Digital Ballast Hps
How Grow Lights Impact Plant Growth
If you live in an area with a short growing season, then you will likely want to get a jump start on the gardening year by starting seeds indoors, then growing the seedlings on under lights. All plants need three items to thrive: water, nutrition, and light. Of these three, inadequate indoor light is often the one that lays waste the best laid gardener’s plans for strong and sturdy seedlings. Grow lights impact plant growth depending on the amount of light they give and the quality of the light they emit.
Indoors, under artificial conditions, you are trying to emulate the useful parts of natural sunlight as much as possible for optimal plant growth, all other necessary ingredients being present. Since sunlight is much brighter than light from a grow lamp, you will need to leave the lights on for 12-18 hours per day to compensate for the lesser brilliance of the light from artificial sources.
The quality of light also plays a part in plant growth. improve overall quality with a digital ballast. Plants grow using blue and red light, depending on the stage at which they are. They use blue light for energy, stem growth and chlorophyll production, whereas they use red light for reproduction, dormancy, as well as root and tuber development. Since plants absorb a very small amount of green and yellow light, but instead reflect it away, this is the reason why plants look green. What this also means is that the green and yellow light a bulb puts out is wasted on a plant. It is more efficient to select bulbs that have greater blue and red light output.
Besides whether or not you have a hydroponic digital ballast, another factor to consider when you are using artificial lights is the age of the light bulb you are using. If the bulb has been used for nine months or longer, the light they produce after this time period is usually 30 percent less than when they were new. This means that your plants are receiving 30 percent less light, but it costs you the same amount of money to run the inefficient lights. It is much more cost effective to replace them at the start of each growing season.
There are different lamps available for growing plants indoors. HPS lamps are high pressure sodium lamps, and they emit red and orange light. This color light promotes flowering in plants. HID lights refer to high intensity discharge lamps and is a term used to describe both HPS lamps as well as halide lights. Halides produce blue light, which promotes plant growth. Both of these types of lights require the use of ballasts. A ballast controls the electrical current that flows through the electrical circuit. Grow lights are the plant lover’s answer to growing great plants indoors.
About the Author
A long time indoor gardener, Susan Slobac has been using hydroponic gardening techniques and growing equipment to produce an abundance of food for her family. A respected expert, she features seasoned advice for all plant enthusiasts. Her theory is that indoor gardening should be easy and foolproof. Using a hydroponic digital ballast is one of the simple tips she offers to improve the productivity of your indoor hydroponic garden.
|
|
1000 WATT DIGITAL BALLAST & HORTILUX HPS BULB COMBO KIT GROW LIGHT 1000W W LAMP $269.00 |
|
|
New Hydroponics 400 Watts HPS + MH Digital Dimmable Ballast Grow Light Kit 400W $81.00 |
|
|
Earth Worth 600W Electronic Digital Ballast For HPS or MH 600 Watt Grow Bulbs $131.97 |
|
|
1000 Watt HPS MH Grow Light Air Cool Hood Digital Ballast Hydroponics New $187.50 |
|
|
Lighthouse Hydro Revolt 600W HPS / MH Digital Dimmable Ballast for Grow Lights $123.95 |
|
|
600 Watt HPS+MH 6″ Digital Ballast Air Cool Hood 6in Grow Light 600W Cooled $214.98 |
|
|
400 Watt HPS+MH 6″ Digital Ballast Air Cool Hood 6in Grow Light 400W Cooled $186.98 |
|
|
DIMMABLE 1000W DIGITAL GROW LIGHT BALLAST HPS 1000 watt Sodium Halide x quantum $132.50 |
|
|
DIGITAL AIR COOL TUBE GROW LIGHT 600 WATT HPS+MH 600W 400W 250W DIMMABLE BALLAST $132.50 |
|
|
600 W 400 W 250 W Digital Dimmable Ballast Grow Light HPS MH YOYO Reflector $169.95 |
|
|
600W / 400W Dimmable Digital Ballast HPS + MH Bulb Cooling Hood Grow Light $199.95 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $326.79 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $387.39 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $447.99 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $453.04 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $513.64 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $528.79 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $362.14 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $422.74 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $483.34 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $488.39 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $548.99 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $564.14 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $359.11 |
|
|
Genesis Grow Light 1000/600/400 watt Digital Ballast KIT w/lamp and reflector $419.71 |
|
|
Oakton EcoTestr pH 2 Waterproof pH Tester, -1.0 to 15.0 pH Range $57.95 Simply dip and read— the orientation of the display means no need to turn your head or tilt the tester. This low-cost meter is perfect for most applications. The single-junction electrode is recessed to protect against breakage. The unit offers up to three-point calibration with auto-buffer recognition for quick calibrations, automatic temperature compensation for accurate reading under chang… |
|
|
Clonex CLO100 Rooting Compound Gel, 100ML $13.51 Clonex Gel is a high performance rooting compound that remains in contact with the stem, sealing the cut tissue and supplying the hormones needed to promote root cell development and vitamins to protect the delicate new root tissue. Clonex has a full spectrum of mineral nutrients and trace elements to nourish the young roots…. |
|
|
Hydrofarm TM01715D 7-Day Digital Program Timer $19.78 Use Hydrofarm’s 7 day Digital Program Timer to water your system every day, every several days, or several times per day! The timer allows up to 8 on/off times per day, a one (1) minute minimum “on” time, and different settings for different days. The timer is a great way to keep everything on track and promote the healthy growth of your plants and flowers. It’s three prong grounded, has an LCD di… |
|
|
Hydrofarm Active Air 6 inch In-Line Fan 400 CFM $88.90 Active Air In-Line Duct Fans offer innovation and performance at a great price. With a full line of fans to meet your needs, all Active Air Fans feature: Quiet Operation, durable, ceramic-coated metal housing with UL Recognized Components. High Quality Molded Impeller. Thermally Protected AC Motor. Includes Mounting Brackets, 8 Foot Pre-wired 120v Cord…. |
|
|
St. Gabriel Laboratories All Natural Indoor/Outdoor Insect Dust Repellent – 4.4 lb Bag 50020-7 $9.50 Made of diatomaceous earth. Ant, flea, silverfish, cockroaches, bed bugs, carpet beetles, slugs, tomato hornworm, earwig and tick control. All natural product that is so safe it may be rubbed right into your dog or cat’s fur. Intended for application with a hand duster. Insects that come in contact with this powder die of dehydration with 48 hours. 4.4 lb bag treats 2,500 sq. ft…. |
|
|
Bio Green Clean – Quart $22.76 All natural, non-toxic, biodegradable, highly concentrated formula reduces cleaning time dramatically. Replaces harmful and ineffective chemical cleaners. Removes grease, oil, dirt, nurtrient and salt build-up, green algae, etc. Leaves trays, reservoirs, equipment, pumps, tubing, light fixtures, benches, floors, walls and entire growing area spotless and looking brand new…. |
|
|
ONA Gel
Popular. Practical. Powerful. May be used in virtually any application with dispensers available for low or high volume needs…. |
|
|
600w Galaxy Digital HPS Ballast $179.95 600 watt Digital Galaxy HPS/MH Ballast Extruded aluminum housing is engineered to dissipate heat and keep the components cool. Smart Volt feature allows ballast to run on 120v, 208v or 240v power. Detachable power cord allows easy change over. Comes standard with 120v cord, purchase 240 volt cord separately (part #903082). There is also a resettable circuit breaker for short circuit protection. La… |
Have you read these ?
Hydroponics & Seed Starting | adminbr October 17, 2005