With its potential to grow bigger plants, high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting is a popular choice for cannabis growers. But HPS lights for growing cannabis at home aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution like LEDs, and the more you know about them, the more successful you’ll be in getting the most out of your home grow setup.
What Are HPS Lights?
High-pressure sodium (HPS) lights are specialized lamps that emit an intense yellow/red light spectrum with a yellow-orange hue. This spectrum is the closest you can get to natural sunlight, making it ideal for promoting vertical growth during the seedling and vegetative stages, as well as triggering the flowering stage for healthy, dense bud growth.
Why Choose HPS Lights for Growing Cannabis?
More Heat
Compared to LED lights for growing cannabis, HPS lights produce more heat, which can be beneficial when growing cannabis in cold climates or growing Sativa-dominant cannabis strains that typically require excessive amounts of heat and light compared to their Indica counterparts.
Optimal Flowering
HPS lights support a more natural flowering phase compared to LED light triggers. While switching from HPS to LED once the flowering stage has begun will ensure the highest yields, it’s best to encourage optimal flowering potential by exposing plants to HPS lights.
Less Expensive
HPS lights are also significantly cheaper than other lighting solutions on the market today. While they require more energy and generate more heat than LEDs, their upfront cost is much lower.
Furthermore, HPS bulbs last up to 24,000 hours, giving you significantly more bang for your buck than other lighting systems.
Supports Large Grows
If you’ve got a room or basement dedicated to growing and want to maximize your yield, HPS lights are the way to go. Since these bulbs are so powerful, they can easily support large grows with minimal effort or additional hardware required. This makes them a great choice for serious home growers who want to utilize every square inch of their grow space.
How to Grow Cannabis With HPS Lights
Before you rush out and buy an HPS light for your grow, there are a few things you should consider to ensure the health of your plants:
- always use a ballast to regulate current
- use reflective walls and material to increase light output and minimize utilities
- keep the lights 5 to 8 feet away from plants
It is also a good idea to purchase temperature and humidity monitors to avoid heat stress, mold, or mildew issues.
Cultivate Quality With HPS Lights
HPS lights are an excellent choice for serious home growers who want to take their cannabis growing operation to the next level. With more heat and light output than LED lamps, a lower upfront cost, and a long lifespan, it is easy to see why HPS lights for growing are an excellent choice for home growers wanting to cultivate quality buds at home.
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