Hydroponic gardens are a great way to grow an entire vegetable, fruit or herb garden without the added mess of dealing with soil and dealing with weeds. They are clean, efficient and allow you to grow tasty food and herbs. While some of the key aspects of a bountiful growth are nutrients and water, light is another important determinant of a successful garden.
Just like a regular garden, a hydroponic ones also requires natural light, which you can achieve through a greenhouse or sun room. Aside from natural light, there are other types of lights necessary for your garden including hydroponic grow lights. There are different kinds of grow lights for hydroponic gardens such as metal halide and high pressure sodium. It is important know what kind of light you would need for your garden and how much of it.
Metal Halide (MH) - Metal Halide grow lights are suggested for vegetative growth because they provide the most energy for your plants. This type of lighting is often compared to the rays of the sun during the spring and summer months. These lamps create light in the blue range of the spectrum. This light is best for growing lettuce, basil, spinach and other leafy greens.
High Pressure Sodium (HPS) - For gardens that require fruiting and flowering, a high pressure sodium grow light is the recommended type. HPS lamps produce light in the red-orange range of the light spectrum and the light is similar to the rays of the sun during the months of fall, which causes plants to flower and produce fruit.
Once you determine which type of lamp will work best for your garden, you will need to choose the right High Intensity Discharge (HID) ballast to generate your lamp. The ballast and the lamp wattage must always match and the lamp must suit the lighting system as well. In other words, MH lamps cannot be used with HPS systems, unless you have a conversion lamp with the right wattage.
You will also need a reflector to cover your garden and provide the right amount of light intensity. Reflectors often come with vents and tempered glass lenses to control the heath that accumulates in the room.
Lighting is very important to ensure that your garden grows properly and you will ultimately be able to harvest your fruits or vegetables.
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