While the urban industrial lifestyle expands by the day, people worldwide are constantly looking for innovative ways to bring nature closer to their living rooms. A highly valued method in modern indoor gardening is hydroponic farming – growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. This style of farming gives rise to a myriad of additional considerations and requirements, among which, the crucial factor of lighting.
As much as it aids in the thriving of plants, hydroponic lighting may pose some challenges for indoor farmers who have tight space. Thus, compact hydroponic lighting setups have become incredibly sought after. Compact hydroponic lights are compact in design, energy-efficient, and emit enough light for the plants’ photosynthesis process.
Lucky for you, we’ll delve into the best compact hydroponic lighting setups currently available in the market. We’ll explore their advantages, potential drawbacks and how to effectively set them up.
LED Lights
Compact LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lights are the most popular choice for indoor hydroponic gardeners due to their energy efficiency and longevity. These lights can emit the full light spectrum, which is highly beneficial for all growth stages.
▪ Advantages: Besides being compact, LED lights are customizable to emit specific light spectrums, thus facilitating targeted growth for certain plant types. They generate less heat, reducing the risk of plant burning and can save up to 60% more energy than traditional lights.
▪ Drawbacks: Despite their numerous advantages, LED lights come with higher upfront costs. However, they tend to pay for themselves in energy savings over time.
▪ Setup: Growing different plant types require different lighting arrangements. Green leafy plants necessitate about 11-18 inches distance from LEDs, while flowering plants need up to 20-30 inches. Depending on your plant type, adjust the distance accordingly.
Fluorescent Lights
Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are an affordable plunge into indoor hydroponics. They also generate less heat and produce a more efficient light for growth. However, they emit a narrow light spectrum, most suitable for vegetative growth stages.
▪ Advantages: CFLs have a compact design, relatively cheap, and energy-efficient. They’re also easy to install and can be deployed even in small spaces.
▪ Drawbacks: The light spectrum of CFLs is not as comprehensive as LEDs. Also, they are less energy-efficient over time compared to LEDs, which implies higher energy bills in the long run.
▪ Setup: CFLs should be set up ensuring they are close to the plants (approximately 6-12 inches) due to their lower light intensity.
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lights
HID lights are conventional in the hydroponic industry and are known for their high light output per watt of electricity. They are available in two types: Metal Halide (MH) and High-Pressure Sodium (HPS).
▪ Advantages: The high light output facilitates rapid plant growth. HPS lights emit red-orange light, perfect for flowering stages, while MH lights emit blue spectrum light, efficient for the vegetative growth stage.
▪ Drawbacks: Because of their high intensity, HIDs generate a lot of heat, risking plant damage due to overheating. Therefore, a proper cooling system is an essential accompaniment for their setup. Additionally, they need specific fixtures and are less energy efficient compared to LEDs and CFLs.
▪ Setup: Owing to the heat they generate, HID lights should be placed farther from the plants, approximately 12-19 inches. The availability of dual MH/HPS systems allows swapping between light types according to the plant’s growth stage.
After consolidating the type of light suitable for your indoor garden, optimizing for factors that impact plant growth – timing, light spectrum, and intensity – is paramount. Your lighting system should be kept on for approximately 10-12 hours per day, with a switch to 12-16 hours for large, flowering plants. For lighting spectrum, ensure your hydroponic light produces the right color spectrum for your plant’s growth stage. Lastly, set the intensity so it’s neither too strong to cause damage nor too weak to stint growth.
While setup and maintenance of compact hydroponic lighting systems may seem complex, the long-term gains – whether practical, emotional, or aesthetic – make them the perfect choice for urban souls yearning for a touch of the wilderness in their living spaces. Finally, keep calm and go green; after all, it’s in our nature.
