The light plays a critical role in growing plants indoors. That's not to say that other elements are not important. However, light is one of the key elements affecting the growth and overall health of plants.

So, whether you're well-versed in plants or a casual grower, finding the best grow lights will be a crucial decision you have to make. Choosing the best grow light can be tricky. That's because there are tons of light brands and options to choose from.

They all look similar, which additionally complicates the selection. If you are looking for high-intensity discharge (HID) grow lights, we'll help you find the right one for your needs.

HID Lights For Growing Weed: Pros and Cons

Aside from their tried-and-true reputation, what really makes HID grow lights such an attractive option is their cost. For growers with a strict startup budget, HIDs are a cost-effective option versus LEDs, though the price gap between the two is getting smaller by the year. HID grow lights have equal power and brightness to LEDs, and, for a bit less money, can produce exceptional yields. That's why many growers have yet to make the switch.

As for those that have ditched HIDs for LEDs, they aren't without their reasons. For one, HIDs put off a lot of heat, and as a consequence, drain a ton of electricity. Because they tend to overheat, plant cultivators end up purchasing additional ventilation to keep harsh temperatures from interfering with their growth. HID grow lights also require frequent bulb changes as they only last 10,000 hours, compared to a whopping 50,000 hours that some LED grow lights can offer. That's about 5.7 years when running 24 hours a day.

ECO Farm 1000W Double Ended HPS HID Grow Light Enclosed Kit

Features:
The ECO Farm HID grow light has a high-quality design, well-designed reflector, very beautiful and reflective. Its ballast stays cool, which is very useful for heat problems. The bulbs are very bright, they have a lumen of about or higher, with a light output of 145,000lm; just like the lumen of a high-end bulb. Its built-in pulley system is just a life-saving straw, which can help you control the light closer or farther according to the growth stage of the plant. The high output of PAR light (2,050 μmol/s) can promote photosynthesis. Most importantly, it is affordable. Compared to most other HID lamps, it is lighter and generates less heat than other HID lamps. The air-cooled hood reflector that comes with this HID will help focus the strong light from the growth bulb onto your plants, even stronger than the light originally emitted. As an added benefit, the reflector is designed to protect against moisture, freeing you from dealing with problems that may occur in a humid growth room environment. Of course, dimmable ballasts allow you to adjust the light intensity and heat level as needed. So if you need to weaken the strong light a bit, you can adjust accordingly. It even has a large radiator and a larger surface area for more effective cooling. This is a good choice if you need HPS grow lights but don't want to deal with the overheating of the growth chamber.

Gavita SL2 1000e DE 208–240 Volt W150 HID Grow Lights

Features:
The Gavita grow light features the W150 Reflector, which has a widespread for optimal uniformity (150° beam angle). This reflector is best suited to overlapping plans. The SL2 features highly efficient passive ballast cooling that helps contribute to long fixture life. Designed especially for grow rooms, the professional fixtures suit flexible and fixed installations. They are compact and come with a Repeater Bus interface (no manual control). For 208V three-phase or 240V. The reduced height makes this the fixture of choice for low rooms. Only 9.7 inches high makes the 'Slim Line' the shortest 240V Gavita fixture ever. Highest light output and maintenance over time. It has the W150 reflector for maximum efficiency and uniformity. Highly efficient passive cooling of ballast for a longer lifetime of the electronics. Sealed housing with Gore-Tex® ventilation plug and controllable output up to 1150 Watt. Connect up to 100 fixtures in a single daisy chain series, up to five daisy chains per EL controller output. A single EL controller output can control up to five 100-fixture daisy chains, giving you room to grow.

Things You Must Know Before Buying an HID Grow Light

HID grow lights go without saying that you must consider something before purchasing anything crucial. HID grow light is considered a crucial element of every indoor grow room. To help growers determine exactly what they need, we'll ask a series of questions and cast light on the essential considerations in this guide.

What Type Of HID Light Do You Need? MH or HPS?
When talking about high-intensity discharge (HID) light, we think of a large bulb that generates light by igniting the gas inside it. Actually, the flow of electricity gets such a bulb to ignite the gas. That creates a bright light while putting out lots of heat at the same time. These lights are known for being energy-efficient and effective.

The HID lights can be classified into:
Metal Halide (MH) light - Emitting blue light, this type of light is particularly useful for vegging cannabis. This is because MH bulbs maximize growth during the vegging stage. To provide the desired intensity, MH involves a high light output.

High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) light - It emits red-orange-yellow light, which is more favorable during the flowering stage. HPS light is proven to maximize the production of flowers and buds during the flowering stage.

Some people prefer using either of these HID bulbs through all stages of the plant growth cycle. However, your best bet is to get both bulbs. Here are a few different options to check out:

Using only MH throughout the grow
This would be the worst option for you, as it wouldn't result in great yields during flowering. Obviously, it isn't a good option because fruiting mostly relies on the blooming process.

Using only HPS throughout the grow
If there's no other choice and you cannot buy the MH bulbs, this would still be fine. Although HPS bulbs aren't excellent during veg, you'd still get decent results.

Using HPS during flowering and MH during vegging
That's what we recommend. This approach is very popular since it lets you utilize the same ballast and reflector while running the bulbs. By switching out the bulb as needed, you will be able to maintain the growth of your plants. Happily, many grow light kits come with both MH and HPS bulbs these days.

Using HPS and MH at the same time
It has emerged that Indoor plants thrive best when getting both blue and red spectrums simultaneously throughout the entire growth cycle. In this case, you should use HPS bulbs as the chief light source - simply put them overhead - and add MH bulbs between the plants. That way, MH and HPS bulbs will complement each other.

Yet, we don't recommend this option because it significantly increases the cost while giving slightly better yields. Small plants growers on a budget should keep away from this option. But if you're a large-scale commercial grower and expense is no object, then this could be for you.

Do You Need to Go With Single-Ended or Double-Ended HID Bulbs?
Double-ended HID bulbs are nearly 30 percent more efficient than single-ended models. So, for the same wattage, they have higher PAR ratings. Moreover, double-ended bulbs last longer than their single-ended counterparts. On top of that, after around 10,000 hours of use, they can retain 90 percent of their output.

This raises the question: Why don't all growers go with double-ended lights? What's the catch? The answer is very simple. They're very expensive. This is especially true for reflectors that cost up to 100% more. Aside from that, double-ended bulbs generate a lot of heat so that you must have high-end fans installed. Another drawback is that the reflector options for double-ended lights are pretty limited; there are just a couple of styles on the market.

Those on a tight budget who have a smaller grow area and can't deal with the heat should opt for single-ended bulbs. Double-ended bulbs, on the other hand, are more suitable for commercial growers with the ability to get rid of excess heat. After a few grows, the longer life and greater efficiency will compensate for the increased cost.

What Reflector Style Is Right For You?
Well, this will depend on your needs. There is a wide range of reflector styles, so it can be a daunting challenge to choose one. Luckily, most reflectors can do a good job, so it's really hard to go wrong. The differences in light intensity and coverage aren't that large.

Light Ballast
The HID grow lights won't work if they are not properly powered by a ballast. A good light ballast is one that ensures flexibility, bulb protection, RF shielding, and great dimming ability. Most grow lights involve digital ballast. Such bulbs run cool, produce a high light intensity, and use less electricity.

Conclusion
When selecting the best grow light for your plants and your growing goals, you'll need to keep everything in mind from the grow light's footprint to its reflector, and especially the lumen output. These factors are absolutely pivotal to your plants' growth, so it's essential that you choose an HID grow light that will offer optimal results within your grow tent or grow room environment.