brand names and light fixtures

[OrchidSue]

I think the bottom line is what is best for you, your goals and priorities, what your growing area is like, and your financial resources. To automatically assume that the most expensive is "The Best" is somewhat dangerous. I have found notable exceptions to that rule. For example, in the past I have found T12 bulbs that had significantly higher light output than what was considered "the best" bulbs for literally half the price. In general, yes, you get what you pay for, but I do a lot of product research and my personal priority is to find value for what I am paying for. It does take time and some degree of experimentation, but that's what works best for me. In general, I have found that "middle of the road" is the best way to go and then fine tune as time and experience move forward.

Susan