When it comes to growing  indoors, it is essential that you choose the right type of lighting. As with all plants,  require light in order to photosynthesize and create their own energy and nourishment, and as such, it is vital that you consider which type of lighting system works best for you.
The most obvious choice of grow lights for your cannabis growing enterprise is LED. Indeed, LED lights are the stereotypical type of grow lights, and for good reason too. LED lights offer a plethora of different benefits over other types of lighting and this makes them popular choices for many cannabis growers. However, LEDs are not the only type of lighting available to growers, and another key contender for the title of the best grow light is the HPS light.
So, what are the differences between LED and HPS lights, and which type of lighting is right for your needs for your cannabis growing?
 

What are LEDs?

LED lights are the obvious choice of lighting for growing cannabis. Short for light emitting diodes, they are cheap to run and easy to install. A lot of people rely on LED lights for their cannabis growing and this makes them highly popular choices. But what are the benefits of LED lights?
A key benefit of LED lighting is that of their efficiency. LED lights are cheap to run and install and this is largely one of the factors that encouraged growers to switch over to LED lights in the first place. This efficiency means that less energy is required for the same light output, making cannabis growing more profitable or, for people growing for their own use, more affordable. After all, growing cannabis quickly requires a lot of light and this can use up a huge amount of electricity as well. 
Another benefit is that of the ease of installation. Some lighting solutions require fiddly installation in order to work effectively. However, LED lights don’t have this issue! LED lights are quick to install and don’t need any professional installation; however, large LED lighting models also have the option of being built into the system.
A further benefit of LED lighting is the range of colors that the lights can emit. Different wavelengths of light have different colors, and it is a well known fact that plants utilise these different wavelengths differently. For the most effective cannabis growing, specific wavelengths can therefore be chosen which will ensure that the plants grow quickly and strongly, which reduces the amount of time needed to get a harvest from the crop while also increasing affordability and yield from the plants.
 

 

What are HPS Lights?

You’ve probably heard of LED lights, however, you may not have heard of HPS lights. However, HPS lights are alternative lighting solutions for cannabis growers which could make them a better choice, for some growers.
HPS grow lights are designed to optimize the growth of cannabis plants. They help to give plants the chance to grow to unrivaled sizes, and this of course is important for improving the yield from each plant. These lights emit a light in the red/orange color spectrum, which allows plants to grow and mature successfully. They are also cheap to invest in, making the startup costs associated with HPS lights affordable—however, they do have higher maintenance and ongoing costs than LED lights.
 

HPS vs LED Lights

There are plenty of differences between HPS and LED lighting, and weighing up the pros and cons is essential if you are to have good experiences with your cannabis growing. LED lights are generally the popular choice; though a little more expensive to initially set up than HPS lights, LEDs are exceptionally efficient and so will save you money on your growing in the long run—either making your growing more profitable or affordable, depending on whether you are growing for your own use or to sell.
Both HPS lights and LED lights can be used in a red/orange wavelength, which helps to ensure strong and healthy cannabis plants with good yields. However, it is worth considering that HPS lighting needs to be kept at least 12 inches above the top of the plants in order to prevent damage, so if your growing room is on the smaller side, you may want to choose LED lights instead.
Both lighting options have pros and cons, and the choice will largely depend on your own personal preference and budget. If you have a smaller starting budget, HPS lights are cheaper to install but will cost more to run, and an extractor fan may also be needed to remove excess heat; by contrast, LEDs cost more to buy, but are largely more efficient to run and so will save money over time.