Grow Lighting Education

Light Stress In Plants: Identification & Treatment

Sufficient lighting is essential for all stages of growth, but sometimes you can overdo it - leading to light stress in plants. This can cause a variety of issues with your plants. 

This can get tricky, because you absolutely need intense lighting to produce strong root systems to develop fruits and flowers. From seed to harvest, your plants need light in order to stay healthy. 

But when it comes to lighting, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Light stress, including high light stress in plants as well as low light stress in plants, can cause serious ill effects. 

LIght is one of the most important factors for growing any kind of plant. Get it right in this guide to preventing this condition from occuring in the first place, or treating it if you suspect you may be dealing with it. 

LED vs HPS Grow Lights - Which Technology Is Best For You?

The debate over LED vs HPS grow lights and how each technology produces buds is a hot one.

Growers who have been at this for decades and started out with this older, high-pressure sodium lighting swear by it, and are hesitant to switch to something new - especially when looking at the cost difference between HPS & LED grow lights.

LED growers, on the other hand, point to the huge savings in electricity costs, along with decreased heat production in the grow room. They also reference bigger, more resinous flowers.

So which technology is right for you? Should you finally make the jump over to LEDs?

In this article, we're going to break down the pros and cons of each lighting style to help you understand which one is right for your crop. Because while LEDs are the better light, they might not be right for you at this time.

Let's get started by explaining the criteria we're going to use to compare HPS lights vs LED.

Grow Light Certifications: What Do They All Mean?

There are an abundance of different grow light certifications and it can get overwhelming. What do you need, and what don’t you need? As we’ll explain in this quick article, it depends on your grow.

When it comes to indoor growing, your lights need to be protected from a wide range of conditions - moisture, dust, etc. But, some listings even take into consideration how the grow light performs.

No matter how you grow, we have lights with the certifications you need. And, we have the knowledge to help you pick the right one.

When & How To Replace Grow Light Bulbs

Unless you are growing with LED’s, you are likely wondering, when and how should I replace my grow light bulbs?

You may know that the general guideline is to replace grow light bulbs every year or so, but with so many variables at play, this isn’t always accurate. There are so many factors you need to consider.

We’ll help you figure out how long your specific bulb technology will last, and share some warning signs you can watch for to help you determine if your bulb is on it’s way out.

Then, we’ll cover how to actually choose a replacement, and then install it in your existing fixture safely and quickly.

UV and UVB Lights For Plants: Everything You Need To Know

There has been some debate over the importance of UV light for plants. Some growers even wonder whether ultraviolet light has a place in plant cultivation of any kind at all. 

The fact of the matter is that if you are growing plants indoors, you should be supplementing your plants with some form of it. 

We’ll cover everything you need to know about this wavelength, along with the best ways to add it to your grow room.

Different Types Of Grow Light Timers

When it comes to growing indoors, you’ll obviously need a grow light. But in order to make that light work as intended, you’ll need a grow light timer or controller to set up your day and night schedules. Some people look at timers and controllers as an accessory, but we consider these a necessity. We’ll explain why that is, and also breakdown the different types of timers and controllers, along with some features to look for when shopping for yours.

The Difference Between Single Ended and Double Ended Grow Lights

Whether you’re just starting with your indoor grow or looking to upgrade your current setup, knowing the difference between single-ended and double-ended grow lights is essential.

Ask any grower, and you’ll likely get a different answer about which is better.

This is because it depends on how you grow. We’ll cover everything you need to know about SE and DE grow lights, and help you pick the right one for your grow light setup.

Grow Light Coverage Calculator - How Many Lights Do I Need?

Determining how many grow lights you need is one of the first steps to setting up your grow room, and its important you get it right the first time so you don't waste time, energy, and money. 

A grow light coverage calculator can make a seemingly complex topic simple. 

Once you know how much light your plants need and what type of grow lights you are going to use, it's just a matter of choosing a grow light setup that works for you.

What Is The Best Grow Light Setup?

To grow the biggest, strongest plants possible, you need to put together the ultimate grow light setup.

It may appear to be common sense that the better your grow lights, the better your plants will turn out.

However, it’s not that as simple as finding the most expensive light and throwing it in your tent.

We first need to define what the "best grow light setup" is.  Then, you need to understand what this means in respect to your grow in particular.

How To Measure Grow Light With A PAR Meter

Are you aware of just how effective your grow light is? If you are growing indoors, you need to understand how to measure your light with a PAR meter.

Light is one of the most prominent factors in how your plants grow, and so it is important to constantly be testing your light output.

There are other ways to measure light, such as lumens and lux meters, but these won’t give you the same useful information, and have sort of become outdated.

We're going to tell you everything you need to know about measuring your grow light, including how to actually use a PAR meter, and some limitations these may have.

Then, we will give you some tips on how to increase your lights effectiveness. First, let’s cover why lumens and lux don’t cut it these days.