Lighting — Fertraso

These are bulbs, not fixtures. You screw them into an existing reflector with a ballast; if you do not have one, these are no use to you and the LED fixtures elsewhere in this category are where to look.

Two types, two phases

The HPI-T metal halide lamps in 250, 400 and 600 W give a spectrum suited to the growth phase. The HPS lamps in the same three ratings sit at the red end and belong to flowering. Many growers swap bulbs halfway through in the same fixture, and with these two ranges side by side that is exactly the intention.

A bulb declines before it dies

This is what gets missed most with discharge lamps. Light output falls gradually over burning hours while the lamp carries on lighting and nothing changes to the eye. Wait until it fails and you have run your last few cycles on less light than you thought. Track burning hours and replace on that count rather than on failure.

The hanging system

The Rope Ratchet is the rope hoist for adjusting fixture height. With these lamps that is not a luxury: the distance between lamp and crop is how you manage heat and intensity, and it changes weekly as the plant grows.

Frequently asked questions

Will a 600 W bulb fit my fixture?
Only if the ballast is rated for it. Running a different wattage does not work and is not safe.

Can I use HPS in the growth phase?
You can, but the spectrum suits it less well. That is why the two ranges exist side by side.

How far above the crop should the lamp hang?
Far enough to avoid burning and close enough to keep intensity. Discharge lamps put out a lot of heat, so check with your hand at canopy height.