Which lamps are better? The traditional HPS and MH lamps or the newer energy-saving lamps? We have listed all the pros and cons of these grow lamps. Energy-saving lamps are still widely used in the growing world, but have not been sold for a few years now because the lamps are too fragile for shipping. Because energy-saving lamps are still widely used for growing, we thought it would be useful to make a comparison between HPS and energy-saving lamps.
Energy saving lamps
Although we no longer sell energy saving lamps for cultivation, we still regularly receive questions about these cultivation lamps. Many growers are still interested in energy saving lamps for their handy dimensions and lower power consumption. In addition to these advantages, the energy saving lamp also has a few major disadvantages, both of which are described below.
Advantages of energy-saving lamps:
- Suitable for small (micro) growing spaces because you can hang your lamp close to the plant.
- Low investment. Energy-saving lamps for cultivation are relatively cheap.
- Little heat, which means your extractor fan can also run at a lower setting.
- Low power consumption, which reduces energy bills.
Disadvantages of energy-saving lamps:
- Very fragile, energy-saving light bulbs are almost impossible to ship because they break easily.
- Less effective for flowering. Yield with energy saving lamps will be lower.
- Not suitable for tall plants because energy-saving lamps shine less deeply.
- Also not suitable for a growing area where many plants are close together.
- You must adjust the energy saving bulb daily to prevent it from touching the plants.
HPS lamps
High pressure sodium lamps have been used for many decades for growing plants. Due to the high light output of these lamps and the heat that is given off, these lamps are ideal for simulating a warm climate. This often makes the yield in your growing space optimal. However, HPS lamps also have disadvantages. Below you will find an overview of all the advantages and disadvantages of HPS lamps.
Benefits of HPS lighting:
- Proven results. HPS lamps are a guarantee for success.
- High light output, resulting in a high yield from your plant.
- Easy to scale by adding more power.
- The investment with HPS lamps is often low.
Disadvantages of HPS lighting:
- HPS lamps are very powerful but also break quickly.
- The lamps get very hot, so a lot of ventilation is required.
- You often need accessories such as a reflector hood and a ballast.
- HPS lamps become very hot and are therefore easily detectable.
Our choice
For growth, the energy saving lamp has proven to be very good. For flowering, the energy saving lamp was very disappointing. The difference in yield compared to an HPS cultivation was considerably lower. Unfortunately, we no longer sell energy saving lamps because they are quite fragile. In about half of the packages, the energy saving lamps broke down. We are therefore strongly inclined to choose the less economical HPS lamp as a solution for the cultivation space. Although these lamps are a lot less economical, a high yield is almost guaranteed with these cultivation lamps. If you still want an energy-efficient solution, we advise you to choose the LED cultivation lamps.
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