

The best distance for HPS and MH bulbs will depend on their wattage. They also need to be placed further from the plants to avoid burning. These lights run hot and therefore require a suitable cooling system. HID bulbs have both HPS (high-pressure sodium) versions for the flowering stage and MH (metal halide) versions for the vegetative stage. How Far Away Do The Lights Need To Be From The Plants? LED lights are able to cover approximately the following areas:Ģ00 watts – 0.8 meters squared – 2 plantsģ50 watts – 1.5 meters squared – 6 to 8 plants HPS lights can cover approximately the following areas:Ģ50 watts – up to 1 square meter – 2 plantsĤ00 watts – 1 to 1.5 square meters – 4 plantsĦ00 watts – 1.3 to 2 square meters – 8 plantsġ000 watts – 1.8 to 3 square meters – 10 plants Here is a rough guide to the number of plants which can be grown depending on the size of your grow space and the wattage of your lamps:

You then multiply the figure you’ve obtained with the desired PPFD level. This will give you the figure for your growing surface. Multiply the length of your grow space by its width. In order to determine how much light your crop is going to need, there is a simple formula you can use: These systems also run cool for extra economy in the long-run.

If you can afford a full LED setup, you’ll find that high-performance kits such as those from Plantslily draw only 350W – 400W but can still outperform 600W MH bulb. If you’re a micro-grower, 250W lamps may be suitable, but for a bigger crop, they won’t allow the light to reach taller plants’ lower branches. This won’t mean a bigger harvest and will also increase the heat substantially. Don’t fall into the trap of putting too many lamps into your growing space. In general, 400W to 600W per meter squared is the best option for growing at home. They are also ideal for seedlings and micro growing.

