Professional Marijuana Grower September-October 2018 Issue | Page 10

lamp will increase the production of cannabinoids and
terpenes found in a cannabis plant’s essential oils. Like
DE-HPS lamps, ceramic metal halides have a longer life
span than the standard metal halide or high pressure
sodium lamps. Ceramic metal halide bulbs have a rated
life span of 20,000 hours, whereas many horticultural
specifi c HPS lamps have a rated life span of 10,000
hours.
High intensity discharge lighting systems have been
at the forefront of indoor cannabis production since
the beginning of indoor horticulture. Lamp manufacturers
who specialize in horticultural specifi c lamps are
continually upgrading their lamps to produce more PAR
per watt of energy consumed. As long as the laws surrounding
cannabis cultivation continue to regulate the
number of plants a grower can possess, horticulturists
will rely on lighting technologies capable of growing
large marijuana plants indoors. Currently, HID lighting
systems are the best choice for growing gigantic plants
indoors. Of all the different technologies within the HID
realm, cannabis growers are fl ocking to double-ended
high pressure sodiums and ceramic metal halides.
These two particular technologies maximize the amount
of usable light energy compared with the electricity they
consume. The high frequency ballasts combined with a
bulb that electricity fl ows through makes double-ended
HID lighting stand out among other artifi cial horticultural
lighting sources. However, the longevity and incredible
color rendition index of ceramic metal halide along
with its ability to provide higher amounts of UV light for
increased essential oil production have many cannabis
growers fl ocking to that technology. Whether it be a
double-ended high pressure sodium, a ceramic metal
halide, or both, marijuana growers who utilize the latest
in HID lighting technologies will be able to grow the
largest plants in the most effi cient and effective manner