One of the most common problems among indoor growers is figuring out the distance of the grow lights from the plants. It turns out that there are a lot of answers to this problem but the general rule is by using the hand test.
The hand test will identify whether your grow lights are too close from your plants. To do the test, place your hand under the grow lights for at least 30 seconds. If the heat hurts your hand to the point that you can’t bear it, that only means that your grow lights are placed too close to your plants. You don’t want this much light for your crops because it will destroy it, or worst kill it.
Aside from the hand test, there are still a lot of variations of grow lights that you can utilize in your own indoor garden. Usually, it already comes with specific instructions about its appropriate distance from your plants.
The ideal distance between your plants and your grow lights provides an adequate amount of light to your plants for better photosynthesis and higher income in every stage of plant growth. This information is applicable if you are using CFL, LED T5, or HPS.
Using LED Grow Lights
The hand test will identify whether your grow lights are too close from your plants. To do the test, place your hand under the grow lights for at least 30 seconds. If the heat hurts your hand to the point that you can’t bear it, that only means that your grow lights are placed too close to your plants. You don’t want this much light for your crops because it will destroy it, or worst kill it.
Aside from the hand test, there are still a lot of variations of grow lights that you can utilize in your own indoor garden. Usually, it already comes with specific instructions about its appropriate distance from your plants.
The ideal distance between your plants and your grow lights provides an adequate amount of light to your plants for better photosynthesis and higher income in every stage of plant growth. This information is applicable if you are using CFL, LED T5, or HPS.
Using LED Grow Lights
Placing your grow lights in a correct distance will prevent burn out and encourage efficient plant growth. Always remember that LEDs can easily destroy your cannabis plant if it is too close to it.
Once your crop is overexposed to the light, you’ll notice that it will start to become pale and it will acquire yellow spots all over the leaves. This happens when the light source is very close. In addition, the plant could also lose its nutrients and that is something you have to avoid.
There’s no specific distance in placing LED lights in your to grow space since they vary in size, shape, and wattage. However, you need to position it away from your plant since overexposure leads to a lot of negative effects.
LED is the preferred glow light because these have lower power requirements, and do not produce as much heat as the other types of lighting. An example of LED panel is the Viparspectra.
Different Kinds of Grow Lights
Fluorescent Grow Light
Fluorescent T5 grow lights have a specific distance that you need to follow to ensure that it won’t harm your plant. The recommended distance is at least 12 inches away from your cannabis. Once your crop grows, you also need to readjust its distance.
Metal Halides and HPS Grow Light
Metal Halides and HPS grow light come with specific distance guidelines and these are 8- 12 inches away from your plants for 150W, 10-14 inches for 250 W, 12-19 inches for 400W, 14025 inches for 600W, and 16-31 inches for 1000W. HPS or high pressure sodium bulb are efficient and very bright light sources. HPS also last a long time. One example is Vivosun. It comes in a kit complete with a reflector, ballast and a timer. Gavita Lights is another popular brand.
HID Light Spacing
HID or High-Intensity Discharge grow lights emits large quantities of light and they shouldn’t be placed relatively close to cannabis plants. The distance guidelines for HIDs are 12-19 inches away from the plant for 400-600W, 14-26 inches for 600-1000W, and 16-31 inches for more than 1000W.
Though HID lights produce an increased amount of heat, they shouldn’t be placed too far from the plants because that will make them ineffective.
Choosing the Right Grow Lights
Cannabis plants need light in order to grow into a healthy and lush weed. If you are an indoor grower, this factor should be one of your priorities. You have to install quality grow lights that have the capacity to imitate the natural sunlight.
Light helps plants in the process of photosynthesis. This is when they manufacture their own glucose using water, carbon dioxide, and light. If they don’t receive enough of those resources, they won’t be able to create their own food. The glucose the plants produce serves as their food supply which gives them adequate energy to grow.
If you want to grow healthy and flourishing cannabis inside your home, make sure you give them sufficient supply of their needs. Giving them less or too much will deteriorate their growth and that will mess up your weed production.
In addition to this, you need to be aware of the exposure time of your plants under their grow lights to avoid problems in your garden. You also have to be mindful of the amount of heat your grow lights emit.
There are different kinds of grow lights that you can use in your indoor garden. You can actually use any of them as long as you know their required distance from your plants.
