It used to be that lighting was one of the most expensive aspects of growing plants. A good set of HID or CFS lights could set you back a couple hundred with all the required equipment. Now, thanks to LED grow lights, the grow lights are much more affordable, making growing plants at home much more attainable.

The different bulbs you can pick from

There are four different kinds of grow light bulbs you can choose for your greenhouse. The one you pick will depend on the specific needs of your space and your plants. Let’s break them down.

High-intensity discharge (HID) lights. These lights will have to be installed a bit away from the plants due to the amount of heat they produce. They are, however, efficient in larger greenhouses where there are many plants across a wide area.
High-pressure sodium lights. This type of light is a red light, which is primarily used to encourage budding and flowering. If you’re growing fruits, veggies, or flowers in your greenhouse, this type is a great option.
Light-emitting diode (LED) lights. LED lights are one of the newest, yet perhaps the best, lights in regards to energy efficiency and lifespan. They typically offer both the red and blue light spectrums and are lightweight and easy to install.
T-5 lights. These are full-spectrum fluorescent lights that are known for using less power than conventional options. Fluorescent bulbs usually emit blue lighting, which helps encourage fuller growth from plants.

Grow lights are especially important during the winter months if you’re looking to garden in your greenhouse year-round. Keep your budget in mind and the kind of lighting you need, and you’ll be able to easily choose what grow light is the best for you.

ECO Farm Newest Samsung LM301B 600W Quantum Board

Features:

The ECO Farm grow light built-in premium Samsung LM301B diodes create a sunlike full-spectrum, speeding up the plants’ healthy growth and boosting yields. 3000K warm white LED sustains the color to make the plants look pretty, 660nm red LED promotes photosynthesis and germination, and 730nm IR LED accelerates flowering and fruiting,for each growth stage of the plant to provide everything needed in natural sunlight,while saving energy to achieve higher yield. The grow light adopts the latest high quality SMD LED technology,high energy LED provides more uniform canopy light penetration, more comprehensive irradiation of plants, compared with HPS, plant lamp has higher light utilization and lower power consumption. ​Run silently even at night with no fan design to create any unpleasant noises to disturb. Waterproof power connector, reduce the pearlescent decay of the lamp to ensure the life of the lamp, extend the service life of more than 50,000 hours.

Phlizon 600W Dimmable Plant LED Grow Light

Features:

Over 90% highly reflective aluminium of this Phlizon grow light ensures the quickly flourish of your plants, light output PPFD value is 327 umol/m² hanging at 18".High reflectivity aluminium hood boosts reflectivity by 20% compared to standard aluminium reflectors; Contouring of the polished surface ensures no hot spots or dead spots. The newest high efficient SMD leds , higher light intensity, less light decay , better lumens and PAR values than ordinary lamp beads. It runs at a lower temperature and can bring higher energy conversion and longer life. This waterproof grow light is a full-cycle lighting solution for all growing environments. The intensity of light can be adjusted according to the needs of plants.

Why Use LED Grow Lights?

Flowers growing vigorously under full spectrum LED grow lights.LED lights are some of the best options out there when it comes to indoor gardening, compared to traditional light systems like HID and HPS lights. Here are a few of the advantages:

Wide spectrums of light — Compared to HPS and HID lights, which are limited in their spectrums, LEDs offer more flexibility and a wide range of spectrum combinations. They’re also able to enhance specific wavelengths, like UV and IR, to target specific needs in your garden.

Lower heat output — LED grow lights run much cooler than other types of grow lights, thanks to the fact that they don’t need to burn anything to create light. This not only leads to lower electricity costs but also protects your grow room from excess heat.

Increased efficiency — LED grow lights are much more efficient than HPS grow lights; they consume 60% less energy for the same amount of light. For example, the 680w lights we list offer more intense light than a 1000w traditional lighting system.

Longer lifespan — For lights that will last you a long time, go with LEDs. They can last over 50,000 hours thanks to their non-chemical construction and lower operating temperatures.

Conclusion

Now that you have a full grasp of the different types of grow lights for indoor plants and what kind of lightbulb for growing plants indoors is ideal, you can best decide what’s right for your investment. Indoor gardening is no simple feat but can be highly rewarding, and much easier to manage with the right supplies and equipment. Especially when it comes to types of grow lights.