Hello All -
I overwinter plants in my basement during winter - fig trees, citrus trees, tropicals.
I currently have 1 - 1000 watt metal halide in a daystar reflector and 1 - 1000 watt high pressure sodium in a daystar reflector.
The metal halide bulb is the eye hortilux blue and the HPS is the hortilux super HPS.
The growing area is 4 tables placed together so that they are all touching - tables are 72 inches long by ~ 30 inches wide.
The configuration is such that 1 1000 watt MH and 1 1000 watt HPS can hang over 1 table (I would then position the 4 tables below to maximize the light from the reflectors).
Here is my question.
I would like to add more light but am uncertain if I should add 2 more daystar reflectors with 1 1000 watt metal halide and 1 1000 watt HPS or perhaps I should try a ceramic metal halide but they are only 315 watt (as a single light unless 2 are together for 630 watts).
My concern with adding an additional 1000 watt MH and 1000 watt HPS is that there is no UV source for the plants for production of essential oils.
Does anyone know of a 1000 watt bulb that is safe (quartz outer jacket to protect against fire if the arc tube fails) to use in an open fixture and also provides sufficient UV light?
I hear that ceramic metal halide has a better spectrum but I am not fully convinced since I hear they can be used for vegetative and flowering states but I still see 2 bulbs offered for ceramic metal halide bulbs (~ 3100K and 4200K) and one promoted for flowering and one for vegetative.
I have heard that there is sufficient UV with the ceramic metal halide bulbs - is that because they are used with an open fixture (no glass covering?) But I thought the ceramic metal halide bulbs run very hot so if the bulb fails it would still be a fire risk since there is no glass shield? Are the arc tubes contained by a quartz outer envelope in case of failure for the ceramic metal halide bulbs?
Any help appreciated!
Thanks!
Brian