3RLighting: FAQ- Enhanced Spectrum Grow Lights

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Q: What are Enhanced Spectrum Grow Lights?

A: The High Intensity Discharge Light manufacturers have been responding to the needs of plant growers by coming out with new bulbs that shine the colors that plants use the most.

Early attempts used a High Pressure Sodium bulb that was modified with a little bit of blue light. These "Son Agro" bulbs were manufatured by Phillips. They worked especially well in greenhouses or supplementing Natural Light on Blooming plants. Now, in the 21st century, some Metal Halide Lights have been modified to provide a more complete light for plants. The best of these so far has been the "Clean-Ace" bulb developed in Japan especially for plants. The "Clean-Ace" Metal Halide bulb comes in 250 Watt size and 400 Watt size and will burn in any standard Metal Halide fixture of the same size. It costs more than a standard or Super Metal Halide Bulb, but can be a good compromise for those on a budget.

A large benefit of the Clean Ace bulb is that its color spectrum helps indoor plants stay compact with tight spaces between branches and leaves. This can be especially important if you are trying to grow tomato plants in a bush shape rather than as a vine. Often the variety of plant which have a natural tendency to grow into a bush shape are called "determinate"; seeds which have a natural tendency to grow as vines are called "indeterminate". The added blue light of the Clean Ace helps keep the bushes compact, especially when grown near a window.

Q: What else have you got?

A: Sunlight Supply has come out with a "Switchable Ballast". It comes in two sizes 400 WATT and 1000 WATT. This jasper is the latest in technology and allows the ballast to run either a Metal Halide Lamp or a High Pressure Sodium Lamp by flipping a selector switch. One note here: if you buy this light system, you will need two separate bulbs. Make sure you check the fine print on other websites or stores to see if two bulbs will cost extra or if shipping will be an add-on as well as the price of the system itself. Look at your total cost, 3R Lighting gives you excellent value.