful grow under your belt, I guarantee that the

whole process will start making more sense.

Even if you end up eventually moving on to other types of growing

systems, you will be able to use many of the materials from this system

with your future grow.

If you end up using this technique or have any other thoughts or

comments I'd love to hear from you!

TagsTagsTagsTags CFL Grow Lights Coco Coir General Cannabis Care How-toGuides Perlite Tutorials Grow Mediums





11 of 11 8/12/2013 11:52 PM

Growing Weed With CFLs - What GrowersNeed to Know

by Nebula Haze

In the past, we’ve covered how to grow train your plants to grow

short and how you can maximize your space when choosing an

auto-flowering or photoperiod strain, I’d like to share some tips for

growing with the cheapest marijuana grow lights that fit in extremely

small spaces... CFLs!

What are CFLs?What are CFLs?What are CFLs?What are CFLs?

CFL stands for "compact fluorescent light" and even though these lights

can be found at any hardware or grocery store, they actually give off a

really great light spectrum for growing marijuana.

Never get CFLs confused with old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs...

Benefits of growing with CFLsBenefits of growing with CFLsBenefits of growing with CFLsBenefits of growing with CFLs

Cheap

Low heat

Low electricity

Stealthy

CFLs are easy to find in grocery and home improvement stores

Suited to very small grow spaces

CFLs are a great option if you...CFLs are a great option if you...CFLs are a great option if you...CFLs are a great option if you...

Must grow in a very small space (computer case, cupboard, or

tiny closet)

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Growing Weed With CFLs - What Growers Need to Know | Grow... http://growweedeasy.com/growing-marijuana-with-cfls

1 of 8 8/13/2013 12:25 AM

Plan to grow 1-2 plants

Want to harvest a few ounces of buds

Are willing to check on your plants at least once every few days

(you will need to adjust the CFL grow lights relatively often

since they’re kept very close to plants)

CFLs are CFLs are CFLs are CFLs are not not not not well suited for growers who want this...well suited for growers who want this...well suited for growers who want this...well suited for growers who want this...

Lots of plants

Pounds of buds per plant

Large grow tent

Refuse to learn [how to train plants]

Can’t tend plants regularly

“Baby Pic”

Here's a picture of one of my very first grow with CFLs.

-Nebula

How Many CFLs Do You Need To Grow Marijuana?How Many CFLs Do You Need To Grow Marijuana?How Many CFLs Do You Need To Grow Marijuana?How Many CFLs Do You Need To Grow Marijuana?

There are lots of formulas that growers can use to determine how many

CFLs they will need.

For example, some growers recommend that you go by the amount of

lumens (light) produced, or by the total wattage of your lights.

However, I think a simpler approach is much more effective, and will

result in better yields for you.

Simply follow these principles with CFLs to get great yields every time:

All parts of the plant should be within 8-10” of a CFL bulb (CFLs

should be kept 2” away from the tops of your plants

Any “shadowy” areas need another bulb

Submit


2 of 8 8/13/2013 12:25 AM

More bulbs = better results (You want to surround your plant

with as many bulbs as possible because the penetration of CFLs

is poor; in other words, more small CFLs is more effective than

a few big CFLs)

Real-life Example: 7 x 26W CFLs (at 182 watts total) that are

spread in an array around the plant will be more effective for

growth than 1 x 200W CFL, even though they use less total

electricity.

More lumens = better results (you can’t really give your plant

too much light when growing with CFLs, more is better)

In the flowering stage, make sure that buds get direct access to

intense light & keep CFLs as close to buds as possible without

burning them (this will dramatically increase yields with CFLs)

The size and shape of your plant is going to have the biggest effect on

how many CFLs you’ll need, and that’s why no “formula” is going to be

accurate all the time. Any formula is just a rough estimate.

What if I’m still not sure how many CFLs to get?

You can use this formula to get started with planning your grow space,

though I recommend using the guidelines above once your plant has

actually started growing.

4,000+ lumens/sq foot4,000+ lumens/sq foot4,000+ lumens/sq foot4,000+ lumens/sq foot (more is even better) - lumens is the measure

of light as perceived by the human eye, and this number will be listed on

the CFL bulb packaging

Example of Estimating Number of CFLs Needed For Your Grow Space:

Multiple width x length of your grow space to determine theMultiple width x length of your grow space to determine theMultiple width x length of your grow space to determine theMultiple width x length of your grow space to determine the

sq feet.sq feet.sq feet.sq feet.

Let’s say your grow space is 2’ x 2’ = 4 sq feet

1.

Multiple the sq feet of your space by 4,000 lumens toMultiple the sq feet of your space by 4,000 lumens toMultiple the sq feet of your space by 4,000 lumens toMultiple the sq feet of your space by 4,000 lumens to

determine the total lumens needed for this space.determine the total lumens needed for this space.determine the total lumens needed for this space.determine the total lumens needed for this space.

So 4 sq feet x 4,000 lumens/sq feet = 16,000 total lumens for

that space

2.

Divide this number by the lumens produced by each bulbDivide this number by the lumens produced by each bulbDivide this number by the lumens produced by each bulbDivide this number by the lumens produced by each bulb

If you’re getting 42W CFLs which are rated at 2,650 lumens

apiece, that would be 16,000/2,650 = ~6

3.

This number is the minimum number of CFLs needed for yourThis number is the minimum number of CFLs needed for yourThis number is the minimum number of CFLs needed for yourThis number is the minimum number of CFLs needed for your

spacespacespacespace

That means in this case you’d start with 6 (or more) 42W CFLs

4.


3 of 8 8/13/2013 12:25 AM

Remember, this formula is just an estimate, and you will get the best

results if you also follow the guidelines listed above.

Tip for maximizing the light to your plants: Use the power of reflection to

minimize light loss. Cover your walls with reflective mylar or paint them

with flat white paint. Utilize reflectors to aim more light where you want.

What Color CFLs Should I Get? (CFLs and Light Spectrum)What Color CFLs Should I Get? (CFLs and Light Spectrum)What Color CFLs Should I Get? (CFLs and Light Spectrum)What Color CFLs Should I Get? (CFLs and Light Spectrum)

When you’re buying CFLs, they come in different “colors.” Some are more

orange/yellow, some are almost blue, and others almost look like

daylight.

The truth is that all CFLs will work for growing, but some are better than

others....

6500k colored bulbs6500k colored bulbs6500k colored bulbs6500k colored bulbs (Cool White or Bright White)

Best suited to Vegetative Stage

By using the 6500k colored bulbs during the vegetative stage, you’ll be

giving your plants more blue light, which helps plants grow short and

bushy.

2700k colored bulbs2700k colored bulbs2700k colored bulbs2700k colored bulbs (Soft White)

Best suited to Flowering Stage


4 of 8 8/13/2013 12:25 AM

The soft white 2700k colored bulbs have more reds/yellows that will help

your plant produce potent buds.

Question:

Will a 5500k photography CFL bulbs work for growing? I know you're

supposed to get 6500k colored bulbs in the vegetative stage, and 2700k

colored bulbs for flowering...

I have a 150w 5500k photography bulb which looks identical to other

bulbs rated 5500k specifically sold as "grow bulbs" so could this be used

for growing?

Answer:

Any CFL will work for growing marijuana. I've used 5500k photography

CFL bulbs in the past and they work great.

As far as spectrum is concerned, blue (6500k) encourages shorter

vegetative growth, red/yellow (2700K) encourages longer/taller

vegetative growth and flowering.

The 5500k bulbs are in between. However, they can all be used

successfully in all stages of growing.

How much light (wattage) will have a much greater affect on your results,

and more light/wattage is better with CFLs. It's almost impossible to give

plants too much light with CFLs.

For example, I'd rather have 2 x 150W 5500k bulbs than 2 x 100W 2700k

bulbs for flowering. The increased light intensity will help your plants

more than getting the exact right color spectrum.

The increased wattage will give you more return on yields than getting the

proper spectrum.

What next?What next?What next?What next?

I'm still not sure which grow lights to get... You may be interested in this

discussion on the pros and cons of CFLs vs HPS grow lights for a small


5 of 8 8/13/2013 12:25 AM

space: http://growweedeasy.com/cfls-vs-hps-grow-lights

I want to see a real CFL grow in action! Show me a CFL dresser microgrow

with lots of pictures: http://growweedeasy.com/entire-microgrow-

pictures-week-by-week

I'm definitely choosing CFLs... if you know you’re ready to get started

growing with CFLs, click here to view my step-by-step tutorial on growing

weed with CFLs in coco: http://growweedeasy.com/easiest-

grow-method-cfl-coco-coir

I'm thinking about choosing HPS grow lights instead... Help me pick out

the right lights and teach me how to set them

up: http://growweedeasy.com/hps-grow-lights-setup

Start Growing with CFLs Today!

These CFLs are proven for growing marijuana. They also make great

supplemental lighting.

26W CFLs

Vegetative CFL - 6500k

Flowering CFL - 2700k

42W CFLs



65W CFLs



Don’t forget to get a light socket (and possibly a splitter) for each

CFL bulb!

Reflect your light for max efficiency

Cover walls in mylar or flat white paint

Use reflectors (or make your own like WasabiMayo does below!)

To all you growers on a budget: It's possible!To all you growers on a budget: It's possible!To all you growers on a budget: It's possible!To all you growers on a budget: It's possible!


6 of 8 8/13/2013 12:25 AM

by WasabiMayo

Check out WasabiMayo's amazing (and budget) CFL microgrow in

pIctures...

View full album with a write-up by WasabiMayo right here:

http://growweedeasy.com/wasabimayo-cfl-microgrow-pictures

TagsTagsTagsTags CFL Grow Lights General Cannabis Care Indoors BeginnerHow-to Guides Tutorials Lights


7 of 8 8/13/2013 12:25 AM





8 of 8 8/13/2013 12:25 AM

Selective Light Training (SLT)

Light Spectrum And Selective Light TrainingLight Spectrum And Selective Light TrainingLight Spectrum And Selective Light TrainingLight Spectrum And Selective Light Training

by SuperAngryGuy

Published with permission.

Note by Nebula:

I came across this incredibly interesting article by

SuperAngryGuy, an avid grower who has been

doing some interesting research into marijuana

grow lights and who is kind enough to allow others

to repost his work so that the growing community

can benefit from his research.

This technique is NOT aimed at the beginner

grower, and is aimed at the intermediate to

advanced grower who is interested in learning the cutting edge technology of

growing and loves getting down and dirty with a little experimentation.

If any of you have been using SLT to alter the way your plants grow, I'd love to

hear from you!

-Nebula

What is Selective Light Training?

Selective Light Training is about hitting certain parts of a plant with light for the

purpose of protein manipulation.

I have yet to run across a LED manufacturer/reseller who has a clue about light

sensitive plant proteins.

A typical plant will have in excess of 1,000. The phot1 and

phot2 Phototropin proteins are what's being manipulated with blue light.

Blue causes plant cells to not elongate (as much) so hitting the stem with blue

gives a more compact plant.

How to Use SLT To Your Benefit

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Selective Light Training (SLT) | Grow Weed Easy http://growweedeasy.com/slt-selective-light-training-superangryguy

1 of 7 8/13/2013 12:17 AM

For use on stems, as shown in this young Jack

Herer Plant (pictured to right), you have to get

the blue LED array up close to the stem

with uninterrupted light.

That is why I use 20x55 degree oval LEDs. 20

degrees side to side allows a little aiming slop and the 55 degrees vertical insure

light overlap.

The LEDs can be found here. Use model number 725LB7C. These are cheap

Chinese LEDs so you need to under drive them to around 10 milliamps.

Putting 3 in series with a 330 ohm resistor and building an linear array allows one

to use an unregulated, 12 volt power supply.

All of this is to keep costs down (those LEDs are about 3

cents each out of China in quantity). I've never seen one

of these blue LEDs burn out at the lower power level.

To the left is a close up of how the light sticks look and

below that is an even closer showing the epoxy

encapsulation.

These light sticks are simple to build (for personal use

only....legal of course), and you should be able to see

what you need to do with the pics.

With blue light blasting the stem only, other wavelengths of light can be used

on the different parts of the plant.

In my experiments with sweet basil, I've used blue on the stem and amber on the

leaves.

The resulting leaves are 4 times larger than normal.

Not all plants react the same way, and results do seem to be strain specific

(sweet basil, lettuce leaf basil and purple basil react differently).

To the right is a mystery skunk marijuana plant giving to me

where I can get 4-5 internodes per inch, even at lower main

lighting levels.

Excess stem elongation is a thing of the past and you will get

significantly more growth per area or volume.

For short day plants, use the light sticks for veg growth and the

first two weeks of flowering only.

Pictured below are two examples of using the light sticks with intracanopy

lighting.

Notice how there are different light sticks with different light colors being

directed to specific parts of the plant.

Submit


2 of 7 8/13/2013 12:17 AM

Notice the fan.

Next to the young plant, you can see what

an older plant looks like with about 3

weeks to go, also using intracanopy

lighting.

I'm expecting +3 ounces per square foot+3 ounces per square foot+3 ounces per square foot+3 ounces per square foot equivalent (this is 2/3rds of a

square foot) with this plant but while also using intracanopy lighting.

Next is Purple ArrowPurple ArrowPurple ArrowPurple Arrow (pictured to right) that had

selective lighting training (it's a low yielding strain).

This plant has not been topped and shows how different

strains can give morphological differences.

The blue light on the stem tends to produce plants that

are not as wide but you have to test the strain to see

how well SLT works for that strain.

This allows more plants per area and more yield with intracanopy lighting.

Intracanopy lighting often requires foliar nitrogen spraying and will

produce a higher thermal load in your grow area as well as more humidity

from the increased photosynthesis.

You can not just use blue side lighting to pull this off.

The leaves tend to grow downwards with blue side

lighting blocking light from hitting the stem.

You must get the blue light in close to the stem which

is the difference between side lighting or intracanopy

lighting and selective light training.

I'll be adding to my lighting guide soon a primer on LEDs and how to build your

own intracanopy apparatuses.

Also, I should point out that the blue LEDs only need to be used on the only need to be used on the only need to be used on the only need to be used on the

growing parts of a plant growing parts of a plant growing parts of a plant growing parts of a plant (zone of division and zone of elongation).

I've tested this with hardwoods, like Fuji Apple on

a P-22 rootstock, and it does work for making

more compact grafts as long as you hit the

growing part of a hardwood before the bark has

formed.

I'm still waiting to try this on coffee tree saplings to try to make a more

compact and economically efficient coffee tree.

A Quick Note About Light SpectrumA Quick Note About Light SpectrumA Quick Note About Light SpectrumA Quick Note About Light Spectrum

Here is a spectral absorption profile of a


3 of 7 8/13/2013 12:17 AM

high nitrogen marijuana leaf (Jack Herer).

You can see that about 90% of the green

light is being absorbed (it's on a 18%

reflective gray card).

Plants can use green light and at higher

lighting levels green is more

photosynthetically efficient than red.

This is because the top layer of chloroplasts that contains chlorophyll

becomes saturated while green can penetrate deeper in to leaf tissue

(sieve effect) and reflected around until absorbed by another chloroplast

containing chlorophyll (detour effect).

This efficiency can be measure through chlorophyll fluorescence. Green

light used alone tends to cause a lot of elongation. HPS grow lights have

give off a lot of green/yellow/amber light.

We can use a green LED "safe light" because the two main protein groups

responsible for photoperiodism regulation, the crytochrome and

phytochrome proteins, are largely green light insensitive. This has nothing

to do with photosynthesis. There are many more proteins involved with

photoperiodism and flowering.

Using a Cheap Lux Meter as a Plant Light Meter

We use a light meter to measure light intensity. Light intensity plays a very

important role in photosynthesis rates. Photosynthesis rate is the major

determination in our yields.

To a point, more light = more yield.

A light meter only determines how much light there is, not the spectrum.

I showed some spectrum shots below only to illustrate a point of how our eyes

and a lux meter perceives light and versus what's closer to what a plant sees.

For everything but LED grow lights, this is close to the readings that we want with

a cheap lux light meter as measured at the top of the plant canopy level:

15000-20000 lux____ the lower end of what we want for veg growth

35000-40000 lux____ what we want to try to hit for flowering

75000 or so lux_____ it's pointless to go beyond this level of light intensity,

saturation level

We use this information to determine how far away we want the light source from

the plant. It's not the case that we should just try to get the plant as close to the

light without burning. There are too many types of lights to use that as a rule of

thumb as well as too many other variables.

For example, blowing air on the light and plant will allow us to get the plant closer


4 of 7 8/13/2013 12:17 AM

to a light without burning but we in the process could go above the 75000 lux

point.

That's just a waste of energy since we're now saturating the plant.

For best yields per lighting levels, go with the 35000-40000 lux level.

Just accept that or read below on light intensity theory.

This information is not used to determine the type of light we use.

For example, we generally want redder lights, which have a lower color

temperature, for flowering and bluer light, which have a higher color temperature,

for vegetative growth. If you want the theory why, read

the photomorphogenesis sections of the lighting guide.

When using a light meter, it is typically best to use it with the sensor/meter

pointing straight up rather than directly at the light source. That little white

semi-sphere or flat piece of plastic you see with the light meter compensates for

this.

What you should take away from this is that a lux meter is accurate

enough to give meaningful measurements with white lighting.

-------you do not need to read beyond this point, the rest is a lot of

theory-------

Here's the conversion charts for using a lux meter as a quantum light meter.

Thank you jcraw69 for pointing this link out to me!

Instead of asking how much light do I need, spend $20-30 on an Ebay lux

meter and get a good reading. If you use CFLs without reflectors, for example,

you'll need twice as many of them.

If in doubt use 75 as a conversion number which is close enough. This means for

veg growth with a white light source (more on this below) you want to be around

at least 15000-20000 lux (about 200-250uMol), for flowering you want to try to hit

35000-40000 lux (about 500uMol) and the do not go over line for flowering is

right around 75000 lux (about 1000uMol which is the photosynthesis saturation

point).

Do not use a cheap analog lux meter. I've tested one type and they were way off.

I haven't tested cheap digital lux meters but I'm pretty sure most are going to be

close enough (the analog ones had impedance matching problems with the

analog scale so were giving bad readings in brighter light).

You still can not use a lux meter with LED grow

lights but can with white LEDs. The conversion

factor is just way too far off.

For example, as measured with my own

spectrometer, a red 647nm LED was at a 10.3


5 of 7 8/13/2013 12:17 AM

conversion factor and a red 620nm LED at 44.

A blue 462nm LED measured in at 12.8.

When comparing two different light sources in a grow comparison, they must be

done at the same lighting intensity.

Why?

First, photosynthesis isn't linear except between about 50-500 or so uMol and as

you can see in the above paragraph, LEDs commonly used in grow lights give

wildly different readings than white lights like HPS.

Second , many plant proteins are expressed at different lighting intensities which

can and will affect plant development.

Third, chloroplasts can move to the side walls at higher intensities of blue light

lowering plant photosynthesis efficiency. This is called cytoplasmic streaming and

is done as a form of photoprotection.

An example can be seen here in this sped up 4 second video.

Here's a few examples of light as measured in power by spectrum and how our

eyes and a lux meter would perceive it. Here's a 2700K CFL as a true

spectrum and how a lux meter reads it.

Notice how much the red/green (the middle and right spike) ratio changes.

This is because our eyes and lux meters are much more green sensitive.

Why are quantum light meters so damn expensive? Economy of scale and

higher accuracy. The cheapest quantum light meter that can give true

measurements with LED lighting is $800.

So, I've argued in the past that lux meters were next to worthless as plant light

meters. I was wrong on this point for white light and didn't realize it until about 10

days ago when I got a spectrometer.

Thank you SuperAngryGuy For Your Constant Contribution to the

Forefront of Growing Science

Read his incredible guide on marijuana lighting. Or check out his wiki page.

Jump to...

Building a Stealthy Grow Cabinet

Controversial Defoliation Increases Marijuana Yields

Grow Short & Bushy Cannabis (Marijuana Growth Control & Training

Methods)

CFL Dresser Microgrow in Pictures - Clone to Harvest


6 of 7 8/13/2013 12:17 AM

Magnetic Induction Grow Lights & Plasma Grow Lights: Do they work?

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7 of 7 8/13/2013 12:17 AM

Cannabis Lighting Types and Intensities

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Transcript of Cannabis Lighting Types and Intensities