Stealth Grow LEDs Added

We have completed our previously planned configuration changes in the grow room.  We have finished the installation of our Stealth Grow Veg LED and Stealth Grow Bloom LED.  These lights operate with much lower electrical requirements and heat output.  As we recognize, they are still a little expensive to acquire but recommend that you do a "total cost of ownership" calculation.  They pay for themselves in a very short time.

WOW, what a difference.  After removing the 240 volt / 30 Amp service to the room and the HVAC system is running about half the time, the electric bill plummeted.  The HID lights were putting out an enormous amount of heat, even with a venting system.  When you have over eighty days of 105+ temps outside, the venting didn't help much.  The HVAC was running constantly and not able to keep up to well.



The plants love the new lights as well.  Although not as "intense" a light, there certainly seems to be more than enough lumen in the correct color spectrum to make the lettuce, tomatoes, and strawberries happy.

We have also removed the PowerGrower and replaced it with one of the Monster Ebb n Grow systems from the Berry House (outdoor greenhouse).  Although the PowerGrower served us well, we had challenges keeping roots from growing so large that they plugged up the water loop.  The drip rings would also clog up from salt buildup from the nutrients.  Yes, we know that constant maintenance could prevent both of these situations but constant maintenance makes this hobby less enjoyable.

We have built some new plant support structures as the Ultimate Plant Cage didn't fare so well against our tomato plants.  The PVC DIY is has a very stable base and we can extend 4 support poles out of it for each plant (and install cross members if desired).  We will show more of this as this tomato grow continues.