The Best Cannabis Grow Lights

If you\’re on the hunt for the best grow lights, you\’ve arrived at just the right place! Artificial light is an important part of the process for indoor growers. The quality and intensity of this artificial lighting can have a direct impact on how successful your harvest will be, come harvesting time, so it\’s crucial to get grow lights that are appropriate for what you\’re trying to do.

The sun provides all-natural light which most cannabis plants need in order to thrive and produce buds at their best during outdoor cultivation periods but with indoor-grown marijuana, there isn\’t always access or adequate space near windowsills where natural light shines through from outdoors; some models use fluorescent tubes while others utilize metal halide bulbs powered by high-pressure sodium gas valves rigged up within reflectors designed specifically for various stages of plant growth as well as atmospheric conditions like humidity levels, temperature.

Grow lights are a great way to control the amount of light your plants receive. They provide them with an even source of illumination day in and out without having to worry about cloudy days or inclement weather outside, which is perfect for those who don\’t have time to garden! Some grow lights can be expensive but they will save you money on electricity over the long term because it\’s more efficient than other types. Find one that suits your plant needs whether you\’re just getting started or need something powerful enough for mature plants as well.

Grow lights are a great way to ensure your plants get the right amount of lighting for their growth. But what kind should you buy? Here’s our guide on the different types, and how they work!

Factors to consider before buying grow lights

A grow light is an important part of most indoor growing setups. They emit the exact wavelengths of color necessary for plants to thrive and are great because they offer a convenient alternative to natural sunlight. Before you decide on which one to buy, there are some things that need consideration:

How much does a grow light cost?

When you\’re growing your own cannabis at home, the first thing to consider is how much money you are willing and able to spend on a grow light. The good news is that as more states come on board with adult-use legalization, tech for indoor gardening has been getting better all the time.

With under $100 lights available in most local hardware stores or easily accessible over Amazon or eBay; there\’s no need to spent thousands of dollars on high-end LED lighting systems like those used by commercial growers who have large spaces and big budgets!

Consider how often you’ll be growing weed and what the return on investment will be. If it takes a long time to rebound your initial cost, consider investing in an inexpensive light or doing more frequent smaller harvests instead of one large harvest every year.

Aside from the price of the actual light, also take into account utilities—all lights will add to your electricity bill every month but some are worse than others for this purpose. High-intensity discharge lights (HIDs) may save money upfront but can gobble up energy; LEDs use less power so they\’re kinder on our environment while costing more initially.

HID lights are an excellent option for indoor grow spaces but they run hotter than other types of bulbs. Extra equipment to cool down a space is necessary due to the intense heat these fixtures emit, so if you don\’t already have AC or fans installed in your room, be prepared with some extra funds as well! HIDs require more electricity and utilize power at a much higher rate than LED lightbulbs making them ideal for large operations who want maximum yield within their facility.

How many grow lights do I need to grow weed?

One of the most difficult aspects to growing marijuana at home is determining how much equipment you need. If your space can accommodate only 6 or 12 plants, a single light should be enough for them when they\’re in vegetative growth stage (before flowering). However, if you plan on running two separate rooms with one serving as an area where the cannabis will grow from seedling all the way up until it\’s ready to go into flower mode, then having 2 lights would make this process easier and more efficient since each room could have their own lighting set-up while still getting adequate sunlight exposure during daylight hours.

Depending on the number of plants you plan to grow and your available space, a light\’s size will vary. A small closet or tent may only need one plant with an appropriately sized bulb; but if there is more room in your basement than that, say for example 10×10 feet square then it would be possible to have two large lights set up instead.

A rule of thumb when going shopping for bulbs is power equals poundage so if you want big yields from growing cannabis indoors invest in having as much watt juice running through each area as possible– start at 200 watts per high grade LED which can double the work done by several smaller lamps

Ventilation

Ventilation can be a problem if you are cramming your grow space with equipment. You will need to make sure there is room for the hot light, but also enough air circulation so that it doesn\’t get stale and moldy. One way of ensuring this is by installing an exhaust fan in between any lights or lamps used during growth cycle – these fans not only provide ample airflow, they help keep temperatures at bay too!

Plant Stage

What kind of grow lights do you need? The answer is different for vegetative and flowering plants. For example, LED lights are best suited to light up the plant\’s leaves while HID (high intensity discharge) lamps can be used to paint a room with green hues that simulate sunshine.

Safety

If you’re choosing the location for your grow space, make sure to consider factors such as wiring and power supply. You don\’t want a circuit breaker that\’s going to shut down in the middle of an important harvest! To calculate how much electricity is needed for all pieces of equipment used during cultivation, start by calculating how many lights are being run at once and then add up their wattage requirements (is it 600W or 2×600 W?). Then take into account things like fans if they\’re necessary or dehumidifier capacity; be careful not to overload circuits with these items. For safety purposes, never exceed more than 80% load on any single outlet when powering multiple devices simultaneously.

Choosing the Best Grow Lights

Choosing the best grow light can be tough. There are so many options and you want to make sure that you\’re choosing a product that will not only help your marijuana plants thrive, but also give them the best chance at producing high-quality buds. In this article, we will discuss 3 main types of grow lights for growing cannabis: fluorescent, High-Intensity Discharge (HID), and LED. We\’ll provide an overview of each type, including pros and cons as well as other factors important when deciding on which one is right for you!

Types of Marijuana Grow Lights

There are 3 main types of grow lights used for growing marijuana. These are Fluorescent, High-Intensity Discharge (HID), and LED. Each type has different properties when it comes to light spectrum coverage, the intensity of the light source, heat emissions from the grow lights as well as cost considerations. Since there isn\’t a single best marijuana grow light for all situations or budgets we\’ll go into each type and discuss the pros and cons to help you find what\’s best for you.

HID Grow Lights

HID is an umbrella term for MH and HPS bulbs, which are both different from the bulbs you find in your house. The type of gas inside these lamps is what distinguishes them as they produce light by creating an electric arc between two nodes. Nowadays most people use these types of lights because their efficiency levels have increased dramatically over time while significantly reducing power consumption costs.

HIDs have been the standard in indoor weed growing for decades, but LEDs are quickly catching up to them. HIDs cast off a lot of light and heat, which plants need to bulk up and get potent. But they run hot with heavy metals inside that could pose health risks if you’re not careful!

However, because of their low price point, it’s possible an inexpensive HID will work well enough as your first grow light while testing out how often you plan on doing this!  You can find HID reflector hoods, as well as MH and HPS bulbs at any local grow shop. 

MH (Metal Halide) Bulbs

MH (Metal halide) bulbs are the best way to increase vegetative growth and produce a blueish light. They require ballasts that regulate current, which used to be big and bulky but digital ones now make them much more portable

HPS (High-Pressure Sodium) Bulbs

HID bulbs are great for flowering plants. They\’re usually made of sodium, mercury and xenon which produce a yellow/orange light that\’s commonly used in the final stage where flowers grow big. Some growers will start their plants under MH lights then switch to HPSs once they flower because both types use hoods. These lights also require a ballast.

Pros of HID Grow Lights

• HID grow lights are the most efficient of all grow lights
• They provide high yields per watt and are best used in the flowering stage
• Best for the flowering stage
• No need to adjust or use guess-work like LEDs and fluorescents
• Efficient design makes it easier to set up in a variety of spaces

Cons of HID Grow Lights

• HID bulbs get really hot and should be put in a metal hood to prevent the heat from damaging plants.
• Need a venting system to keep the area cool
• HID lights require more parts than other types of lighting

Best HID Grow Lights (according to your budget)

Under $100

Sun System Grow Lights – HPS 150W

Under $200

Yield Lab Horticulture 400w HPS Grow Light

Under $400

Gavita Pro E-Series 6 750e DE Flex

Fluorescent Grow Lights

CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) are a type of fluorescent light that is just like the ones found in schools and offices, but they\’re smaller. They come in all different shapes and sizes to serve various purposes around your house or office space. For growing weed, T5s are often called \”the workhorse\” because it\’s used for both vegetative growth (in which you want lots of indirect sunlight) as well as flowering stages – during this stage plants need more direct sunlight than before when their leaves were developing into bigger green things.

CFLs are great for vegetative growth because they don’t generate a lot of heat and won’t scorch delicate seeds. But you can\’t use them to finish flowering plants, so growers often choose another type of light instead.

Fluorescent fixtures come in all shapes and sizes, but there are two standard dimensions: 4-12 long fluorescent bulbs or 8 short ones. They usually have a reflective surface to bounce light down onto your plants from up high on the fixture. You will also find CFLs at any local grow shop – they are inexpensive, easy to use, and versatile too!

Pros of Fluorescent Grow Lights

• Inexpensive
• Don\’t use a lot of electricity
• Don\’t make much heat unless you have many of them packed together in a small space
• Best for small spaces
• Best for clones, seedlings and young plants

Cons of Fluorescent Grow Lights

• Obtain much lower yields than other types of grow lights
• Aren’t powerful enough to support tall plants in the flowering stage

Best Fluorescent Grow Lights (according to your budget)

Under $150

Durolux T5 HO Grow Light

Under $200

VIVOSUN 6500K 4FT T5 HO Fluorescent

Under $400

Hydrofarm Agrobrite FLT48 T5 Fluorescent

LED Grow Lights

LEDs have only been a viable option for growers in the last few years, but they are quickly proving themselves to be one of the best options. LEDs may cost more initially than other grow lights like HPSs and MHs but their efficiency and environmental friendliness make them worth it in the long run (which is why some cities offer tax breaks to commercial LED users). However, their efficiency means you won’t need as many fixtures or bulbs. It also makes them kinder on your electricity bill because it will take less wattage over time!

LEDs are a great option for growers because they run cooler than HIDs and can be used for both vegetative and flowering growth. Some LEDs even allow you to change the spectrum of light depending on your plant’s needs at different stages, such as changing from blue (vegetation) to red or pink (flowering). It is important that buyers beware when purchasing LED grow lights though; there are many cheap knock-offs available with low-quality components that won\’t emit the right spectrum of light for plants.

LEDs are the future of horticulture lighting. They\’re more efficient than other types, and there is a lot of competition in that space right now. If you want to get started with LEDs then Black Dog LED\’s PhytoMAX-2 series should be your first purchase – they use a light spectrum suited for both vegetative and flower growth, have great UV output which helps produce big yields by promoting higher trichome production rates…the lights come in different sizes so it\’ll work no matter what size grow area you\’ve got!

Pros of LED Grow Lights

• LEDs can run cool and do not need to be vented
• Smaller sized LEDs can be plugged directly into the wall and hung up over a plant to start growing
• LED lights are being tested for their ability to produce more resinous buds

Cons of LED Grow Lights

• 300W+ sizes need to be vented with an exhaust fan
• LED lights have a lower yield per watt than other types of grow lights
• LED grow lights need to be kept a certain distance away from plants because too much light can burn them

Best LED Grow Lights (according to your budget)

Under $100

MARS HYDRO TS 600W LED Grow Light

Under $150

MARS HYDRO TS 1000W Led Grow Light

Under $300

SPIDER FARMER SF-2000 LED Grow Light

Conclusion

Grow lights are one of the most important tools for cultivating cannabis plants. In this blog post, we’ve covered the best cannabis grow lights and what factors to consider before buying them. Have you tried any of these types? Which is your favorite type of light for growing cannabis plants? Let us know in the comments below!