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Best Grow Lights

Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 2:49 am
by -Stanley-
What grow lights are best for CPs?

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 4:18 am
by Dan V
Generally speaking, I would say the best grow lights are led full spectrum with the highest par and wattage you can afford for your planned grow space.

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 2:05 pm
by specialkayme
"Best" is a relative term. Everything comes at a cost. The question is what cost are you willing to pay to get what benefit? Overall cost (in dollars) is one factor, heat produced is another, longevity of the lights is another, quality of the light output is another, modifications necessary to your current space is another . . . you get the idea. Plus, what is best to grow orchids isn't the best to grow cannabis and isn't the best to grow CPs. There's considerable research done on light requirements on cannabis and other cash crops typically grown indoors. Less so on CPs overall.

But to point you in the right direction, on the low end of "best" I think it's hard to beat any one of these: https://www.amazon.com/GE-Lighting-9310 ... r=8-5&th=1, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKT56T, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRKG7X1. Very good light output, good quality, good lifespan, low cost.

A step above that would probably be a Monios system (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QF ... 94ef6&th=1 or https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QJ ... 15b530a241) or a Barrina system (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082Z ... c1339&th=1). Costs more, but light output is better. Comes with more heat which may have some associated "costs."

Next is probably a Mars Hydro, Spyder Farmer, Bloomspec or other comparable model (https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Farmer-Di ... B07VL8FZS1, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VL8FZS1/?c ... _lig_dp_it, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0923XJR2X/?c ... _lig_dp_it, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087JKDVTF/?c ... _lig_dp_it). You're now moving away from the "I need a light for a houseplant" and more into a "closet grower" type light system. There is an ongoing war between advocates of most of these models. I'm not in a position to say one is "trash" and another is "gold." The specs on most of them appear substantially similar, and I've never met someone who was disappointed with their purchase, regardless of the model (apart from very obvious knockoff models). The main difference appears to be cost. There is a wide variety of sizes and models. Cost is a little higher than the previous options, but so is light output. Most are dimmable, but will require more space.

Next is probably an HLG light (https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/c ... -600-rspec). You're now moving away from the "closet grower" group and more into the "horticulture grower" group. But HLG offers kits to build your own, and has very good quality products. There is an associated increase in price tag.

Lastly, and while I put it on the higher end others might put it either right before or right after the Mars Hydro group, is Carnivero's Florawave lights (https://www.carnivero.com/collections/f ... row-lights). The owner Drew used to work for Google and knows his way around lightwaves and lights. He used his knowledge to develop grow lights specifically for use on Carnivorous Plants, as he owns his own CP store and greenhouse. Whether the light output is really better than competitors, I don't know. But the website has an abundance of information for you to determine for yourself.

I've used most of the above type of lights at one point or another (not counting 20 years ago when you could only use CFs, crappy UFO LEDs and tube lights), although I don't have any personal experience with HLG or the Mars Hydro group. I now have a Florawave light and very much enjoy it. Sadly it doesn't have a dimming capability, and it might be a little too much light for my 4'x2' grow area. But overall my plants haven't complained.

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:44 pm
by Dan V
Now that is what I would call a comprehensive answer - Nice Job specialkayme!!!

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 3:29 pm
by Nightmare plants
Wow thank you

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 4:45 pm
by Dan V
specialkayme wrote:I now have a Florawave light and very much enjoy it. Sadly it doesn't have a dimming capability, and it might be a little too much light for my 4'x2' grow area. But overall my plants haven't complained.
Which Florawave light are you using?

I was impressed by the model G330, for a 330 watt light it has a very uniform 4'X2' PPFD distribution map at 24"and a dimmer.

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 5:38 pm
by specialkayme
Dan V wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 4:45 pm Which Florawave light are you using?
Florawave P80 - P80FS2.5

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 5:40 pm
by TrapsAndDews
specialkayme wrote: Tue Apr 26, 2022 2:05 pm A step above that would probably be a Monios system (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QF ... 94ef6&th=1 or https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QJ ... 15b530a241) or a Barrina system (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082Z ... c1339&th=1). Costs more, but light output is better. Comes with more heat which may have some associated "costs."
Have you used these lights before? Would they be good for subtropical Drosera?

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 5:47 pm
by specialkayme
TrapsAndDews wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 5:40 pm
specialkayme wrote: Tue Apr 26, 2022 2:05 pm A step above that would probably be a Monios system (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QF ... 94ef6&th=1 or https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QJ ... 15b530a241) or a Barrina system (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082Z ... c1339&th=1). Costs more, but light output is better. Comes with more heat which may have some associated "costs."
Have you used these lights before? Would they be good for Drosera?
I used different brands of a very similar design/model years ago, but I haven't used those brands. Though they are VERY popular with the indoor greenhouse, IKEA greenhouse, cabinet growing community (https://www.lecaaddict.com/leca-informa ... -t5-and-t8). They are popular because you can put them in a variety of different locations, and they need/prefer to be relatively close to plants (as opposed to many of the other more powerful LEDs).

There are many different types of Drosera, each with different requirements for conditions. I don't have the most experience with Drosera, only having grown three different kinds over the past 20 years, but most of the ones I've had grew like weeds under any basic lighting. Not the most informative post, but hopefully it's better than nothing :P

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 6:18 pm
by John W
I can attest to Mars Hydro. I have a mars hydro ts600 that works for heliamphora, nepenthes, and during the winter my drosera were happy.

Windowsill Nepenthes on YouTube likes the sansi 36 watt bulb for nepenthes, I also had luck with that before upgrading.

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2022 3:55 am
by Rodzun
Hello guys!

Just read this thread and I would like to know if any of you experts can let me know if this particular grow lamp will help me with my carnivorous plants.

I am looking for this particular type of led lamp "gooseneck with clamp" to be attached to my desk.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PD2P1W1/re ... =UTF8&th=1

Can any of you guide me if this is a good purchase? or should I buy something else?

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2022 3:41 pm
by davinstewart
Really hard to tell without PPFD or PAR measurements. I'm thinking probably not.

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2022 5:46 pm
by John W
I’ve been doing a bit of research into this the last week, honestly the best thing I’ve found is just get a standard light holder of some kind and a sansia 36 watt or something, or a yesscom (for this style at least)

https://soltech.com/collections/accesso ... s/archetto

This company also has something although I need to look into their bulb further.

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2023 5:05 am
by VFTnoob94
I just purchased a Sansia 36-watt bulb.
Do you guys have any recommendations for an adjustable/gooseneck light holder (either with a base or clamp that'll attach onto a 2.5" table width?

Re: Best Grow Lights

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2023 12:40 pm
by Intheswamp
VFTnoob94 wrote: Thu Jan 12, 2023 5:05 am I just purchased a Sansia 36-watt bulb.
Do you guys have any recommendations for an adjustable/gooseneck light holder (either with a base or clamp that'll attach onto a 2.5" table width?
That's a mighty small table you've got there! ;) Do you mean the thickness is 2.5"?