If you are serious about growing plants indoor, then there is no
comparison to a HID lighting system such as a HPS (High Pressure Sodium) or
MH (Metal Halide) system. The general rule of thumb for growing plants
indoors is 50 watts of light per square foot for plants that require full
sun. The problem with flourescent grow lights is that they just don't put
out enough light intensity to grow large plants. A HID (High Intensity
Discharge) system such as HPS or MH put out a very intense light. This
allows you keep the light source (bulb) several feet away from the plant
while still supplying the plant with enough light. In order to achieve
similar results with flourescent bulbs, generally you need to keep the bulbs
no further than 1" away from the plant at all times. This requires you to
constantly adjust your lights as the plants grow. Most plants grown under
flourescent lights will be long and leggy as they are trying to get closer
to the light source, due to the fact that their isn't much light intensity
coming from the flouro bulbs. Plants grown under an HID system gererally
will be shorter and fuller plants with more blooms. One warning though, HID
systems can create alot of heat and will need to be addressed during
installation.
good luck,
Matt

"Popcorn Lover" wrote in message
3...
I have a gloxinia, a hydrangea and a few other indoor plants on a plant
shelf
in the living room. I've been using a fixture with dual 40 watt Gro-lights
over them for years now, but it's not real great for getting some of the
plants that require more full sun, to bloom.

What other kinds of lights are available, that won't bust the budget or
use
massive amounts of energy, but will simulate direct bright sunlight
better?

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