Confused about grow lighting

Discussion in 'HortForum' started by Carol Ja, Sep 18, 2006.

  1. Carol Ja

    Carol Ja Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    672
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Salt Spring Island
    I need to buy grow lights for the school I work for, but the more I read the more I don't know what I need. I want to grow tropicals and cacti/succulents from seeds. It will be done in a classroom, not in our greenhouse.
    any suggestons, and/or a place to purchase would be helpful
    thank-you
     
  2. bcgift52

    bcgift52 Active Member

    Messages:
    298
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    BC, Canada
    This is what I use - just plain old fluorescent tubes on cheap pine shelving. They work really well, just keep the lights about 2" from the plants. 2 tube 48" fluorescents cost about $16 to $20, and the pine shelving from London Drugs also between $16 to $20. 3 rows of shelves (in a pinch you can make 4), each shelf holds 2 regular flats. The lights are on hooks and chains which make it easy to adjust the height.
     
  3. Carol Ja

    Carol Ja Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    672
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Salt Spring Island
    Humm, thanks for the information, but I was confused more about the type of lights, I can't get my brain on which type of light to use, if I should go for high intensity metal halide, or full-spectrum fluorescent lights. I read one place that said you need one for cactus, and the other for tropicals, I don't have a budget for both, but I need the light to function for both types of plants.
     
  4. jimmyq

    jimmyq Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    2,345
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada.
    full spectrum low power will sacrifice lumens and intensity vs metal halide. I have grown plants uunder metal halide, high pressure sodium and full spectrum high power fluorescent.

    metal halide is good for growth.
    HPS is good for flowering.
    high output full spectrum is great, period. but.... must be high output or you have to have the bulbs like 2-4 inches from the canopy of yourplants which can be tough.
    for good info, talk to a hydroponic store if you can they are experts on supplemental lighting.
    or try Brite lite and Allie's wholesale, their websites should have some good info regarding artificial lighting.
     
  5. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    6,105
    Likes Received:
    665
    Location:
    Vancouver BC Canada
    Heat generated by the light source may be a consideration if younger students are involved; singed body parts would not be a good thing.
     
  6. jimmyq

    jimmyq Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    2,345
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada.
    good point about the heat.
     
  7. Carol Ja

    Carol Ja Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    672
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Salt Spring Island
    sorry, to clarify which one has all the heat, the metal halide? Slightly cooked kids would be bad.
     
  8. Debra Dunaway

    Debra Dunaway Active Member

    Messages:
    96
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Interior BC, CANADA
    I think Jimmy has it down to a fine art...but for your application I know that most schools go for full spectrum florescents. Good Luck, Deb
     
  9. jimmyq

    jimmyq Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    2,345
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada.
    yup, stay away from HID lighting, lotsa heat.
     
  10. Carol Ja

    Carol Ja Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    672
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Salt Spring Island
    Done, no heat, no HID.
    Thank-you
     

Share This Page