Lighting Options

[DaDuck]

I have a 400w MH and a 150w HPS and that's what I've been using to grow my first crop of four plants. I am trying to learn as much as I can about this stuff though because I'm trying to get my mom to grow pot (they can do it legally because she lives in Oregon and my sister has MS). I want her to start growing it so my sister quits spending so much money on it (she's a huge pot head), but more importantly so that they can sell some of it to make extra money (which obviously isn't legal). Anyway, I'm researching it so I can make sure I get my mom off on the right foot. You can legally grow 18 plants out there so I told her she is going to need at least two 400w MH lights to start and she'll have to add more as she goes. I know that's being really stingy with the lighting, but it would get pretty expensive to buy four or five big HID lights. I was looking at the small bulbs that go in regular light sockets like these Spot Plant Grow Lights, Bulbs & Fixtures at Home Harvest Garden Supply
and I was wondering if they put off the same spectrum as you'd get from any other HID light. Is the spectrum the same, but the light isn't nearly as bright? If that's the case then wouldn't the best route be to put a couple big HID lights over the plants and use a bunch of those small lights for side lighting. I would think that would be a lot cheaper than buying a bunch of big HID lights.

One other question I had is I just bought this light Econo 400w MH with Chrome Reflector - Inside Sun
It has the standard bulb it comes with on it, but I noticed you can get bulb upgrades. What is the difference? Are all MH and HPS bulbs equal if the watts are the same or are there big differences among them?

DaDuck Reviewed by DaDuck on 03-24-2010. Lighting Options I have a 400w MH and a 150w HPS and that's what I've been using to grow my first crop of four plants. I am trying to learn as much as I can about this stuff though because I'm trying to get my mom to grow pot (they can do it legally because she lives in Oregon and my sister has MS). I want her to start growing it so my sister quits spending so much money on it (she's a huge pot head), but more importantly so that they can sell some of it to make extra money (which obviously isn't legal). Rating: 5

[stra8outtaWeed]

don't waste your money on the first link!

yes there are big differences in bulbs....generic MH/HPS are not horticultural lights..they mayt hit some of the spectrums but are not designed or manufactured for growing...look at Hortilux or any well known brand of grow bulbs....if you go to your local hydroponics store they can help steer you in the right direction!:thumbsup:

[aquanaut]

don't waste your money on the first link!

yes there are big differences in bulbs....generic MH/HPS are not horticultural lights..they mayt hit some of the spectrums but are not designed or manufactured for growing...look at Hortilux or any well known brand of grow bulbs....if you go to your local hydroponics store they can help steer you in the right direction!:thumbsup:

+1, I used a generic HPS bulb during flowering and saw okay results. Nothing to complain about.. but once I switched to the Hortilux Eye Super HPS... I noticed some huge growth! :thumbsup:

[DaDuck]

I'm glad to hear that because I just ordered a hortilux bulb this morning. I don't think I have much more than a few weeks left of flowering, but it will be nice to have for my next grow whenever that is. So you do think it makes a pretty noticeable difference then? I noticed that hortilux is one of the cheaper of the higher end bulbs. Are some of the more expensive ones worth the extra money? I tried to look at the spectrum each puts out, but I couldn't find much on it.