Cold cathode compact fluorescent light bulbs have a lot of benefits in gardens over standard compact fluorescent light bulbs, also known as hot cathode CFLs. Anyone who has used compact fluorescent light bulbs in cold weather should be familiar with their downsides; in cold weather, CFLs are very slow to start, and if it's cold enough they won't start at all. Standard compact fluorescent light bulbs are also susceptible to failure by shock and vibration, so they are not useful in gardens where there is foul weather.These downfalls are due to the way standard "hot cathode" compact fluorescent light bulbs are lit. There is a very small coiled tungsten filament in the cathodes in each CFL. This filament is heated to over 900 degrees F, which ignites it and excites the mercury vapor in the glass tube. The small size and fragility of the filament is what makes standard CFLs susceptible to failure by shock and vibration, and also why they fair so poorly in cold weather.Cold cathode compact fluorescent light bulbs do not have filaments; instead there is a solid metal thimble that is heated to a much lower temperature of 200 degrees F. While 200 degrees is not exactly cold, "cold cathode" is a simple enough name for marketing purposes. The solid metal thimble is much stronger and more robust that the small tungsten filaments. This allows cold cathode compact fluorescent light bulbs to withstand the rigors of bad weather, shock, and vibration. At the same time, cold cathode CFLs can start and operate in temperatures as low as -10 degrees F.Even outdoor gardens don't always get enough light, and so it's very helpful to use cold cathode CFLs to supplement the light of the sun. You can place your plants in shade without worry with CCFLs. They have the same range of color temperatures available as standard "hot cathode" compact fluorescents, while maintaining the many benefits of cold cathode technology.
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