Growing with a 300W CFL – The Ideal City Garden

Gardening is a popular pastime. Many people even look for homes that specifically have enough room in their yards for a garden. There’s just something about being surrounded with lush, green plants that makes life seem richer somehow. But not everyone has enough space in their yard for a garden. Some people don’t even have a yard. But it’s actually possible to grow a beautiful indoor garden. Growing with a 300W CFL is growing in popularity, especially in big cities where even rooftop gardens can be hard to come by. Plants need light to live, and growing with compact fluorescents allows you to give them that light.

 

Growing with a 300W CFL is a great alternative to growing plants with natural sunlight. You can give your plants a consistent source of light for photosynthesis, resulting in plants that will thrive and grow abundantly. In some ways, growing with compact fluorescents is better, since you control the amount of light that the plants get, as well as the environment in which they’re growing. You won’t have to worry about storms or hail or even bugs. You can grow your plants in a controlled environment with plenty of light; an ideal environment for growth.

 

And another great thing about growing with 300 watt compact fluorescents is that they don’t use as much electricity as regular light bulbs. When you are growing with CFL’s, you’re using a minimal amount of energy. You won’t have to spend a lot of money to make sure that your plants have adequate lighting. Some people are afraid that growing with compact fluorescents will cost them a lot of money. While it’s true that the ideal cost for light is nothing, since sunlight is free, the cost of growing with CFL grow bulbs is still pretty negligible, and certainly worth paying for the joy of gardening.

 

Growing with a 300W CFL allows people to enjoy gardening who never thought that they’d be able to grow anything in the big city or in a small space without a yard. It sure beats renting an expensive plot in a city garden, and, while it may be limited to the space in your home or apartment, it still allows you to enjoy fresh vegetables, flowers, or herbs from the comfort of your own home. There’s no reason to deprive yourself of this satisfaction. You can grow plants with these lamps and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Outdoor Post Lights- The Ins and Outs of Choosing Post Lights

In general, when dealing with outdoor lights and wanting to save money, you consider lights that can mount on an existing structure such as a building or tree.  However, sometimes it is necessary to install lights in an area that does not have any existing structures.  In these cases it is necessary to install outdoor post lights.  These are lights that come with their own post that is inserted and anchored into a hole in the ground.  There are many things to consider when it comes to this type of lighting that does not have to be considered with lights that are mounted to an existing structure.

For example, there is the consideration of installation.  Of course an electrician should work on the lights, but the actual poles add an extra aspect.  The holes must be dug to the right depth, concrete must be poured, and the poles have to actually be stuck in the holes.  These are details that do not exist with other kinds outdoor lighting, so it bears considering on the front end in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.  No one wants heavy outdoor post lights crashing down at any time.

Another consideration when it comes to outdoor post lights is what height they will need to be.  Most come in preset heights, but you will need to determine if the shorter ones will work for your space, or if you need to go with those that are taller.  An example of where taller lights may be needed is a baseball field or batting cages.  Foul balls can go fairly high, and taller posts may prevent lights from getting broken by balls more often than not.  For most other uses, such as private lawns and parking lots, standard posts are fine.  The point is to take all things into account when making the decision.

One plus to outdoor post lights, such as globe post lights, is that they can be installed anywhere.  This means they are better able to do away with blind spots and shadows that may result from lighting that is mounted on an existing structure.   You may find that you need a combination of the two in order to really create the best outdoor lighting situation.  Use existing structures when possible, but strategically place a post lamp here or there to get the most efficient illumination possible.  Though it may cost more in both time and money, the safety and security gained is well worth it.

Before ordering outdoor post lights, take some time to consider the space.  Stand in the space at night and consider where blind spots may occur, how many lights you need, and what angles may work best.  This is not easy, but it is better than not giving it any thought at all.   You very likely will discover that you need another post or two after you are finished as you will be better able to see dark spots at that time.  It may be wise to only install a few at a time and work from there to dispel shadows.

In the end, it is more expensive and a good bit more work to install outdoor post lights, but when they are needed, they are well worth the investment.  It may take a couple of stages to get the job completed to satisfaction, but taking some time to contemplate placement at each stage will go a long way toward making the project go much more smoothly.   Consider the size and use of the space and the goal of lighting on the front end, and you are much more likely to make the right decisions the first time.

Growing with 175W Metal Halide Bulb – Gardening Indoors

People who garden outdoors in the sun do not know how hard it can be to garden effectively indoors. It is another science and art completely. Growing with 175W metal halide bulb, such as the Sylvania M175/U,  is one of the tricks of the trade that indoor gardeners know. Light bulbs have been used for many years to promote the growth of plants either in the non-growing season or harsher climates. Whatever your reason for gardening indoors instead of out, using metal halide lamps is one of the best choices you will make. Gardening is a little bit science and a little bit art; when to use which one is important.

 

Metal halide bulbs can be used for many purposes, growing plants is only one of them. Because of the bright, natural light that they emit, MH lamps are used for stadiums and auditoriums as well as for smaller environments like aquariums. Grow lights are not just any metal halide light. They are designed to be the right temperature and the right spectrum of light for growing healthy and large vegetation. Growing with 175W metal halide bulbs (m175/U) will produce blue spectrum lighting which will encourage a plant to shoot out more leaves and grow taller. Blue spectrum light is close to natural sunlight.

 

If flower growth or fruit growth is expected, red spectrum lighting is preferred. Finding what is best for your indoor garden can be difficult and require some trial and error. Growing with 175W metal halides does have specific requirements attached. A 175W lamp will only light an area that is around the size of a 2 foot by 2 foot square. Slightly larger than that can be accommodated, but anything else would require a larger bulb. Another thing that is proven the work out well is keeping your 175W bulb about 9-10 inches away from your plants for optimum growth.

 

Anything outside of these parameters could produce too much heat and light, which can possibly fry the plants you are growing. Growing with 175W metal halide bulb (m175/U) is a safe and scientific thing to do, however care, observation, and attention are also required to get your plants where you want them to be. If you are just starting out your indoor garden, ask around for experts that can help you troubleshoot before you make mistakes. MH lamps are great ways to grow and can help you to grow the garden that you have always dreamed of right in your own home.

Metal Halide Floods- How to Prepare for Installing Metal Halide Floodlights

How you prepare for having metal halide floodlights installed depends on whether the area is already lit and you are trying to improve the lighting, or you are adding light to an area that is not currently lit.  It may not seem to make a difference, but it really does.  If there is light already there it may take a little more time to prepare, but you already have an idea of what you need.  If there are currently no lights, it does not take as long to get ready for installation, but the installation process itself can take much longer due to trial and error.

If there are already lights, there are a couple of things you can do to best determine where you need to add fixtures to have the most efficient effect.  Look at the area when is dark and the lights are lit.  Have someone else go with you and take turns trying to find places in corners and shadows where you cannot be seen.  If you have security cameras, make sure they are running and check the tapes so that you can see what blind spots are on camera as well.  In this way you can know where you need new metal halide floods to shine.

If there are currently no lights in the area where you are going to install metal halide floodlights, such as a 320W metal halide floodlight, then it will be a little more difficult.  Make your best guess at where you want fixtures, and then look around for blind spots after they are installed.  This will give you an idea of where you need to place the rest of the lights for the area.  While this may seem completely inefficient, it is much more efficient that putting up all the lights and still having huge blind spots.

The point is, it takes time and effort to prepare for having metal halide floods installed, but the increased safety and security is well worth it.  It only take a second for someone to jump out of the shadows and do harm, and in that second what is lost is well worth a little extra time, effort, and maybe even money on the front end to keep it safe.  Look around, get help, and figure out how many lights you need and where you need them, then make the investment and get going.  It is worth it in the end

Light Bulbs Online – Getting the Best Deal

Practically every home in America business shares some common needs. While labor, rent, and insurance are the most obvious, another that you may not think about until the need arises for them is the common light bulb. Today’s light bulbs, while they last much longer and use less energy than traditional incandescent lamps, can still put a dent into your budget. This is especially true if you need to purchase a large number of them or if you need specialty bulbs. Fluorescent lamps, metal halide light bulbs, halogen, CFL’s and LED lights can all be rather expensive but necessary purchases. So finding the best deals is important. And shopping for light bulbs online can help you find unbeatable deals.

The most common way that people shop for light bulbs online is through search engines. A quick search will usually uncover a good source for lamps. Generally the top results will be big box retailers, but finding more specialized lights and even better prices will require you to probe a bit deeper. The shopping tab on Google’s website, for example, will let you filter out all results that aren’t shopping related and then allow you to sort these results according price or relevance to your search keywords. It’s a quick way to uncover the best deals on almost any kind of lighting and nearly anything else you might need.

Other shopping sites are great choices as well. These sites, such as The Find work much the same way as Google shopping but will give you more sorting options, allowing you to sort your results according to brands or store name. You can also search the web for businesses that sell light bulbs online or run a search for local stores in your area that can sell them to you. If you need bulbs immediately or don’t like the idea of having them shipped to you, this feature can save you time and fuel when it comes to comparing prices that different stores offer on their bulbs.

In many cases the internet may be your only option for certain lamps. You can buy light bulbs online that you won’t find in local stores, bulbs that are uniquely designed for certain fixtures or applications. Learning to use the previously mentioned online tools can help make shopping online for lighting a painless process that is so convenient and saves you so much cash you may never buy another bulb in a brick and mortar store again. From holiday lights to Metal Halide HID lamps, such as the Philips MH400/U , you’ll always find them in stock on the internet.

250 Watt Metal Halide Bulb – Lighting Up the Night

It was not all that long ago that people were at the mercy of whatever lurked in the dark. Only a couple of generations ago, the only source of light that individuals even in large metropolitan areas had were inefficient oil lamps. Much has changed over the last hundred years, and now we are not only no longer at the mercy of the dark, we can grow entire gardens that never see the actual sun. A common choice for many gardening applications is a 250W metal halide bulb. The reason that these types of lamps are so popular is that they produce an intensely bright light without wasting electricity.

A 250W metal halide bulb can be seen everywhere from sports stadiums to warehouses. They are used in a variety of outdoor applications because they are not affected by changes in the weather. Sylvania M250/U can also be much more effectively directed toward particular areas, making them better choice than fluorescent or LED lights. A metal halide lamp will outlast a traditional incandescent lamp by a wide margin. This makes them a money saving alternative for gardeners. Although they may cost more initially, they can actually save a person money in the long run.

Another benefit to choosing a 250W metal halide bulb is the fact that they use only a fraction of the energy of traditional, incandescent bulbs. They do this while producing a spectrum of light that is very similar to that of the sun. The bright light is very nourishing for plants and they heat they produce can make the difference for plants that are not designed for cold areas. Many gardeners have a hard time believing that a lamp that produces such bright and intense light is actually using less electricity than some of the other options available on the market.

If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the healthiest light possible to their plants or garden then a 250W metal halide bulbs is the perfect choice. Of course, a person can save even more money if they do their shopping online. Whether a person is growing flowering plants, herbs, or even fruits and vegetables, making the switch to these grow lights will have a profound effect. If nothing but the brightest will do, you owe it to yourself to check out metal halide lamps and see what a difference they can make in your garden.

400W Metal Halide Bulb – Bright, White, and Energy Efficient

A metal halide bulb operates by passing an electric charge through a mixture of argon, Mercury, and metal halide. The way they operate is similar to the fluorescent lights that we are familiar with, although there are some important differences. One of the things that make the 400 watt metal halide bulbs so different from some of the other options on the market is the fact that they emit a light that is amazingly close to the spectrum of natural sunlight. This makes them an excellent choice for indoor growing applications and they can make marked improvements in the health of plants grown indoors.

A 400W metal halide bulb also has a much longer lifespan than a traditional lamp. For example, the average incandescent light lasts approximately 2000 hours at best. A metal halide bulb such as the Sylvania M400 U, on the other hand, can last up to 20,000 hours. This means that although they are somewhat more expensive than conventional lights, they last up to 10 times longer while providing light that is brighter and much closer to what a person with experience in the great outdoors. Their long life means that an individual can rely on them to provide nourishing light to their plants for a very long time.

A person may expect that with their brighter, more intense light and longer lifespan that a 400W metal halide bulb will use much more energy than a traditional incandescent lamp. In fact the opposite is true. A metal halide bulb uses less electricity than a similar incandescent bulb. They are also an excellent choice for use as grow lights because they produce some heat. This makes them the perfect choice when plants are being grown in basements, attics, and garages or any place where the air is too cool for the plants being grown.

Another thing that makes a 400W metal halide bulb a great choice is the fact that it is much easier to direct light in a particular area. Whether you are looking to light up your backyard or provide your indoor garden with some warmth and virtual sunlight, it is difficult go wrong with this type of high efficiency lamp. Although they may custom bit more initially, the more than make up for it with lower replacement costs and surprising energy efficiency. When it comes to lighting, a person gets they pay for and if they pay for metal halide bulbs will be getting top quality.

Grow Panel 45 LED Plant Growth Panel 3 weeks in

After 3 weeks from sowing my seeds the GrowPanel 45 LED Grow Light Panel is blossoming Pumpkin Flowers! The Zinnia’s in the back are much more lush with 3 times the size leaves as the once I am growing in my balcony. The strawberries are really starting to take off as well. All plants grown under the light emitting diodes are much shorter in height and far more mature sooner than in the sun. My theory is that they do not need to waste their energy trying to get to the light source, so the start blossoming much sooner while being much more healthy and stable!

Since the flowers started shooting out I brought the light time on the Sylvania digital light timer from 18 hours a day to 10 hours a day. I have been starting at 9am for both cycles. The cool thing about this particular timer is that I can set up to 7 different sequences so that once the timer is set up once, I just need to push one button to jump between 18 or 10 hours and still have another 6 sequences I could set if I wanted to.

I am also expiration with growing one of the pumpkins in the batch upside down. We shall see how that goes. So far it is much longer than the others and has less luck making flowers. I do factor that some of this is the plant getting adjusted to the change. It must be quite a shock for the the little guy.

It is due time to re-pot all of the plants, they grew so fast. I need to make more room in the office for them!

Grow Panel 45 LED Growlight Time Lapse Set Up Tutorial

In this video we set up a 28 Watt LED Grow Light Panel and time lapsed the growth of 6 strawberries, 6 pumpkins, and 6 zinnia plants from seed.

You can get the products used below:

Sylvania SA140 Lamp Indoor Light Timer | 7 Day Zip Set Digital
http://www.lightbulbsurplus.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69…

28 Watt Sunshine Systems GlowPanel 45 Plant Grow Light-GP1-98567
http://www.expresslightbulbs.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5…

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Growing Green with LED

In addition to Aquarium Lights, Sunshine Supply also makes plant grow lights! The GrowPanel 45 is just like the AquaPanel but with special Blue (450-470nm) & Red (610-660nm)colored LEDs to promote plant growth! They consume up to eighty percent less power than a high pressure sodium (HPS) or metal halide (MH) grow light! The LED GrowPanel produces virtually no heat and provides light much more efficiently than traditional grow lights. It will shower your plants with the exact wavelengths of light needed for your plant growth. They are warm to the touch so they are gentle to your plants to keep your garden just the right temperature.

There is another UFO in town as well! Just like the AquaUFO, there is also a 90 Watt GrowUFO! With a mixed spectrum of light that really will make those plants tower over the rest! Also up to 80% energy saving in comparison to HID grow lights like MH & HPS, the GrowUFO from Sunshine Systems promotes fast growth, budding, and flowering, virtually no heat and it is suitable for all stages of growth.

With a 50,000 hour life, zero maintenance costs because there are no expensive bulbs to replace, and no hazardous mercury this is truly a GREEN product!