Thinking about growing your own cannabis plants indoors? As you probably know, if you want to do it right, getting set up isn’t exactly cheap. The good news is that, when it comes to grow lights, there are plenty of low-cost options that provide excellent value for your money. In this article we will walk you through the various types of lights on the market and how to go about selecting the option best suited to your purposes.
What to look for when buying a grow light
Without a quality grow light, you’re never going to be satisfied with your herb. Using a bad grow light is as pointless as using bad seeds. After all, access to good lighting is what makes plant activity possible in the first place.
So it’s not just a matter of going online and buying the cheapest grow light available. The idea is to find a respectable light that doesn’t consume an excessive amount of electricity and, moreover, won’t die on you within a year.
It’s imperative that your grow light comes from a trusted brand. A lesser-known company that only sells one or two lights without many customer reviews is one to steer clear of. We will give a few examples of reputable brands at the end of this article.
Remember that plants use different wavelengths of light in each phase of their growth cycle. You want to make sure the grow light you purchase is able to offer your plant the whole spectrum of visible light, from violet (shortest) to red (longest). That will make your job as a grower a lot easier.
What are the different types of grow lights?
The most popular are light-emitting diodes (LED), high-intensity discharge (HID), and fluorescent. Let’s take a quick look at each one.
LED lights are preferred by most growers thanks to their long lifespan (up to 20 years), low maintenance, and tremendous efficiency. They consume less energy than other types of light, making them a greener option that won’t run up your electricity bill. LED lights also produce less heat; as a result they can be placed closer to the plant, which is useful for people growing in a limited space.
HID lamps are known for their power and their ability to deliver the entire spectrum of light. While not as simple and cheap as LED lights, HID lamps are still affordable: you can find a full HID grow light kit for around $200. The main disadvantage of HID lamps is that they don’t last very long.
Fluorescent lights are less commonly used than LED and HID, but are still effective during your cannabis plant’s vegetative stage. That’s because fluorescent lights produce only short wavelengths of light, which is what your plant needs in its first phase of growth. Their simplicity and affordability appeal to some growers. However, they are limited in terms of their power and can only deliver violet/blue spectrum light.
Best cheap grow lights for weed
Below are three inexpensive but highly-rated grow lights that you may want to look into as you begin to cultivate your own marijuana.
BESTVA DC Series 2000W LED Grow Light
This LED grow light from BESTVA contains the full spectrum of light and has a lifespan of 100,000 hours. Price: $215.
Growstar 1000W LED Plant Light
Another full spectrum LED grow light with a 100,000-hour lifespan and a 90-degree optical lens for improved light concentration. Price: $200.
VIPARSPECTRA UL Certified 600W LED Grow Light
This full spectrum grow light is incredibly efficient with a power draw of only 260 watts and a lifespan of at least 100,000 hours. Price: $160.
