Grow Anywhere! Efficient Hydroponic Solutions

to consider when making the decision to purchase lights for your garden. Intensity is not just a measurement of quantity in lumens, but of heat your plants will receive from that light.  Duration is the amount of time your plant will need to grow. Some plants will need as little as 3-4 hours of direct light daily.

Temperature controls are specialized for growth of the plant. Plants have different stages in their life cycle just as we do. The balance of warm temperature and cool temperature light enables the plants to grow strong and flower. Metal halide, high Pressure sodium, and high intensity fluorescent bulbs all have different color temperatures, power consumption, and cost to maintain. MH bulbs produce mainly blue while HPS bulbs produce more red/orange spectrum of light. MH and HPS bulbs cost the most and need to be replaced every 18 months.  They also consume the most electricity. Light-emitting-diodes or LED, have been new to the grow light market but are popular because of the ultra-low wattage rating. They also come in warm and cool temperatures. The cost can be 2-3 times more expensive initially, however they have the longest lifespan of any grow light.  High intensity fluorescent bulbs come in both blue and red/orange spectrum and have relatively low wattage in comparison to HPS or MH. They are the cheapest of all grow lights.

Automation

Automation in growing plants has become standardized by the agricultural industry. Many farmers in the United States use large scale irrigation methods to water entire fields evenly throughout the season.  A microcontroller can be programmed to automate everything about the system. It can even notify you when something has gone wrong.  Solar panels can be introduced to power the microcontroller, which uses very little power, to potentially eliminate the need for electricity in your grow space. Sensors with a microcontroller can make your garden exponentially more efficient. Soil moisture, temperature, and even light levels can be monitored.