Benefits of Fluorescent Grow Lights

There are some very important benefits of using fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent bulbs are energy-efficient, relatively inexpensive, and emit a wide spectrum of light suitable for most plant growth. They also have a very low heat output. These indoor grow lights excel at seed sprouting and growing very young plants.

High Output (T5) Fluorescents are relatively new to this industry. They put off twice the amount of light when compared to normal (T12) Fluorescents for the same electrical costs. An example would be a standard, two-foot T12 fluorescent bulb, which gives off 1000 lumens compared to a T5 two-foot bulb which gives off 2000 lumens – both use the same wattage. High Output Fluorescents, like Compact fluorescents do really well Vegetatively growing plants or keeping Parent plants healthy. They can spread the light out over a square area (as in the the two-foot, 8 bulb fixture, taking up 2 ft. x 2 ft. of space) or over rectangular areas (as in the four-foot. 4 bulb or the four-foott. 8 bulb light fixtures) very well. High output Fluorescents put off very little heat compared to the great amount of light that they produce. As with Compact Fluorescents, these lights are not recommended for Fruiting or Flowering. These T5′s need to be run in specific fixtures with special electronic ballasts that can power their output such as the New Wave, Tek Light, & ;SunBlaze, or Hydrofarm Commercial units.

Along with T5 lights, Compact Fluorescents are great at providing a good light with very little heat. They are also affordable when compared to HID lights providing the same amount of light. What makes Compact Fluorescents great for some applications is that the light emits from a single source as opposed to long banks of light like those found in normal (T12) fluorescents or those found in High Output (T5) Fluorescent banks. These work well in creating a square of light for plants to bask and grow in. A 100-125 watt Compact Fluorescent is good for a 1×1 to 1.5×1.5 Grow Space which can either house Vegetative Plants or Parent Plants (from which a grower can take cuttings from). A 250 watt Compact Fluorescent can provide enough light for a 2×2 Grow Space housing either Parents or Vegetative Plants.  In our experience these bulbs do NOT do well with Blooming – Fruit / Flowering Plants.

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