What is the best metal halide bulb for growing?
What is a Metal Halide Grow blub?
Metal halide grow lights are a type of HID, or high-intensity discharge, lighting. These lamps contain a quartz tube filled with a noble gas. An arc of electricity is sparked between two electrodes inside the tube to create light.
MH bulbs contain metal halide. This gas burns with a cool white light that contains a large amount of light in the blue wavelengths.
Metal halide bulbs can last up to 20,000 hours, although they degrade to the point that they are no longer effective as grow lights long before that. They have a high lumen output and also generate a lot of heat.
Overall, MH bulbs are highly efficient, though they are not as efficient as HPS (high-pressure sodium or CMH (ceramic metal halide) bulbs. Note that ceramic metal halide bulbs, while they sound similar, are actually quite different. I will go into detail on the comparison toward the end of this article.
Spectrum of a Metal Halide Light
Before we see and compare the spectrum of a Metal Halide HID, please look at the following chart:
This is the average plant response spectrum chart by McCree. See how plants use light throughout the whole PAR range? Although with different relative absorption rates all colors are used.
Also notice there is even a slight but significant absorption at the Infrared and UV levels. Plants need a light source that integrates the whole spectrum, not a mixture of red and blue as commonly thought of. This is one of the advantages of Metal Halide HID versus other light sources, they actually output a broad spectrum of light that plants can use to grow healthy.
Now, this is the light spectrum of the average Metal Halide grow light:
How Many Plants Can I Grow Under Metal Halide Grow Bulbs?
There is no set standard for determining how many plants can be grown under one MH grow light. It is dependent on the type of plants and how much space is needed to grow. Some experts suggest going by the bulb wattage, suggesting anywhere between 36 to 100 Watts per plant. This would mean you could have 4 to 11 plants under one grow light. Since this would not work with all plants, it is best to research your specific plants to see how much space they need.
Things to Look for When Choosing a Metal Halide Grow Light
Metal halide grow bulbs generate heat, so you need to have good ventilation in your growing area. This helps protect your plants from burning and drying out and also ensures your equipment functions properly. Metal halide grow lights must be used with ballasts, with each bulb having an ANSI code. The ANSI code is a three letter code that is used to find ballasts it can be paired with. If the code on the ballast matches the one on the bulb, then they are compatible.
Always check to see what burn position your bulb requires. Burn position is the position in which the bulb can safely be installed. Incorrect positioning of MH grow lights can decrease the life span of the bulb. Most metal halide grow bulbs are either horizontal mount (mounted parallel to the ground only) or universal mount (can be used in any position). However, there are some horizontal bulbs that require an additional adjustment of plus or minus 15 degrees. You should also check to see what base your grow light fixture accepts. These metal halide grow lights are available with mogul (E39) and mogul extended (EX39) bases.
The size bulb you need depends on the size of the area you want the bulb to cover.
The following table shows the maximum areas you can expect each size bulb to cover and the recommended distance from the plants, which should give you an idea how much vertical space each wattage would require.
The maximum blue light for vegetable growing strong；More pure white light than the popular HPS grow light, close to daylight frequencies, which allows it to be used for growing plants.Balanced orange-red light for stem elongation and flowering
Mimic daylight.Provide optimal spectral energy required for vegetative growth.High ratio of red and blue spectral for a good photosynthetic efficiency.Good lumen output for a high nominal value.Robust plants with high blue light output
High ratio of red light to healthy plant growth.Long average life, high lumen output, low energy consumptionGood for indoor (high ceiling areas - ""high bay"" applications) and outdoor use due to good light quality
Apollo Horticulture GLBMH400 400W
Apollo Horticulture dominates anything electrical hydroponic from bulbs to complete growing kits with reflectors, fans, and timer, as you will see in my number 4. This is easily the most popular MH bulb. Perfect for the small-scale hydroponic growers or those with small plants and small gardens who want a quality at a very modest price. MH grow lights have remained popular due to its energy efficiency and brightness, and with professional grade materials, Apollo does not disappoint.
Vivosun Metal Halide Bulbs
To be perfectly honest, the EyeHortilux MH bulbs are better, but they cost much, much more than the Vivosun Metal Halide Grow Bulbs. And the large difference in price does not justify the difference in quality. For that reason, the best budget MH bulb is also the best overall choice.
The Vivosun MH bulbs have an enhanced blue/violet spectrum with a color temperature of 4200K, which means they contain a bit more reddish light than many vegging bulbs. This actually helps the plants during vegging, as they need a good mix of light and not just blue. That said, I would generally prefer a spectrum that is a bit cooler: 5500K to 6000K is ideal.
The Vivosun metal halide lamps have a long lifespan of 24,000 hours and retain 90% of their initial output even after 5000 hours. They will not last as many grow cycles as the more expensive bulbs, but the price difference is so large, that we recommend just buying 2 or 3 of these instead of one Hortilux, etc.
These bulbs come in 1000w, 600w or 400w with an initial output of 105,000 lumens, 60,000 lumens, and 36,000 lumens respectively.
To be perfectly honest, the EyeHortilux MH bulbs are better, but they cost much, much more than the Vivosun Metal Halide Grow Bulbs. And the large difference in price does not justify the difference in quality. For that reason, the best budget MH bulb is also the best overall choice.
The Vivosun MH bulbs have an enhanced blue/violet spectrum with a color temperature of 4200K, which means they contain a bit more reddish light than many vegging bulbs. This actually helps the plants during vegging, as they need a good mix of light and not just blue. That said, I would generally prefer a spectrum that is a bit cooler: 5500K to 6000K is ideal.
The Vivosun metal halide lamps have a long lifespan of 24,000 hours and retain 90% of their initial output even after 5000 hours. They will not last as many grow cycles as the more expensive bulbs, but the price difference is so large, that we recommend just buying 2 or 3 of these instead of one Hortilux, etc.
These bulbs come in 1000w, 600w or 400w with an initial output of 105,000 lumens, 60,000 lumens, and 36,000 lumens respectively.
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