October 17, 2022
Growing houseplants sometimes is not easy. Enough sunlight, water, air, fertilizer, etc. are necessary for indoor plants. Grow lights mimic natural sunlight and can be of great help. If you plan to build your own indoor garden, read our review below to find out the perfect products available in the market.
There are several indoor grow lights that can be used for planting. However, most farmers prefer to use LED. Research shows that LED is the most preferred lighting method among farmers in North America. Here are some benefits of LED Grow Light;
Energy-saving: With LED, you can save anywhere from 50–70% of energy. They conserve energy and are also able to keep the constant intensity of the light. The light does not fade with time.
Full-spectrum: LEDs have a full spectrum that can compare with the radiation spectrum of natural sunlight. This is one of its selling points.
Reduced heat emission: LEDs produce the least amount of heat of all grow lights. They produce enough light intensity while reducing heat emission.
Durability: One of the key benefits of LED plant lights is durability. Most LEDs have a life span of 3–4 years when properly maintained. You can get almost 50,000 hours of light.
Environmental friendly: LEDs do not contain mercury or any other harmful gas that can affect the growth of the plant. They are recyclable and very safe.
Better plant quality: With the absence of UV rays, the quality of plants is higher.
Low maintenance: Besides being easy to install, LEDs have very low maintenance. After installing, you can focus on the growth of the plant. All the regular issues in traditional are absent. So, you can save more money.
ECO Farm ECOD Samsung UV+ IR 1000W Dimmable LED Grow Light
Features:
The ECO Farm LED Grow Light is powered by Samsung Full Spectrum LEDs that drive a wide spectrum from 395nm to 730nm and produce 144597 Lumens. The full spectrum coverage gives better results. Available in 3000K and 6500K. Full-spectrum light with higher intensity in the 395–730nm spectrum has been shown to perform better than the targeted spectrum for general use. The ECO Farm Samsung LED grow light produces a 1000W PPF output of 2524.5μmol/s and a PAR efficacy of 2.8umol/J making this fixture incredibly efficient compared to other commercial fixtures. LEDs generate far less heat than HPS and other HID lamps making them perfect for horticulture. Lights can be installed much closer to the plants themselves getting them all the light they need and increase your harvest. Less heat also means a lot less power used for cooling your grow area. Stack that with power saving on the light itself for a huge drop in your power expenses.
Spectrum King Phoenix 1050W LED Grow Light
Features:
Spectrum King’s Phoenix 1050W LED Grow Light is a grow lighting beast that unleashes 1050 watts of sun-like light in areas up to 6' x 6', unleashing the ultimate output for your grows. Designed to hang high, the Phoenix 1050 recreates the sunniest summer days for plants that never seem to get enough light. SK Cryo-Therm cooling technology enables an ultra-thin profile that allows maximum airflow and minimizes microclimates. Optimized for single or multi-tier planting near the canopy. For growers who need the biggest, brightest LEDs, the Phoenix 1050W is for you.
Having a wide array of LED grow light models from different manufacturers is a welcomed development. It means growers have a lot of options to choose from. However, it also makes it tricky to make the right choice. This section outlines the important factors, and features you should look out for when shopping for your next set of LED grow lights.
1. Price
The truth is the quality of LED grow lights you can get depends on how much money you have to spend. While these devices are not exactly cheap, growers should set a realistic budget and work with the same while shopping. The goal here is to get lights that offer the best value for their price. A good LED grow light may cost between less than 100 USD and up to 1,000 USD, depending on the specifications. For example, a full spectrum LED grow light will cost more than models without UV lighting. Other factors like the diode brand, light intensity, and warranty length may also contribute to the overall cost of any grow light model. However, you will most likely find cost-effective options that fall within that price range irrespective of what you are looking for.
2. Light Intensity
Light intensity simply means the amount of power you get from a grow light. Growers tend to assess the light intensity of a grow light by its wattage. But this is not entirely accurate. Other specifications like the Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD), Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF), and efficacy all contribute to the overall light intensity a LED grow light delivers. The Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF) of a grow light is the amount of light it produces per second and is measured in umol/s. It is the official unmanipulated measurement of the full amount of light any LED grow light can produce. The Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) is slightly different. It estimates the number of photons that reaches a square meter of the grow area per second. Measured in umol/m2/s, this metric shows how well the plants use the photons from the light source. Various plant types have their own recommended PPFD. It is best to go for grow lights that efficiently and equally distribute light across the grow area. The last contributory factor — efficacy — describes how many photons you derive on the same power consumption.
3. Spectrum
The spectrum is another essential factor to watch out for when you want to buy grow lights. Not all LED grow lights are full spectrum, but it is best to go for full spectrum models. Full-spectrum light comprises five different sections — the UV light, blue light, visible PAR light, red light, and the far-red light. Having all wavelengths of light means a single full spectrum LED grow light can contribute to all the stages and aspects of plant growth. In addition to their efficiency, adopting full spectrum LED grow light makes the plant appear more natural, making it easier to discover and monitor plant diseases and pests. The higher amount of green light in a full spectrum grow light translates to higher PPFD, which is great for light-hungry medical plants. That way, they can absorb more green light and increase yield.
4. Coverage Area
Knowing the precise dimensions of your growing space before shopping for a LED grow light is important. For example, hobbyist growers grow in 5 square meters or smaller areas, while commercial growers can go several hundred square meters or even thousands in some cases. The smaller growing areas can rely on less powerful lights. Still, anything larger than 5 square meters will require multiple large, powerful lights to cover all the edges and corners and ensure an even light intensity over the canopy.
LED grow lights are becoming more and more popular due to their energy efficiency and low heat output. While they may not be as powerful as HID lights, they still produce great results and are a great option for growing space.
October 20, 2023