Best HPS Grow Bulbs for Flowering 2019
If you are a gardener, your concern is getting a higher yield and a better harvest. In most cases, we are worried if the plants are getting the required amount of sunlight. This is why HPS bulbs were made to ensure your plants get the right amount of light.
What exactly is HPS technology?
High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) is a light technology that was made to help cultivate plants indoors. The technology was invented in 1964 and many gardeners prefer it because it provides a powerful light to grow plants well. The light is effective for blooming, flowering or fruiting crops.
How HPS light works?
HPS grow light works by using ballast, which creates a pulse that stirs the gas in the bulbs or lamps. The ballast first ignites the xenon gas, which in turn generates a flow of electrons. The electrons heat up the arc producing a pale blue light. After this, the arc vapors mercury into gas generating a deeper blue color. Finally, the sodium gas vapors turn the arc into a yellow color spectrum.
These are all the colours that provide lighting effects that influence the growth of the crops. All the colours have different wavelengths depending on the gases inside them. Majority of the HPS bulbs are ideal for the FLOWERING phases of the crops because of their orange and red lights.
Best Budget Single Ended HPS Option: Vivosun High Pressure Sodium Bulbs
The Vivosun HPS bulbs are available in 400, 600 and 1000 watts. The 600 watt bulbs are also sold in a 2-pack. They sell at a much lower price than the EyeHortilux bulbs and the main difference is quality control and longevity.
While the Vivosun bulbs can’t quite match Hortilux for output and quality of spectrum, they’re not too far off. But they usually last for 2 grow cycles max, instead of 4 or 5, like the name brands.
There is also a much higher chance of getting a faulty bulb with Vivosun, so you need to be aware of that risk (a risk that is even higher with other low-cost brands, which is the main reason Vivosun and iPower stand out). Of course you can get a bad bulb replaced, but you lose time.
EYE HORTILUX SUPER HPS ENHANCED SPECTRUM BULB
Eye Hortilux is the top premium brand in the horticulture lightning, and they’re in the grow light market for about 20 years.
When it comes to Lumen, and PAR output, Eye Hortilux HPs bulbs always hit the top. They show the highest PPFD in the tests done by some growers and manufacturers you can search online.
These lamps generate great results for a heavy grow, especially flowering phase.
There are some differences in the prices between Eye Hortilux and other HPS light brands. But if you’re looking for a quality HPs bulb that can maximize your plant yield for several grows, Eye Hortilux is a reliable choice.
The downside is its price. When you have to replace your HPS after several grows or every 9–12 months for the standard performance, these bulbs will cost you more. However, you do have to pay for high quality these days.
Plantmax 400W HPS Bulb
This HPS from Plantmax could produce at least 50,000 lumens per watt. More than that, 24,000 hours is the lifespan of this product that could satisfy all gardeners. Also, Plantmax HPS bulbs were tested by American National Standards Institute.
However, as I said above, 400W bulbs is not as efficient as other 600W HPS bulbs because they do not produce usable lights as many as 600W or 1000W HPS bulbs.
iPower 600 Watt High Pressure Sodium HPS Bulb
If you want better yields, try the iPower 600 Watt grow light. This is a nice bulb from a well-recognized manufacturer of grow lights. The bulb is perfect for blooming, fruiting and flowering among others.
This bulb helps you to grow better plants by giving you reliable lighting and a high performance. It has a lumen output of 85,000 and it is compatible with both magnetic and electronic ballasts.
The bulbs are specifically designed for effective plant growth. It has red and orange spectrum and a high photosynthetic active radiation that enhance better flowering and fruiting.
The bulbs also have an extra-low lumen depreciation where it maintains 90 percent of the initial lumen output after being in use for 6500 hours. The bulb provides a longer life of 32,000 hours. So this 600 watt hps bulb reviews can help to make a perfect decision indeed.
The Eco Farm HPS Bulb is considered as one of the best HPS grow bulbs because it makes it easier to grow indoor plants through its hydroponic lighting system. The fluorescent lights are developed to function as a grow lamp to your plants.
It has already established its brand in the market, and people kept on buying it, especially those with indoor plants. It acts by emitting an orange to red glow which can trigger the hormone in plants that induces budding and flowering.
This is best used in the reproductive stage of the plant. It functions by imitating the autumn sun. People who have used it noted that there was an increase in reproduction and flowering when they started using this HPS lamp. If you want to increase yields, then this HPS lamp will help you achieve that.
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While there are a million and one “brands” of HPS grow bulbs, most of these are Chinese knockoffs of extremely popular and high-selling brands that are more established in the market.
To avoid going on and on about obscure brands, this article will cover the following five brands only. These HPS bulb manufacturers are well known and well respected in the growing community.