MurshDawg
Active Member
when I was convinced that CFLs were better than HPS I found a very interesting article... I wish I could find it...
High-pressure sodium lights yield yellow lighting (2200 K). They are used for the second (or reproductive) phase of the growth. If high-pressure sodium lights are used for the vegetative phase, plants will usually grow slightly more quickly. Fluorescent lights produce less luminosity than high-intensity discharge lights. Bulbs rated in the higher Kelvin temperature range (5,000 to 6,500) emit more blue-spectrum light and those in the lower range (2,700 to 3,000) emit more red-spectrum light, although both also provide full-spectrum light in lower intensities.
I get 40,000 lumens from my t5 lamp. Most LEP (plasmas) are under 30,000 lumens; but apparently those plasma lamps are way better than anything we have on this thread. I get 40,000 lumens from my t5 lamp. Most LEP (plasmas) are under 30,000 lumens; but apparently those plasma lamps are way better than anything we have on this thread.
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Spring Light
Light of the lengthening days of spring is dominated by the blue part of the light spectrum. Seedlings need blue light for the growth of stems, stalks and leaves. Thus spring is the growing season for plants.
Summer Light
Summer is the time plants blossom and grow buds. The red part of the light spectrum slowly dominates the light of early summer. Red light encourages plants to flower, the first step of sexual reproduction and the growth of fruits. As the summer progresses, the amount of red light in the sun's natural spectrum increases. The red light plus shorter days and cooler nights toward the end of summer signal to plant hormones that it is time for fruit to ripen and later, for leaves to change color and fall.
Fall and Winter Light
In the fall and winter, when many plants are dormant and cease growing, the spectrum of light from the sun is dominated by cool red and purple colors.
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Wit all if this into account.... Try to replicate the sun through the seasons...
My advise would be to Veg with the T-5 and Flower with the HPS.....
Funny thing is that with all that info... It makes me think my t5 set up is perfect for flowering. Because I can get more reds out of my t5 (with different bulbs not just 3000k and 6500k) Than I could with any HPS. I know it sounds very counter intuitive but bear with me. The bulbs I run have a far greater penetration than traditional fluros. They are meant for aquariums and aquatic life such as coral. Not only do they have good penetration, I also have the proper blues and reds. I have two 454nm blues, two 420nm blues, two 633nm red, and two 3000ks. I highly suggest checking out LED without LEDs. I will admit that HPS and MH have been around longer than most of us; However, my goal is to find the most efficient grow without sacrificing to much on quality or yield.