A fluorescent lamp is a light source that uses electricity to excite the molecules of a gas (typically mercury) until they glow.
Fluorescent lights efficiently produce light suitable for plants. They have a long lifespan and are a preferred light source within the horticulture community because they drastically reduce lighting and cooling costs.
Although a more efficient form of lighting than the incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp requires the use of a ballast. Without a ballast to regulate voltage, a fluorescent light will uncontrollably draw so much current from a high voltage source that it will overheat and burn out within seconds.
Fluorescent lighting was initially popular for commercial lighting, but the ultraviolet light it produces that is necessary for the cultivation of plants has also made it the primary source of light for hydroponics, interior farming, and other indoor horticultural applications.
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