Maximum Yield Australia/New Zealand March/April 2018 | Page 42

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understanding different grow lights
UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT
GROW LIGHTS
by Chris Bond
Cost, available grow space,
and the type of crops being
grown all factor into which
type of light will best suit a
grower’s needs. Chris Bond
provides insight into the
wide variety of grow lights
available on the market today.
42
grow cycle
M
ost indoor plant growers
are aware that plants need
different types of light for good growth
and high yields. We, as human beings,
see light in the wavelengths that comprise
the visible spectrum (remember Mr. ROY G
BIV?). Plants use light in this range, but also
need the light that occurs at both higher
and lower wavelengths: ultraviolet (UV)
and microwaves. It is an oversimplification
of the concept, but in general, plants need
more light from the blue side of the spectrum
during their seedling stage and when
developing foliage, and they require light
from the orange to red side of the spectrum
while in blooming and fruiting phases.
When considering the different types
of grow lights available on the market,
understanding efficiency, both in energy
consumption and photosynthetic benefits,
is key. Knowing the difference between
different types of grow lights, their features
and benefits, as well as their limitations can
help the grower to decide which will work
best for their growroom set-up and situation.