Hi Jay, I started out with this bulb, 600watts HPS. I grew orchids only, so it makes sense to have this bulb for the flowering and since it has some blue in it will also promote vegetation. I have it set up in my living room, ( it is a rather large living room). The first day, I can tolerate the colour, the second day, it started to drive me crazy, and the third day, I took it back to the store to exchange it for the Sunmaster warm MH 400 watts. This has a bit of red in it, but it is still bluish, but plants look like it is bathing in daylight. while the Hortilux HPS says it has some blue, it is still very orangy. The leaves looks like a weird colour, while the lavender flower of the cattleya looks like the colour of raw liver.
Check with the return policy before you buy it.

Go w/ either the philips mastercolor 400w ceramic metal halide or the hortilux blue.....both are white light w/ incredible sprectrums.....The things you can grow under them is limitless.

Zink

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jwmeyer,

What else can you tell me about the Philips MasterColor 400w lamp? Have you used one, or have you seen one used? Do you have any info, or good link, to any more information that Phips has?

Last year, I ran across these MasterColor lamps while researching coatings on HIDs. I was really hoping to find out if the Spectral Power Distribution that Philips published was at all remotely true. It looked, to me, like this should be an EXTRAORDINARY plant light.

I never found the MasterColor represented as a grow light by Philips, or by any of the sellers I looked up. I have searched, most recently just a couple of months ago, but never found any instance of anyone having used the lights for plants.

This is the first time I have ever see anyone mention this light. What else do you know? I would appreciate it.

Zink

Zink,
Try this...
http://www.nam.lighting.philips.com/us/ecatalog/hid/pdf/p-5497c.pdf
http://www.hydro-techn.com/showcandle/newscan.html
I'm still trying to figure this site out so bear w/ me...

JM...