grow lights

CFL Grow Lights and CFL Grow Bulbs

CFL Grow Light Bulbs

Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) grow lights are in inexpensive option for use in small indoor gardens. CFL grow bulbs can have a distinctive spiral shape or resemble a series of vertical tubes. A good choice for hobbyists and first-time growers, CFL grow lights for indoor plants can be used in homes and apartments that have limited space. Featuring a mogul (E39) base, CFL grow lights are designed to be used with CFL reflector fixtures and specialty pendants and cannot be used with standard household fixtures.

Benefits of CFL Grow Lights

One CFL grow light can be used to replace multiple lower wattage CFL lamps. You receive the same Lumen output (amount of light generated) and coverage without having to replace individual lamps as each one goes out. CFL grow lights are also easy to set up since they do not require external ballasts, the way metal halide (MH) or high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps do, in order to operate. All you need to do is screw the bulb into the fixture.

CFL grow lights can be used during any phase of a plants growing cycle, with certain color temperatures (color of the light, measured in Kelvin) being better for different phases. Delivering a full spectrum light, 5000K and 6500K bulbs are best for the vegetative stage when plants will be developing roots and foliage. 2200 and 2700 Kelvin light is ideal for plants in the flowering stage and helps plants develop flowers and broader leaves.

Compared to MH and HPS grow lamps, CFL grow lights generate less heat. This allows you to suspend your CFLs closer to the plants, between 6 to 12 inches, without burning them. The mounting height can easily be adjusted depending on your plants needs. You also wont need to spend additional funds to set up a large cooling system. In most applications, a simple fan will work fine.

CFL grow lights can be used with reflector fixtures and pendants. CFL reflector fixtures can be initially purchased as a kit that includes the reflector, bulb, and power cord. Pendant fixtures can be used with or without a reflector, but it is recommended that you use a reflector with CFLs. CFLs are omni-directional, meaning that the light is emitted in all directions. Reflectors redirect the light downwards toward the plants to keep it from being wasted.

Some CFL grow lights for indoor plants can be used with mechanical timers, eliminating the need to manually adjust the lighting each day. Electronic and digital timers can interfere with the internal ballast of CFL grow lights and should not be used. Timers also help ensure that your plants are getting the same amount of light each day. Plants in the flowering stage typically need around 12 hours of light a day while the vegetative stage needs around 18 hours, but it depends on what youre growing. For best results, research the right night-day ratio for your specific plant.

Where Can CFL Grow Lights Be Used?

The best CFL grow bulbs can be used in indoor growing spaces such as grow tents and cabinets. The number of plants per lamp will depend on the type of plant you are growing. Do some research beforehand so you know the best lighting conditions for your plants. CFL grow light bulbs are good for growing a variety of indoor crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. CFLs can also be used for orchids, carnivorous plants, and for starting seedlings that will be planted outdoors later.

Not sure if your growing space is right for CFL grow lights? Call our team of grow light experts at 1-800-624-4488 to get assistance today!

LED Grow Lights and LED Grow Bulb Fixtures

LED Grow Light Bulbs

If you are lacking a yard for building flower beds or have the dreaded black thumb when it comes to houseplants, dont worry. You can easily start seeds indoors to transfer outside later, or grow house plants in rooms that typically do not receive enough natural light. 1000Bulbs.com offers the best LED grow lights from top brands to replace metal halide (MH) and high pressure sodium (HPS) grow lights.

What Are the Benefits to LED Grow Lights?

LED technology allows you to better target the optimal wavelengths for your plants. Research has shown that plants need blue light in the 400 to 500 range, and red light in the 640 to 680 range in order to grow properly. While HPS bulbs can produce a strong light, most of the output falls outside of these ranges. The best LED grow lights can be designed to match these specific wavelengths, cutting out other colors that are not needed. To learn more in-depth information about LED grow light colors, read our blog: What Color LED Grow Light Do I Need?

When using MH or HID grow lamps, are you having trouble with your plants getting burned, drying out, or not living as long as expected? That could be due to excess heat being produced by the lamps. LED plant lights generate far less heat than their MH or HID counter parts, increasing youre plants life span and decreasing heat damage. You wont need to spend as much on cooling systems either.

LED grow light bulbs are more energy efficient, need far less energy than MH bulb or fluorescent tube. Since they operate with arrays of LED diodes, LED grow lights will last longer as well. Several of our LED plant lights can last up to 50,000 hours. An added benefit is that LEDS gradually dim over its life span, giving you plenty of warning when its time to replace it.

LED grow lights also allow for more flexibility when designing your grow light set up. Because they generate less heat, you can suspend them closer to the plants in multi-layer vertical systems. They can also be used in between the plants as well. Both of these setups helps target the light more directly to the plants.

Best LED Grow Lights for Sale

1000Bulbs.com offers both grow light fixtures and LED grow light bulbs. LED grow light fixtures come pre-assembled and are easy to install. You simply hang them up in the desired location and plug them in. Some fixtures deliver a preset spectrum of light that is ideal for a specific growing stage. Others give you the option of toggling back and forth between preset spectrums as needed. These fixtures can be mounted between 6 inches to 24 inches above the plants, and can cover up to a 6-foot by 6-foot area depending on the fixture. To help during your set up, we carry hanging accessories and additional power cords as well.

For lighting smaller areas, we offer the best LED glow light bulbs. With a PAR shape measuring 4.8-inches in diameter, these LED plant lights can be used in incandescent fixtures that accept a medium (E26) base. They cover an area of 1 square foot and should be mounted 18 to 24-inches above your plants. Our top LED grow lights are available in different colors, allowing you to easily change out bulbs as needed to meet your plants current growing stage. For example, a blue light can be used to help promote stem growth, while a white light can be used at any stage of the growing cycle.

How Long Should the Grow Light Be Left On?

There is no general time frame for how long grow lights should be left on. It is dependent on a number of factors including the type of plant, the growing stage it is in, and the growing region. The best course of action is to look up the specific needs of your plants. Once you have found the right balance, the easiest way to maintain this is to use plug-in timers. Plug-in timers allow you to easily set on and off times for one or two units, taking the worry out of keeping track of your lighting schedule.

Are you looking for the top LED grow lights to incorporate into your hydroponic system? Call 1-800-624-4488 today and a member of our staff can help you find exactly what you are looking for.

Grow Lights : Fluorescent and Metal Halide

Types of Grow Lights

Whether youre growing a full crop of lettuce and herbs or taking care of a houseplant, you have several different types of technology when selecting a grow light bulb for your indoor plants. All of these indoor grow lights are used in grow light fixtures, most of which have a reflector to aim the light down at your growing bed. Mounting height and distance from the plants will vary based on the growth cycle, type of grow light bulb, and type of plant. These plant lights may also be used in hydroponic and greenhouse setups.

Indoor Grow Cycles

Growing plants indoors allow you more control over the plants environment than even a greenhouse. By controlling not only how long lights are on or off, but also the Kelvin of the lights being used, you can trick plants into thinking its the right season to bloom. Start a vegetable garden inside and guarantee fresh herbs and sides for your holiday roast regardless of whether the plants are normally in-season. Each plant has different light requirements and different times of year that its in bloom or in season. By sectioning off your grow room with individual light systems, you can grow winter and summer plants in the same room by adjusting the light patterns for each fixture separately as long as the plants dont also require drastically different temperatures or humidity.