Choosing an HID Lamp

Metal Halide (MH)
If it's mostly vegetative growth you're after, metal halide lighting is the type of HID lighting you need.  Similar to the sun's rays in spring and summer, metal halide lamps produce light which is mostly in the blue range of the light spectrum - that's what you need to group lettuce, basil, and other leafy greens.

High-Pressure Sodium (HPS)
If you want to encourage your plants to fruit of flower indoors, you'll want to use a high pressure sodium lamp.  By emitting light from the red-orange region of the spectrum, this sort of HID lighting simulates the sun's light in fall.  Plants under a high pressure sodium light think it's time to finish their growing cycles so they make flowers and fruit.

Conversion Lamps
If you don't have a switchable or electronic ballast, choose a conversion lamp.  This allows you to burn and HPS lamp with an MH ballast and vice-versa.  Because the conversion process itself takes some energy to accomplish, conversion bulbs aren't quite as efficient as regular metal halide or high pressure sodium bulbs, but they will give you the best of both worlds with just one light system.

HID Lamp Burning Position
Burning positions for all HPS and conversion lamps are universal "U".  MH lamps designated "H" must be used in a horizontal position; lamps designated "BU" must be used base up (vertically).

HIP Lamp Replacement
HID lamps will show decreased lumen output with prolonged usage that is not visible to the human eye.  We recommend replacing your HID lamp every year for optimum performance.

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