by Anthony Miele

Created on: March 08, 2009   Last Updated: March 11, 2009

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO USING GROW LIGHTS

It's a no-brainer when it comes to knowing that light is the number one priority when dealing with any growing plant. Using grow lights is a very diverse and unique way to develop such. Growing plants with substitute lighting is easy if we understand: the grow light components, the "spectrums" each bulb can release at times, and by following some directions. We must apprehend that each bulb and these "spectrums" that they have, combined with time and position, can have you on the way to growing a perfect garden right inside your home.

GROW LIGHT COMPONENTS

Although grow lights come in many shapes and sizes, they all have a basic construct. This construct will form around three basic components: the ballast, the bulb, and electronics (timers, switches, and wires). All three parts makeup your basic grow light and will allow you to grow vegetation if utilized in the right fashion.

* Grow Bulb

The first piece, and most important, is your grow bulb. There are a few different kinds of this component (described later on in this guide), but they all serve one particular purpose: you guessed it- to make your plants grow and stay strong for its entire period of life.

* Electronics

All of the wiring and switches which most likely will already come built into your ballast (the 3rd piece), are considered as the second basic component. Sometimes you may even find timers, which auto switches your lights on/off (talked about later in this guide), incorporated within your ballast, as well.

* Ballast

The third part of your grow light, and the most noticeable, is the ballast. This component allows you to hold your electronics and grow bulb in place. Good ballast's will have reflecting material on the underside of it to disperse the maximum amount of light that the bulb would be able to put out.

WARNING!

Before you do anything with your grow light(s), you must read all directions and warnings that would come with your grow light components. Please, do not get over anxious or too excited as this could cause serious risks including fire, electrocution, and other harmful circumstances.

You should also consider warnings such as: DO NOT touch any High-Intensity Discharge bulbs (referred to in this guide as HPS and Metal Halide) with your hand regardless if it is hot or not (this could leave residue on the bulb, enabling it to burst). DO NOT look directly in to your lighting (this could cause eye damage). DO NOT put any warm or hot lights in a closed area

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