New to hydroponics gardening? We've taken the guess work out of which indoor
gardening equipment you need to start your first indoor garden!
Our complete growing kits combine a hydroponics system and grow light
fixture into one package to save you money!
While
deciding which kit you'd like to use, keep in mind the amount of space you
have available to grow your garden and the height of the plants you want to
grow.
Floor space approximates the width and length of the hydroponics system,
plus some extra inches for the plant leaves to overlap the equipment.
The plant height limitation is determined by the strength of the grow light.
If you plan to grow taller plants, see lighting tips
for growing taller plants.
All hydroponics systems will support any plant height. If you need a different
combination, call us!
Grow lights are made to mimic natural sunlight. There are two major types - COOL and WARM.
COOL-6500k grow light bulbs create
bright white light, with a touch of blue color. These grow lights are used
during the
vegetative stage of plants, where the plants are young and still growing
leaves and stalks to become mature plants. These bulbs mimic the bright
white Spring and Summer
sunlight. (Includes Metal Halide, or MH bulbs)
COOL bulbs can be used throughout a plant's
life if it is a green plant that does not bloom.
WARM-2700k grow light bulbs emit more of a pink color. These
bulbs are used during the flowering and fruiting stage of a plant's
life. This stage is when flower buds start to appear, and if the plant is a
fruit or vegetable, the produce develops after the flowers open and are
pollinated. The WARM-2700k bulbs mimic the warmer Fall sunlight. (Includes
High Pressure Sodium, or HPS bulbs)
Indoors, natural seasonal sunlight can be
overridden with grow lights.
Start your seedlings or young plants under a
COOL-6500k grow light. Once the plant is mature enough to start blooming,
switch the grow light to a WARM-2700k. This tricks your plants into thinking
it is now the Fall season so they will start generating flower buds!
Taller Plant
Suggestions:
Most grow lights penetrate two to three feet into the garden's foliage. When
plants exceed this height, the lower leaves will die from lack of light.
If your plants are a taller variety, such as
tomatoes or Chinese Evergreen, simply add supplemental lighting on the sides
of your garden area. This side lighting approach will keep the lower leaves
in good health!
The Sunblaster is an ideal choice for side
lighting as it is narrow, lightweight, and can be hung vertically to provide
maximum grow light coverage. Learn
more about the Sunblaster
