Fluorescent lights, requiring little electricity, are primarily used for seedlings
and young plants as they enter the
vegetative stage. They can also be used
for plants that require less light, such
as herbs and lettuce, but they cannot
provide the light needed to bring any
flowering plant to mature growth or
fruit. For early growth, fluorescent grow
lights are fine, and with a compact fluorescent light on a light mover, you can
see much better coverage. A compact
fluorescent light on a light mover is a
natural combination that is perfect for
the needs of young plants.
High pressure sodium and metal
halides are the most widely used
grow lights. They are powerful lights
that require a ballast. MH lights have
more of a blue spectrum, mimicking
the light of spring, and are perfect
for the growth (vegetative) phase of
plants. HPS lights have more of a red
spectrum, mimicking the light of fall,
and are perfect for the bloom phase
of plants. Both HPS and MH are hot
lights, and when they are stationary they
shine intensely on the canopy directly
under the grow lamp, leaving the
majority of the plant shadowed.
Putting any type of HPS or MH grow
light on a light mover spreads the light
more efficiently, getting rid of hot
spots and shadows while delivering a
better quality of light to the leaves for
an optimal leaf area index. Increasing
the leaf area index is the single most
important factor in increasing a
plant’s yield. A light mover makes all
the difference in faster plant growth
and increased yields when growing
with HPS and MH lights.
Double-ended grow lights can be
HPS or MH. The advantage of DE
lights is that, without a frame wire
inside the lamp, there is no shadow
in the grow lamp, so more light can
get to the plants. There is also a more
stable, even output of light along the
length of the grow lamp. A DE grow
light uses a specific DE ballast and
when used in conjunction with a light
mover, the results they provide are
hard to beat. Some of the best yields
result with this combination and
that’s because a really good grow light
turns into a great grow light when you
move it on a light mover.
LEDs come with many advantages,
including using less electricity and
throwing off less heat than their HPS
and MH counterparts. Their customizable spectrums can also greatly
improve the quality of a harvest.
For these reasons, many growers
use them in conjunction with
HPS and MH grow lights. LEDs
have a defined light beam, and
this quality, focused light is efficiently
spread using a light mover for even
more light penetration.
Ceramic metal halides are a fairly
new technology to hit the market
and offer impressive results. They are
basically a newer version of the MH.
What’s unique about them is in their
ceramic tube, which allows the grow
lamp to burn at a higher temperature.
This makes for a more natural, sun-like
light, which is what all indoor growers
are shooting for. Like all of the grow
lights mentioned here, the performance of CMHs is improved greatly
when they are moved on a light mover.
Whatever style of grow lights you’re
using, the single most important way
to increase their efficiency is to move
them along a rail with a robotic mover
to deliver the best light to all the
leaves from end to end. Think of your
grow light and your light mover as a
combined indoor grow system that
works best as one unit. Getting the best
quality grow lights by moving them on a
light mover is the easiest way to deliver
the correct light intensity to all the
leaves. By maximizing your grow lights,
you can maximize your results.
Nancy Hamilton is the vice-president
of sales and marketing for Gualala
Robotics, the manufacturer of
LightRail light movers.
The company is based
in Steamboat Springs,
Colorado.
“
Putting any type of HPS or MH grow light on a
light mover spreads the light more efficiently,
getting rid of hot spots and shadows while
delivering a better quality of light to the leaves
for an optimal leaf area index.”
Maximum Yield USA | June 2016
151