WHAT ARE HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) GROW LIGHTS? The clue is in the name, but all HID grow light types excel at providing high-intensity light for your cannabis plants. That intensity does come with some caveats, but provided you can keep conditions (and cost) on track, your reward will be an abundance of juicy buds.
It’s common for growers to use more than one type of HID during cannabis cultivation, with certain types more suited to the vegetative or flowering phase.
Metal Halide (MH) Grow Lights More popular for the vegetative stage, metal halide grow lights emit a slightly bluish light. You can, of course, use them for the entire grow, but during the latter stages of growth, growers tend to switch to the HPS grow lights listed below.
The significant difference with HID grow lights, including metal halide, is the need for extra components, such as the bulb, reflectors, and a ballast. It’s an added layer of complexity that may deter beginners. Still, metal halide grow lights are a mainstay among cultivators as they have years of good results under their belt.
High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) Grow Lights HPS grow lights also have bulbs, a reflector, and ballast, but, this time, the light given off is reddish and slightly better suited to the flowering stage. Don’t worry, though; you can easily use an HPS grow light from seed to harvest. The most important consideration with HPS lights is the heat they create—it’s a lot!
You’ll need a way to vent heat out of your tent, and the hanging position is crucial to avoid damaging plants. Meet these requirements, though, and HPS lights can deliver some serious yields.
Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) / Light-Emitting Ceramic (LEC) LEC grow lights, aka ceramic metal halide lights, take the benefits of standard HID-style units one step further. Provided you can stomach the initial cost (€250–1000), they’re more compact, longer-lasting, and deliver a balanced light spectrum.
LEC grow lights also have the greatest potential return (grams per watt), making them an attractive option for committed growers. They still pump out a lot of heat, so don’t forget to provide adequate ventilation.
Pros of High-Intensity Discharge Grow Lights • Initial cost of metal halide and high-pressure sodium grow lights is reasonable • Straightforward to use • Excellent yield potential • Cannabis growers swear by them
Cons of High-Intensity Discharge Grow Lights • Extra equipment needed (bulb, ballast, reflector) • Generate lots of heat • HID bulbs have a limited shelf life • Expensive running costs
HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LIGHTS FOR GROWING CANNABIS
WHAT ARE HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) GROW LIGHTS?
The clue is in the name, but all HID grow light types excel at providing high-intensity light for your cannabis plants. That intensity does come with some caveats, but provided you can keep conditions (and cost) on track, your reward will be an abundance of juicy buds.
It’s common for growers to use more than one type of HID during cannabis cultivation, with certain types more suited to the vegetative or flowering phase.
Metal Halide (MH) Grow Lights
More popular for the vegetative stage, metal halide grow lights emit a slightly bluish light. You can, of course, use them for the entire grow, but during the latter stages of growth, growers tend to switch to the HPS grow lights listed below.
The significant difference with HID grow lights, including metal halide, is the need for extra components, such as the bulb, reflectors, and a ballast. It’s an added layer of complexity that may deter beginners. Still, metal halide grow lights are a mainstay among cultivators as they have years of good results under their belt.
High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) Grow Lights
HPS grow lights also have bulbs, a reflector, and ballast, but, this time, the light given off is reddish and slightly better suited to the flowering stage. Don’t worry, though; you can easily use an HPS grow light from seed to harvest. The most important consideration with HPS lights is the heat they create—it’s a lot!
You’ll need a way to vent heat out of your tent, and the hanging position is crucial to avoid damaging plants. Meet these requirements, though, and HPS lights can deliver some serious yields.
Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) / Light-Emitting Ceramic (LEC)
LEC grow lights, aka ceramic metal halide lights, take the benefits of standard HID-style units one step further. Provided you can stomach the initial cost (€250–1000), they’re more compact, longer-lasting, and deliver a balanced light spectrum.
LEC grow lights also have the greatest potential return (grams per watt), making them an attractive option for committed growers. They still pump out a lot of heat, so don’t forget to provide adequate ventilation.
Pros of High-Intensity Discharge Grow Lights
• Initial cost of metal halide and high-pressure sodium grow lights is reasonable
• Straightforward to use
• Excellent yield potential
• Cannabis growers swear by them
Cons of High-Intensity Discharge Grow Lights
• Extra equipment needed (bulb, ballast, reflector)
• Generate lots of heat
• HID bulbs have a limited shelf life
• Expensive running costs