How to Choose the Best Cannabis Grow Lights

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 02:10:23 +0000

Every cannabis grower wants to produce the highest quality product possible. With light being a crucial factor in plant cultivation, part of optimizing the process involves using the ideal cannabis grow lights. Choosing the right lights can be tricky as there are multiple types to choose from, each with their pros and cons. What’s more, rapid advancements in research and technology means it can be tough to stay on top of the most up-to-date information.

Armed with the right knowledge, however, any grower can be well-equipped to make a solid decision based on your unique situation. Factors to consider include cost, power consumption, heat output, and light spectrum. And the choice will be different depending on the types of plants you’re growing and the space you’re working with.

In this article, we’ll help ensure you choose the right lighting setup that fits your needs and budget. We explain the different types of lights available, reveal key factors to consider, and discuss recent advancements in the field, so you can make the right decisions.

Types of grow lights available

There are really two main types of light on the market today: LED (light emitting diode) and HID (high-intensity discharge). LEDs are newer and popular due to their efficiency and other factors.

“HID lamps are incredibly inefficient, which is why they generate so much waste heat,” Taylor Kirk, horticulture services specialist at Fluence by OSRAM, tells Analytical Cannabis. “In comparison, LEDs are nearly twice as efficient. They also last two to four times longer than metal halide or fluorescent fixtures and do not require bulb changes, which reduces operating costs in the long term.”

Kirk also notes that LEDs offer more control over light spectrum and intensity without color filters. This enables growers to better manipulate plant morphology and the metabolic processes that determine flower yield and quality.

But while LEDs are increasingly common, HID bulbs are still broadly used. There are two main types of HID: MH (metal halide) and HPS (high-pressure sodium). These are often used in combination, because MH bulbs – which produce a bluish light – are good for vegetative growth, while HPS lamps – which produce a yellow-orange glow – are better suited to flowering plants.

Factors to consider when choosing the best grow lights

As Brendan Delaney, director of cultivation at Solar Cannabis Co., explains, there’s a lot that goes into the decision-making process when choosing which type of light a grower should use, including the cost, quality, intensity, and desired spectrum.

Here we’ll go over the main factors to consider when choosing grow lights:

Cost and efficiency
Facility layout
Light spectrum

Let’s look at each of these in detail:

1. Cost and efficiency
In general, the cost to purchase HIDs is lower than for LEDs, but prices on LEDs are decreasing. Plus, many companies offer rebates, helping to offset the upfront costs. But when calculating capital expenditure, you also must consider the net running costs of lights, including how much power they consume and how much heat they give off.

“Plain and simple, LEDs are extremely energy efficient,” says Delaney. “When talking about efficiencies, it’s not just about the light itself but more in terms of environmental variables. LEDs throw off considerably less heat than other lights, such as HPS. This has a dramatic impact on cutting cooling costs, making it more efficient all the way around.”

That said, as Kirk notes, some growers rely on the heat from HID lamps to provide warmth to their facility. “If a grower is replacing HPS lamps – which often provide heat for the grow room due to their low efficacy – with LEDs, which run cooler, they’ll need to properly compensate by adjusting the HVACD [heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and dehumidification] system to add heat to the room.”

2. Facility layout
Another key consideration is the space that cannabis cultivators are working with. With vertical farming increasing in popularity, growers are now able to produce high yields within a limited footprint. Plants are grown in tiers, which means a multi-level lighting system is required to supply all plants with the right amount of light.

HPS lamps are usually unsuitable in this scenario, as they tend to be large and give off a lot of heat. On the other hand, LEDs have a slim profile, fit easily into racking systems, and don’t emit much heat. As such, they can be strategically placed to ensure that all plants have the right amount of light, no matter their position on the racks.

3. Light spectrum
Plants require different levels of light intensity and spectrum composition depending on their cultivar as well as their stage in the growing cycle. Recent advancements in research mean that lighting manufacturers and growers are now equipped with more in-depth knowledge in this area and are tailoring lighting systems accordingly.

As mentioned, LED lights offer more control here, but not all LEDs are made equal. This is definitely an area where you need to do some research and find out what the different lighting manufacturers are able to offer.

As Delaney reveals, “When you’re looking deeper into the light spectrum, we’re really starting to see companies experiment more in-depth with diodes, adding deeper reds and more UV at various stages. With these initiatives, we’re seeing better results with higher yields. It’s still early on, but this is a big trend within the market.”

Indeed, Kirk tells Analytical Cannabis that research by Fluence – conducted in partnership with Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands and Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation – found that, in some chemovars, monoterpene and cannabinoid content were inversely proportional to the fraction of red light introduced to plants. As such, cultivators need to pay particular attention to their spectral composition.

Kirk notes that recent cannabis lighting research has also delivered another critical insight: that most cannabis cultivars perform well under high photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), creating potential to maximize yields without jeopardizing quality.

“These insights together show how important it is for growers to adopt a high PPFD lighting strategy with a more balanced ‘white light’ spectral composition,” remarks Kirk. “This will result in significantly higher yields, better crop morphology, and improved cannabinoid profiles.”

Final comments

Overall, when deciding on the right lights, growers need to establish their key objectives. For example, Kirk notes that “for those who want greater environmental control or need to introduce new spectra and light intensities to optimize plant attributes like morphology, cannabinoid content, and overall yield, LED Grow Lights should be the first option.”

That said, cost is often top of mind for growers and HIDs can sometimes win out here. Just remember to factor in all long-term expenses including the upfront price, utility fees, and replacement costs when calculating expenditures.

How to Plant Cannabis Seeds Indoors

Sun, 15 Oct 2017 05:57:37 +0000

Have you ever wanted to plant and grow your own Cannabis. Although, because of the underground nature of cannabis cultivation, there are more methods than there are gardeners.

Prepare a shelf. Build a shelf at a comfortable working height. The shelves should provide drainage. Options for shelve width are 12 inches (30.5 cm) and 24 inches (61.0 cm). Distance between shelves must account for the height of the grow lighting and the flats. 18 inches (45.7 cm) is suggested for the distance between shelves.

Provide lighting. This should be a standard 4 foot (1.2 m) indoor grow light, available anywhere. If you hang them with a chain and hooks, they will be more adjustable. Position lamps in a place where they will not be noticed by the casual onlooker. Cool white bulbs are suitable.

Provide containers and drainage. Standard nursery flats fit perfectly and are commonly available. The ones that provide drainage are used. It is not recommended that you use flats that do not drain. Use something to keep the flats slightly off the shelve so as to provide drainage and circulation underneath. One suggestion is corrugated vinyl roofing material. Heating mats designed for the purpose sometimes include a wire support which works well.

Keep the water off the floor. It is suggested that you slant your shelve ever so slightly so that the water runs towards a bucket or tub. The tubs used for mixing concrete are ideal.

Fill smaller containers to be put in the flats. Use smaller containers that fit with the standard flats. Many configurations are available or use whatever you have. Use store bought standard potting soil, not dirt.

Water the soil thoroughly to begin with.

Germinate the seeds. Soak them in water overnight in a dark cabinet. Then place a paper towel in a shallow plate, place the seed upon the towel, then fold the towel over. Make sure the plate is filled with water then drain off the excess water, leaving the paper soaked and the seeds inside. Put in the cabinet. Check at least every eight hours. Avoid letting the paper dry out. You will be able to sight whether the seeds have germinated or not. The time can vary.

Plant them. Once you have visual verification, plant the seeds in the home you have previously prepared for them. Plant them shallow, so that they are just covered. Use a pencil or your finger to make a shallow hole for the seed then cover them. Each seedling should be individually marked if the strain is rare or valuable.

Watering. For tiny seedlings where careful and attentive watering should rule, be sure to let them dry out, but not too much. Employ plain water at first. Water gently, use a mister on it's most gentle setting to water new seedlings

After germination, avoid over-watering. Beginners are the most likeliest to make this mistake. They want to be moist, but well drained for a successful yield.

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How to Choose the Best Cannabis Grow Lights

How to Plant Cannabis Seeds Indoors