March 30, 2022
Grow lamps used to be massive and ungainly — fluorescent tubes more than a metre long that required complex and hideous systems of stands, cables and reflectors all coming at a significant price. They consumed a lot of power too, so not great for the planet, or your energy bills. They also emitted quite a lot of heat, raising safety issues and damaging the plants that were being grown.
Recent breakthroughs in LED technology have created a new generation of effective, cool-running grow lights that cost a fraction of the old-school options both to buy and to run, consuming up to 90% less energy. They have also reduced down in size, enough to be easily incorporated into average house decor, some seamlessly integrated into planter-cum-lamp designs. There is also increasing evidence to show LED lighting provides a significantly higher yield than traditional lighting.
A popular question is what colour grow light to get. If you choose to go with fluorescent lights make sure to look for the kelvin rating which measures the colour of the lights. A rating between 5000–6500K will sufficiently mimic natural sunlight.
Now if you do choose to go with LED light you can get full spectrum; this offers you a perfect balance of each of the red and blue lights which mimics the natural sunlight the best. The blue light promotes plant growth in the roots and leaves, while the red light promotes growth for fruiting plants.
You can also get white full spectrum LED grow lights if you don’t like the colours on your eyes.
Once my seeds emerge and the lid is taken off, my LED grow lights have 2–3″ from the soil. The closer to the soil the better because it will prevent leggy seedlings.
As your seedlings get older, you can continually move the grow light up. I would still recommend keeping the grow light at a min. of 4–10″ above the plant.
The day your seedlings emerge from the soil is the day you should start with the grow lights. It’s important to keep the grow lights on for 12–18 hours a day, depending on whether you have fruit plants or leave greens. Buying a timer for the outlet will help you remember (and is a game-changer!!)
Once the seedlings have grown, are over 4″ in height and have true leaves on them (and of course depending on what time of year it is) you can start the hardening-off process. This process allows the plant a break from the grow lights and is put outside for a few hours each day, increasing the time each day, so that the plant can prepare for its life outdoors. In that case, you won’t need the grow light anymore.
Features:
The AgroMax Prime 600W Flower LED Grow Light is designed to replace and outperform 1000W HPS grow lights in high value flowering crop applications. This evolution of the PRIME series combines a huge PRIME heatsink with a Samsung LM301B 3500K chip and opted for a 660nm red chip to increase yield, targeting flower development and yield. With a 4' x 5' footprint and 1524 µMol output, the Prime 600 Flower offers explosive blooming potential as well as huge energy cost savings. Additional features include a low profile plug-and-play design and a moisture-resistant conformal coating, making the PRIME 600w Flower an ideal high-efficiency LED lighting solution for home and commercial use.
GE LED Arize Element L1000 Type-R 600W LED Grow Light
Features:
Arize LED grow lights offer best-in-class efficiencies up to 3.5 µmol/J, versatile mounting options, and a tailored spectrum, making the Element the smartest choice for your greenhouse. The Arize® Element features a unique new optical design that delivers the same level of uniformity as leading HPS systems, making the Element the first true 1:1 HPS alternative. Produces the same light output as a 1000W HPS luminaire using only 40% of the energy and offers multiple spectrums. Put more money in your pocket without sacrificing power. The modular design of the Arize Element allows for virtually limitless installation methods, including multiple bracket options, wire cutter installations, and universal loop cables. Spend less time installing and more time growing with the elements.
1. Intensity
The intensity refers to how much energy is being put out by the light source. There are two main types of light intensity: full-spectrum and fluorescent lights (also referred to as “cold” lights). Full-spectrum lights are the most powerful, and they produce the most light. They also come in a wide variety of different colors. On the other hand, fluorescent lights produce a lot of light with less intensity than full-spectrum lights.
The intensity of your light source is important for growing plants because it determines how strong the plant will grow and how quickly it will grow. The more intense the light, the more energy is put into that particular area of your plants. If you want to get your plants to start flowering quickly, you should use full-spectrum lights or HPS lights (high-pressure sodium) instead of fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lights are great for vegetative growth because they are extremely low in intensity and produce very little heat than full-spectrum lighting.
2. Color Temperature
Colors in nature are produced by how sunlight is reflected on different objects. This is why we see most plants that are green and blue. Blue light, in particular, has a lot of energy that plants can use to grow quickly.
When it comes to growing plants indoors, you will want to choose a lighting system that produces the same color temperature as your room’s natural light. This will allow your plants to use the same amount of energy from your lights as they would when they are outdoors. It also reduces eye strain because it allows you to see more clearly with your eyes while growing plants indoors.
3. The proportion of grow area and plants
When selecting lights for your grow room, consider the plants and the grow area size. If you have a small grow area, you will want to use lights that are lower in intensity and higher in lumens. This will fill the room with light and allow the plants to grow quickly. If your grow area is larger, you can choose lights with more intensity than a smaller space. This will allow your plants to grow faster and produce more buds.
4. Maintenance
You must maintain your grow room and lighting system to ensure that it works efficiently. For example, if you notice that your lights are not producing high-quality light, you need to replace them immediately. Also, make sure that you clean the lenses of your lights regularly; this will help produce quality light output. The other thing you need to do is check the ballasts now and then. If they are getting old, then change them for new ones.
After reviewing all the best LED grow lights for indoor plants, we cannot declare a clear winner because every grow light has its distinctive features. Now it all boils down to your personal preference. If you’re running low on budget you can choose a budget-friendly option otherwise you can go for a premium model. Look for a light system that is best for a range of different plants and boasts blue and red spectrum. You also need to go for an adjustable timer ranging.
So which one of these LED lights have you used for your indoor plants! Please share your experience with us by leaving a comment below!
October 20, 2023