Light is not a single entity. Light is actually a spectrum of waves or molecules that cover a gambit of colors. On one end of the spectrum is the blue light. In plants, blue light is essential for growing strong stems and bushy leaves. On the other end of the spectrum is the red light. Plants use red light for growing tall as well as budding and flowering. Metal halide light bulbs offer light across the spectrum. However, the majority of their light falls to the bluer side of the spectrum. If you are growing plants completely indoors without any natural light, you need to supplement the metal halide light with a HPS lamp that provides the redder light.

When you think about the type of light that plants receive during the natural growth cycle, you can understand the differences in the cooler and warmer light tones. Many plants begin to emerge when the sun is lower in the sky. The light at that time is closer to the cooler end of the spectrum. As spring warms up, the sun comes higher in the sky and the spectrum of the light warms up. So, when the plant needs to start maturing and budding, they need the warmer colors like orange and red. They still need the bluer light for general health though. Therefore, metal halide light bulbs are great for getting plants up and out of the ground as well as getting through the entire life cycle.

Metal halide lamp bulbs come in small packages. They do not require a large reflector to get the maximum effect on the plants. You can find ballasts that can handle both a halide lamp as well as a high pressure sodium light bulb. This gives you the ability to grow plants of all sorts throughout their lifecycle.

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A 1000W HPS light will give plants a good dose of red end light. This type of light is useful to a plant when it needs to mature and flower. When a plant is emerging from the soil, however it tends to need more on the blue end of the spectrum. In those cases, most people pair the High Pressure Sodium lamp with either natural light or a metal halide lamp. The metal halide lamp will give it the dose of blue light that it needs to sprout. Many use these HPS lamps to supplement the light that plants receive during the winter months, which tends to be bluer than at the height of summer.

The length of life on a 1000W HPS light is remarkable. Consistently, this type of bulb has shown that it will last over 20000 hours. That means that you can use it eight hours a day for 2500 days. That is a very long time. Of course, if you use it more hours per day, the length of time will decrease. However, when compared to a metal halide bulb, it stands out. This type of bulb can last about 12500 hours. That is almost half, what an High Pressure Sodium bulb can do.

The amount of power that a 1000W HPS light will use is minimal. The ballast that the High Pressure Sodium light uses helps to reduce the amount of power it requires. In addition, the sodium in the bulb heats up and starts to glow with less electricity than a comparable MH bulb. It produces more than 50% more lumens than a metal halide also. The low power usage makes this a great choice for those who want to grow plants indoors at home. With a 1000W bulb, you can expect to cover over 28 foot of growing space.

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With the addition of the wider light spectrum, the 1000 Watt HPS Hortilux offers a strong bulb that works great in conjunction with natural light. This wider spectrum helps plants to produce more through photosynthesis. It also creates a larger amount of lumens than a typical High Pressure Sodium grow light. With a working life typically over 24,000 hours, this bulb is the ultimate accessory to add to your growing area. The small size is an additional bonus. Many traditional HPS lamps can be a bit bulky. This particular lamp offers a great deal of light from a small package.

Plants use natural light levels to reach their full growth potential. Most plants originate from a particular location and adapted to the light levels in those original locations. When we try to grow them indoors, we need to recreate that light level as closely as possible. That means giving the plants a good balance of blue and red light at the right times. Many use a dual bulb setup with a metal halide bulb and a high pressure sodium. This allows them to regulate the amount of light on both ends of the spectrum. With the 1000 Watt HPS Hortilux, that dual setup is no longer required.

The light, which comes from a 1000 Watt HPS Hortilux, rates 2100K in color correlation. The rating closest to true light is 5000K. That means that this bulb is not the sole means that you can use to light your plants. It does make a great addition though to natural sunlight. You can start plants early in the winter and keep them thriving throughout the winter with the additional light form these bulbs. The plants will get a good dose of the cooler light from the sun and then get additional illumination from the bulb.

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A 1000W HPS ballast consists of a two ended socket for the lamp to sit. On one end is the arc tube where the electricity enters the bulb. On the other end is an electrode where the electricity exits the lamp. In the flow of electricity, the transformer assembly actually sits between the power source and the arc tube. It takes the flow of electricity down to the point where the HPS bulb needs it. If that resistance were not there, the bulb would heat up too quickly and likely explode with the sudden burst of electricity.

These type of units do not last forever. The constant need to resist electricity will eventually wear down the units components. When that happens, the first sign is usually a humming that begins. That is the electricity flowing through the components. If the unit completely breaks down it will stop producing light. At the first sign of trouble, it is important to get a replacement 1000W HPS ballast. You can choose a design that offers energy efficiency. With the latest designs, you can choose an electronic ballast that regulates the amount of flow using preset parameters.

If you are setting up a growing area for plants and want to use an High Pressure Sodium bulb, you will need a ballast assembly. First, you need to decide the size of your growing area. If you have between 25 and 30 square feet that you need to cover, then you will need a 1000W HPS lamp. For that lamp, you will need the type of ballast we have been discussing. In addition, to maximize the amount of light you get, you will need to also select a good reflector. You can buy units that integrate the everything into one if you choose. Just make a choice and get your plants growing.

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 The reflectors that are available for a 600 watt HPS bulb help to focus the light down towards the plants. If you just put an HPS bulb up without a proper reflector, you will be wasting the effects of these bulbs. Most of the time, the plants are placed beneath the light fixture. To maximize the light that the plants receive, you need a reflector that will put the light down on the plants. Some also place HPS fixtures on the horizontal and have the reflectors put the light outwards towards the plants. In either case, a good reflector is essential for healthy plant growth.

 Now, the 600 watt HPS bulb will only cover a certain amount of space. For every square foot of space, you need about 35 watts of illumination to cover it properly. For example, with a 600 watt bulb, you can cover about 17 or so square foot of plant space. If you are putting out seeds for vegetables or annual plants, that should be a good amount of space. If you find that you need more space, then you likely need to upgrade to a 1000W HPS bulb to cover more space.

 Different plants have different needs. That is a simple biological fact that growers need to understand. Using a 600 watt HPS bulb is a good idea once a plant has emerged and needs help with maturing and flowering. It helps the plant grow tall and will help the plant create the energy it needs for the flowering and budding process. This reflects the light that plants receive in the summer when the sun is high in the sky. You can use an HPS bulb to make your plants tall and strong year round if you want.

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When you are looking for a 1000 watt metal halide bulb, you need to think about the type of light you need out of it. The metal halides in the bulb will give you a specific form of light. The way many measure the light output is to use the correlated color temperatures. Ideally, for plant growth, you need a lamp that measures close to 5000K on the correlated color temperature scale. Some halide bulbs go as low as 3000K while others can go up to 20000K or higher. When you are shopping for a bulb, getting close to the 5000K range will give you the nearest to true light that your plants need.

Compact is the name of the game when it comes to a 1000 watt metal halide bulb. Even this high wattage bulb comes in a compact package. For those who have a limited amount of grow space, this is a great bulb to use for maximum effect. However, due to the heating issues, it is important to have adequate ventilation. Most choose to mount them in fixture that is easy to adjust and to make sure they do not harm the plant. Taking these precautions will allow you to get the most benefit from your halide bulb.

One of the down sides to a 1000 watt metal halide bulb is the fact that it runs very hot. You can get burned if you touch a fully heated bulb with your bare hands. The heat off the bulbs can affect the temperature in the growing area if you are not careful. When choosing to use this type of bulb, be sure to choose a ballast that offers some sort of cooling mechanism. Also, monitor the green house temperature and adjust things appropriately. These bulbs offer a number of benefits. However, if you put the lamps too close to the plants, you will have burnt leaves.

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When it comes to gardening, the HPS lamp is used for indoor gardening usually towards the time when you want the plants to begin flowering and blooming. Plants use different parts of the light spectrum during different parts of their growing cycle. Bluer light is useful during the growth spurts early after coming up. The red light is more useful when the time comes for blooming and flowering. Many indoor gardeners use the red 600 W HPS lamps as a supplement to the natural light the plant gets. This gives it a real boost when it comes to producing flowers and fruit.

One main reason that gardeners use the 600 W HPS lamps is that they are very energy efficient. It produces 50 – 140 lumens per watt. In contrast, the mercury vapor lamp only produces 25 – 60 lumens per watt. This higher efficiency makes it a big favorite of larger commercial growing companies. It is also a great option for those who want to have the best growth in their own greenhouses.

Many who do a great deal of indoor gardening will pair up a 600 W HPS lamp with a complementary metal halide lamp. The metal halide offers a better light on the blue end of the spectrum. A plant that grows under an High Pressure Sodium lamp only will likely come out leggy without many leaves. On the other hand, a plant grown only with a metal halide will have plenty of leaves, but end up stumpy and very poor in flower and fruit production.

If you need a good lamp to complement your indoor garden, you have a couple of choices. If you have plenty of natural light available, you can add a supplementary High Pressure Sodium lamp to help with budding and flowering. If you have only a limited amount of natural light, add a metal halide light to the mix. It will give you the growth balance with the HPS lamp. You can grow plants strong and full with this combination.

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 To make this happen you will need a ballast that can handle a 1000 watt HPS bulb. The ballast helps to regulate the amount of electricity that reaches the high pressure sodium bulb. This allows the bulb to heat up properly and to maintain its temperature with a steady heat. That keeps the light steady and strong. When the ballast is not working properly, the bulb may not heat up properly or may over heat. In either case, the ballast needs replaced as soon as possible. The ballast can be free standing or can be integrated into a reflector assembly.

 Reflectors are necessary to get the maximum coverage from your 1000 watt HPS bulb. When you put an HPS bulb into a fixture without a reflector, the light goes in all directions. That means any plants are only getting the amount of light coming out of the bottom part of the bulb. With a reflector, that is not a problem. The light coming from the tops and sides of the bulb are reflected down towards the plants. This maximizes the amount of light the plants receive. A good reflector assembly will also adjust up and down quickly to allow easy positioning of the lamp.

 To further maximize the amount of coverage you get with a 1000 watt HPS bulb, you can assemble a reflector system to all sides of the plants. You can position the bulb to the top. Then use reflective materials to surround the plants on all sides. This offers the plants a full range of light coming from multiple directions. It helps to maximize growth in multiple directions instead of just upwards. When you are putting together your interior garden, you need to figure out how to make the most of what you have.

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A 250 watt HPS can give you a great deal of light at a very efficient rate. The amount of electricity necessary to get the sodium excited is not a lot. With a 250 watt bulb, the amount of electricity is lower than a 300 or 600 watt HPS. Yet, it puts off a great deal of light for a good size area. It is a great size for those trying to get seeds started and for those trying to over winter tropical plants. Your choice of bulb will make a difference in the type of activity you will get from your plant growth. The HPS light is great for flowering or supplementing natural winter light.

You will get more life from a 250 watt HPS bulb than a similar metal halide one. A typical metal halide bulb will last anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 hours. An HPS bulb will last anywhere from 12,000 to 24,000 hours. That means you can get up to twice the amount of life out of a typical bulb. That helps keep costs down. It also keeps fewer lamps out of the landfill. Of course, ideally, you would recycle them if possible. In any case, an HPS beats a metal halide in lamp life.

With a timer, you will have all the energy efficiency you need. You have the choice of using a timer or relying on your own memory to turn the 250 watt HPS on and off. Your best bet it to invest in a timer. When the seeds are still germinating, keep the light on 24 hours a day. However, once they germinate, you can set the timer to turn them on and off with a 16 hour time. That will give the plants both the light they need and the dark they need as well. Plus it helps keep your energy consumption to a minimum.

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Second, the Compact fluorescent lamp approximates natural light much closer than an incandescent. CFL grow bulbs usually rate about 5000K on a spectral light distribution chart. In comparison, typical incandescent lamps usually top out near 2800K. To give you an idea of what that means, you need to look at what natural light measures. The typical light at noon is between 5000K and 6500K. This type of light is closest to the full spectrum of light that plants need to thrive. Without that light distribution, the plants will not get the mixture of blue and red light needed for healthy plant growth.

Third, the Compact fluorescent lamp is more cost effective. The longer life of CFL grow bulbs means you do not have to replace them as often as you would other bulbs. While the initial purchase cost of this type of lamp might be higher than others, the savings you receive from lower energy costs will pay for that difference along with the need not to replace the lamp as often. When thinking about setting up a grow area in your home, you need to keep costs in line. With these efficient little lamps, that is not difficult to do.

Finally, the Compact fluorescent bulb is a greener choice. Some people like to point out that this type of lamp contain mercury. However, with many available recycling programs, that is minimal. The amount of mercury put out by electricity plants to power a single incandescent lamp is higher than the amount of mercury in the CFL plus its power usage. The longer life these units keeps more bulbs out of the waste stream. The lower energy usage means less need for electricity. The lower heat levels of these bulbs also keep costs down on the need to remove heat. These are just a few reasons to declare CFL grow bulbs the winner.

If you are shopping for any type of indoor garden lamp please visit us at Grow Light Supply.