Alright everyone that start lily seeds inside. Is there a difference between a 65k bulb at from home depot for $3, versus a $30 hortilux bulb? @Leftwood, I'll ask you too since you work at Home Depot and have been growing indoors for years.

Hard to believe there is that much of a price difference - are you sure they are the same size, regular vs. HO, number of lumens? (and for the benefit of other readers, that's 6500K.)

You would need to actually do a lot of digging to find the actual light spectrum outputs. I am sure they will differ - but how much and does it really matter?

In the end, I am sure you will find that the expensive ones are better. Do you want a good, vigorous, healthy lawn or the best lawn on the block? That kind of thing. But if there is a difference in lumen output, that will make a big difference.

see my 2 year old post ==>> https://garden.org/thread/view...

I start everything from seeds under lights. Started doing this in 1994 using plain old fluorescent shoplights 4100k with junk 0.85 power factor ballasts (1.00 power factor is considered to be 'normal' power output). The lights were on for 16-18 hours a day. Bulb wattage was 40 watts per bulb. I used 3 fixtures with 6 bulbs total per shelf. The light spectrum of the bulbs was far from optimal for growing plants. Inefficient, and too warm in the summer, but the seedlings grew OK.

Currently using commercial Phillips GreenPower fixtures (too expensive, but efficient low watts) and Phillips TLEDs 3000K. The TLEDs are being used in standard fluorescent fixtures that I have re-ballasted to 1.15 power factor. This in effect makes them HO (high output) LED fixtures.

The main reason for using the LEDs is to get the heat down on the plant shelves in the summer by reducing the overall wattage and the number of hours the lights are on. The LED lights are on for only 12 hours per day.

Ignoring the cost of the fixtures, the new Phillips T8 LED bulbs can be found on the internet for < $15 each. That still comes out to 6 x $15 = $90 per shelf. Still not cheap, but it works for me.

Bottom line is that even the old 1990's setup worked, but the basement working area is much more comfortable in the summer now (and the electric bill is much lower).

Commercial LED grow lights positive - compact fixtures, low wattage, low heat (approx 24 watts / fixture), using 3 per shelf.

Commercial grow lights negatives -
pinkish purple LED lighting is very hard on the eyes
cost is still way to high for the fixtures

TLED fixture positives-
uses existing fluorescent T8-bulb fixture
relatively cheap (mid cost)

TLED negatives-
fixtures more bulky
ballast + bulbs still generate more heat than the commercial fixtures
wattage better than fluorescent , but worse than commercial fixtures

This is my current seed starting area. 2 fixtures that are 2 foot x 4 foot, 8 bulb T5 lights. As you can see in the picture, there are some bulbs that need replacing. All the bulb installed are spectralux 6500k bulbs.





Rick, here are pictures of the info on the bulbs. Now granted, these Hortilux are suppose to be specialized. Not counting for the purpose of the different wavelengths, red and blue, as each bulb can be bought in either. But I Believe the Hortilux also have a separate bulb that's suppose to have UV wave lengths too.











So would there be any benefit to these?

https://eyehortilux.com/grow-l...

I'm going to try these bulbs out as an experiment. Plant the same seed lots, in the same grow media, seperated into 2 pots, one under each light set up, these Hortilux and regular T5 bulbs. See if there is a vegetative growth difference.

Hortilux bulbs showed up. These are what the vegetation light set up looks like. Started some seed, two baggies of each type, so that I can keep one under normal T-5 lights, and another under these. If anyone is interested in progress between the two, let me know and I'll be glad to post updates.

Definitely interested to see the comparison between the two, Dave. Would make an interesting experiment if you can keep all the other variables (media, temp, fertiliser, etc.) the same.

That's the plan Joshua

I am definitely interested in the comparison.

Oh! That kind of "bulbs"!