Canada’s recent legalization of cannabis means that you might be interested in adding a new strain of plants to your garden. The new law states that it is legal for you to grow up to four cannabis plants per household. So how can Ampt Over Electric help?
Professional Lighting is Key to a Good Cannabis Crop Yield
Marijuana plants need 18 hours of continuous light each day during their growing stage and 12 hours when they’re flowering. High pressure sodium (HPS) bulbs, metal halide bulbs, or LED lights are responsible for giving the plants their summer and fall cues on growth and flowering. The science of using light for indoor grow operations has been around for decades. In recent years, however, the research has switched focus from the development of leafy, green lettuce to the booming cannabis market.
If you know anything about the efficiency of LED bulbs than it will come as no surprise to learn that there has been a shift towards the installation of LED lighting for indoor marijuana growth. Not only are the bulbs more efficient but they also run a significantly decreased temperature than conventional grow lights. Heat can have a serious impact on the development and overall health of cannabis plants so when using non-LED grow lights, it is necessary to also install a comprehensive cooling and exhaust system. Due to the fact that LED lights don’t radiate much heat, it is possible to maintain your plants without an elaborate exhaust system. Meaning, initial costs of setting up your grow room are decreased.
Why Led Lighting is the best option
A light bulb gives off white light, which encompasses all the colours of the visible light spectrum. Plant photosynthesis only requires specific wavelengths of light for growth so all the extra wavelengths emitted by white light are wasted. LED grow lights have a unique blend of only the wavelengths required for photosynthesis. These are mainly reds, oranges, and blues. The most effective LED grow lights now include infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths and are formulated to mimic the photosynthetic action radiation that optimizes plant growth.
LED grow lights closely mimic the sun’s light spectrum. Full spectrum LED grow lights are excellent for indoor growth because they offer a balanced and broad light spectrum. Conventional grow lights generally lack in certain spectrum’s and peak in others giving your cannabis plants irregular or incomplete lighting.
Additionally, LED lighting can last anywhere from 50,000 hours to over 100,000 hours of continuous operation. That’s about 100 times as long as light bulbs and 6-7 times as long as compact fluorescent lights. The first generation of LED grow lights had very low intensity and a total output of only 10-20 watts, making them powerful enough to grow very simple and small plants. The evolution of LED grow lights means they now produce enough energy (100 watts and more) to yield larger, more complex plants.
The improved LED fixtures allow growers to tweak LED light recipes, resulting in lush, dense biomass in spite of all other growing factors remaining unchanged. This means that the proper lighting for your plants is the single biggest factor in lush, high-yield crops.
Always work with certified electricians that understand safety
Our expert Electricians at Ampt Over Electric can ensure that the lighting installed for your cannabis crops, however small or large, is done perfectly and safely. Plants need water, and the combination of electricity and water could put you and your family at risk for electrocution. One of our professionals will ensure that all safety measures are taken including installation of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets where necessary. What is a ground fault? It is the inadvertent contact between an energized conductor and ground, equipment frames, or in this case water. The return path of the fault current is through the grounding system and in a case where no GFCI is present, any equipment or personnel that becomes part of the system.
Additional ways to ensure your indoor garden is safe include the installation of Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs). AFCIs are used to prevent electrical fires which are twice as fatal as any other fire. When the electricity is flowing irregularly due to deteriorated or damaged wiring or outlets the AFCI will detect that irregularity and trip the system, stopping the flow of electricity and preventing an electrical fire.
Allowing our professional electricians in Calgary to install these safety outlets means you can focus on your cannabis plants without worry that the lighting which allows them to flourish isn’t installed improperly or unsafely. So if Canada’s new marijuana law has got you excited to try your hand at indoor cannabis growth, give Ampt Over Electric a call at (403) 862-1782 and we’ll help get you started on your horticultural adventure.
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