Are HPS Grow Lights better than LED Grow Lights? Full Guide for Cannabis Growers
It’s essential for us to note that each and every grow room will be different.
This is why we can say that there is no “ultimate” setup, but only appropriate lighting.
It’s your job to adequately determine a few factors before you begin searching for the best grow light, whether it be Metal Halide, HPS, LED or CFL bulbs.
First of all, it is no question that LED grow light are more efficient at creating light than an HPS lamp. LEDs will always beat HPS on a light meter…
But what we haven’t seen is the definitively better growth performance from LED grow lights, even at wattages that are nearly the same. It has confused the growing community for years, and for good reason!
Some days it seems like LEDs are just… a passing and expensive fad. Other days it looks like HPS is outdated after the next bulb swap.
You’ve seen the side-by-side grows on YouTube, however, they are often biased or just done wrong. It is hard to put together a scientific test! There are a lot of factors to consider: temperature, distance, humidity, water, nutrients, strain, grower experience…
Benefits Of LED Grow Lights Over HID Grow Lights
The old school best HID grow lights for plants can get the job done, but they are very inefficient when compared to the state-of-the-art LED indoor grow lights.
This is why we can say that there is no “ultimate” setup, but only appropriate lighting.
It’s your job to adequately determine a few factors before you begin searching for the best grow light, whether it be Metal Halide, HPS, LED or CFL bulbs.
First of all, it is no question that LED grow light are more efficient at creating light than an HPS lamp. LEDs will always beat HPS on a light meter…
But what we haven’t seen is the definitively better growth performance from LED grow lights, even at wattages that are nearly the same. It has confused the growing community for years, and for good reason!
Some days it seems like LEDs are just… a passing and expensive fad. Other days it looks like HPS is outdated after the next bulb swap.
You’ve seen the side-by-side grows on YouTube, however, they are often biased or just done wrong. It is hard to put together a scientific test! There are a lot of factors to consider: temperature, distance, humidity, water, nutrients, strain, grower experience…
Benefits Of LED Grow Lights Over HID Grow Lights
The old school best HID grow lights for plants can get the job done, but they are very inefficient when compared to the state-of-the-art LED indoor grow lights.
- LED grow lights last six times as long!
- Eco-friendly LED grow lighting uses no toxic metals.
- Energy savings range from 50%-70% over HID lights.
- No cooling necessary; no plant burn and decreased risk of fires.
- LED directional lighting requires no reflectors.
- Maximum chlorophyll absorption and flower production.
- Less frequent watering.
- Discretion assured — no thermal footprint.
Advantages of HPS Grow Lights
- HPS grow lights are capable of producing an intense amount of light, which can increase cannabis flowering.
- There are a wide variety of HPS grow lights available, so options have become more standardized.
- The initial start-up costs are lower with HPS grow lights than LED lights.
Drawbacks of HPS Grow Lights
- HPS grow lights require more power and are less energy efficient than LED lights.
- HPS grow lights have a shorter shelf life in comparison to LED lights.
- The intense lighting of HPS makes adequate airflow and ventilation essential.
- Setting the optimal temperature can be challenging, particularly in confined spaces.
- HPS grow lights increase costs substantially in the long-term
Conclusion—HPS is Good, LED is Better
Virtually any type of marijuana grow light has, at some point, been used for horticultural purposes. Since greenhouse operators and the space agencies both share an interest in determining which light sources produce the best results while consuming the fewest resources in terms of energy (to run the light and to cool the grow area) and grow space and cooling, a large number of studies have been, and will be, conducted to determine which artificial light sources are the most effective and efficient.
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