The type of grow light you use in your hydroponics system will have a large impact on whether or not your indoor-grown plants will thrive or even survive. One of the main reasons why indoor gardeners fail at their hobby is that they do not have the appropriate grow light system in place. You can remedy that situation with a light that burns bright, such as metal halide lights or a High Pressure Sodium light for your indoor growing room.

The High Pressure Sodium light mentioned above, as well as metal halide lights, are a type of HID light, also known as high intensity discharge. These light bulbs are small, but produce a tremendous amount of light. It is important to note that all HID lights require the use of a ballast to regulate the electrical current to the light bulb. You can find ballasts that are older analog models, or much- improved digital ones. The ballast must match the wattage of the light bulb in order for them to work properly together.

You can find a Lumatek grow light, for example, that is a single High Pressure Sodium light, or one that also includes metal halide lights in one fixture. The metal halide portion of the combination Lumatek grow light offers full-spectrum light, which is useful if you are growing plants at both seedling to mature stages of development. The sodium component of the light adds to the long-life as well as the luminosity that the light can produce, both of which are beneficial in an indoor gardening situation. HID lights such as the Lumatek grow light produce a great deal of light, and one of the side effects is that they also produce ample amounts of heat as well. This can be remedied through the use of fans and hoods. These components may also be worked into the ballast, so you have a single unit into which the light bulb is placed. Reflectors may also be used with HID lights to increase the square footage of light span produced by the light fixture.

You can easily find out more information about specific types of lights suitable for your hydroponics system by visiting an online indoor gardening supplier's website. Here you will see all of the light bulbs listed, as well as a description of how they function, what is their wattage, and other secondary components needed for them to function properly in your indoor grow room. Additional supplies for your plants' good health, such as plant nutrient, growing media and educational books can also be found here.