Maximum Yield USA 2016 June | Page 131

“ The world is obsessed
with LEDs because they seem futuristic ; they make us feel like tomorrow has arrived today .”
As the years roll on , new and more efficient ways of growing are coming to the market and lighting technology is no exception . Here are a few lighting systems you may come across when searching for the perfect system for your garden . The first new design which caught my attention utilized a 250-W compact fluorescent bulb . Compact fluorescent bulbs have caught on in the home consumer market as they are as much as 15 % more efficient than traditional bulbs , on par with LEDs . One of the major benefits of using a CFL grow light is that you can save a ton of money on a small indoor grow . You can find CFL light packages for as low as $ 50 and their light spectrum is good for indoor growing . If you are a novice grower looking to get started , consider a CFL lighting system as one of the easier ways to start earning your green thumb . Compact fluorescents are great but keep in mind that they are most efficient when growing one or two plants . Anything more than that and you might want to look into other technologies . A trend I have seen lately is the replacement of older high pressure sodium bulbs with lighting systems that utilize ceramic metal halides . Ceramic metal halides fall under a category of newer bulb designs known as high intensity discharge ( HID ) bulbs . Ceramic metal halides are known to be more efficient while radiating a more penetrating light at a much lower wattage than traditional HPS bulbs . The use of these efficient HID lights will save you a ton of money on your electric bill . CMH bulbs last up to 24,000 hours and are available in a large range from 20 to 400 W , and CMH systems are proving to give more bang for the buck than a lot of other models arriving on the market today .

“ The world is obsessed

with LEDs because they seem futuristic ; they make us feel like tomorrow has arrived today .”

Now , let ’ s move on to everyone ’ s favorite new kid on the block , the LED lighting system . The world is obsessed with LEDs because they seem futuristic ; they make us feel like tomorrow has arrived today . LED lighting technology , much like CFL , is a modern and efficient way to grow an indoor garden . LED lighting technology has a wide range of entry level options , as well as more expensive and elaborate designs , suiting a wide range of horticulture enthusiasts . LEDs use semiconductor technology to produce a very bright light from a very small bulb . Another great feature of LED technology is that light systems can be custom tailored to fit the stage of growth .
LED lighting systems can consist of one , two or many different spectrum bulbs to ensure your plants get a wide range of frequencies . Nothing is as good as the sun when it comes to growing your plants , but with a variety of LED lights you can come close to recreating the sunshine that spills over us as we walk through the daylight . LEDs are available in a wide range of designs and sizes , from a small one-plant grow to large industrial scale . While it is unclear if LEDs are as penetrating as HID bulbs , there is no denying the popularity they are having among both manufacturers and consumers . Overall , LEDs just may prevail as the go-to bulb . Not because they are necessarily better than the competition , but because they offer unique lightweight designs , efficiency and the ability to customize your spectrum . While any of these types of lighting are likely to work well in your home garden , there isn ’ t necessarily a perfect lighting method that suits everybody . So there you have it ; the wide range of new and improved lighting systems to look for in the years to come . Any or all of these types of lighting design would work wonderfully in your home garden . Remember , there isn ’ t a particularly best lighting system out there . Picking a lighting system that meets your needs and your budget is always a surefire way to go .
Cory Hughes is a former police officer turned full-time commercial grower in Denver , Colorado .
Maximum Yield USA | June 2016 129