How Much Area Does a 1000-Watt HPS Grow Light Cover?

When starting out growing various plants indoor, different questions may pop out of your mind. Questions such as how many plants are required for a 1000 watt high-pressure sodium, HPS.

Every grower wants to maximize their yield after all the hard work they put into their indoor garden. Supplying your indoor plants with light is very essential for their development. HPS lights have been in existence for almost 50 years and they have been providing light energy for indoor plants growing needs.

Now, it is crucial you get the right plant coverage for the particular bulb wattage you have. This is why we are going to be looking at how many plants are required for a 1000 watt HPS grow light. So, read on to find out

How Much Space Will a 1000-Watt HPS Light Cover?

An HPS (high pressure sodium) light, which is very common in indoor grows, will help your plants produce lots and lots of buds. A 1000-watt HPS will easily cover a 6’ by 6’ area and will penetrate deep down the plant to help those lower ‘nugs’ (marijuana buds) grow larger than you might expect.

The HPS lights will generate heat unlike LED’s which means you will probably be watering more often than if you were using LED grow lights. You also need to watch room temperature as well, so it doesn’t get out of control.

One huge benefit if you use a sodium light is they throw a yellowish light, which somewhat replicates the fall sun. This means HPS is a preferred light for the flowering (budding) stage.

HPS grow lights are really good lights. They do cost a bit more to purchase than an LED grow light.

If you are using a tent, you will want to have inline ventilation, if using an HPS. Having fans running will be required as well.

With HPS grow lights be careful not to have the light, to close to the plants or they could burn. An LED light can be much closer without the worry of your plants getting scorched.

The benefits in using HPS over LED is you will most likely harvest a larger crop much easier with the HPS. I would like to say if your kind of lazy, use an HPS but you can’t be lazy with HPS. You need to be much more attentive to where your plants and lights are situated. Your watering will be much more often as well, unless you have a heater going in your grow tent with an LED light.

HPS Grow Light Buyer’s Guide

If you are planning on starting your own indoor garden, you’ll need to have all of the necessary supplies. In addition to soil, seeds, and moisture, there’s another element that you’re going to need in order to grow an indoor garden: lighting.

Virtually every species of plant needs sunlight in order to grow, but if you’re growing inside, unless you have your plants situated near a window, they aren’t going to thrive; in fact, even if you do have them placed right near a window, your plants are only going to get a fraction of the benefits that sunlight provides, as the glass filters out a portion of these elements.

Fortunately, there’s a way to replicate natural sunlight. How? — With grow lights, of course! While there are several different types of grow lights on the market, HPS lights are among the most popular. HPS stands for “High Pressure Sodium”, and they have really changed the cultivation of indoor plants in a serious way.

These types of bulbs are comprised of a narrow art tube, which is supported by a frame in a bulb that produces a significant amount of light. The arc tube of an HPS light bulb is held at extremely high pressure, which helps to improve the efficiency, and typically, the arc tube is filled with mercury, sodium, and xenon, which, when combined, improves the spectrum of light.

HPS bulbs are the most popular choice among indoor cultivators because they generate such a powerful amount of light at such a broad spectrum that all types of plants can efficiently use; however, fruits, flowering, and blooming plants tend to use HPS bulbs the best.

These lights come in a wide range of sizes, too, ranging from 150 watts to 1000 watts, which further adds to the appeal of these types of bulbs for indoor growers. Typically speaking, 400 watt HPS bulbs are the most commonly used, 600 watt HPS bulbs are the most efficient, and 1000 watt HPS bulbs generate the most power (though they also generate the most heat).

In this part of our guide, we share some key factors that you should take into consideration that will help you determine which HPS grow light will work best for your indoor plant growing needs.

The Coverage
First things first; you should consider the coverage that the HPS grow light will deliver. There are a total of five HPS light sizes, and each one offers different amounts of light coverage. The sizes and coverage areas are as follows.

150 watts: 2 inches by 2 inches of coverage; should be placed 7 inches from plants
250 watts: 2 inches by 2 inches to 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches of coverage; should be placed 12 inches from plants
400 watts: 3 inches by 3 inches to 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches of coverage; should be placed 12 inches from plants
600 watts:5 inches by 3.5 inches to 4 inches by 4 inches of coverage; should be placed 16 inches from plants
1000 watts: 4 inches by 4 inches to 5 inches by 5 inches of coverage; should be placed 21 inches from plants
To determine what size HPS grow light you’ll need, consider the size of the space that you’ll be using it in.

The Ballasts
In order for an HPS grow light to work, it must feature a built-in ballast. There are different types of ballasts. A digital ballast is one of the most common options, as it’s compatible with most bulbs, tends to run relatively cool, generates a high intensity of light, and is more energy efficient, as it uses the least amount of electricity.

The best digital ballasts features a wide range of dimming capability, bulb protection, and shielding from radio frequency. It also will also be flexible to allow for different wattage usage.

The Reflectors
A reflector is very important for an HPS grow light, as it encourages the focus of the light, while also extending the life of the bulbs. Typically, there are two main types of reflectors available:

Open. Open reflectors are constructed in a way so that plants will receive as much light as possible. They’re also outfitted with an adjustable feature that allows you to situate the light close to or far from your plants while still ensuring that they will receive the best possible spectrum and heat.
Air cooled. This type of reflector is designed to capture hot air so that it won’t reach the plants; or, an air cooled reflector can be hooked up to an air duct exhaust. If you’re going to be growing your plants in an enclosed place, such as a grow tent, an air cooled reflector would be a good choice.

Single- or Double-Ended Bulbs
Next, you should consider whether single-ended or double-ended bulbs will best suit your needs.

Single-ended HPS grow lights. These types of grow lights look similar to a standard incandescent bulb, with the primary difference being that they feature a larger socket (known as a Mogul-base socket). On the interior of a glass tube is a component that’s referred to as an arc tube, the primary focus of which is to generate light. The energy is generated from the base of the bulb, which is connected to a metal frame wire on one end.
Double-ended HPS grow lights. A double-ended grow light is even more similar to a fluorescent tube light bulb. Like the name suggests, double-ended lights feature two wires on both ends of the bulb, which can be fastened into the sockets of the light fixture. Double-ended HPS grow lights have become increasingly popular in recent years.

Construction
It’s also very important to consider the construction of the HPS grow light. While all HPS lights are made of metal, you want to choose one that is made of high-grade, durable metal that will be able to withstand excessive heat and regular wear and tear.

If the metal is too thin or flimsy, the light will end up breaking down quickly, or worse, it could end up being hazardous. Hammered German aluminum is considered the most durable materials for an HPS grow light.

Heat Dispersion
You’ll also want to consider the heat dispersion of the HPS grow light. This type of technology is made to mimic the sun, so it stands to reason that the lights generate a great deal of heat. That’s why heat dispersion is important.

Make sure that the HPS grow light that you choose is designed to properly disperse the heat the light generates, not only so that your plants will receive the heat that they need, but also to ensure safety.

The Cost
As you can see from our list, HPS grow lights vary widely in price, so you want to be sure that you consider how much you want to spend before you start shopping. There are several factors that will impact the cost of an HPS light; the construction, the size, the power, and the features, for example.

Conclusion

Now, we have learned that how many plants for a 1000 watt HSP should be around 5 by 5 foot coverage . Especially if you get to grow 4 plants at a time. A 1000-watt light will provide lots of light for those plants and your crop should be plentiful. Other grow lights will also use a similar coverage area for a 1000 watt light.

Good luck and happy growing!