January 18, 2022
In a perfect world, you’d have plenty of windows for all your houseplants to sunbathe. But if you’ve got a room with few windows or a dark corner, your plants aren’t going to be happy. While many plants can adapt to lower light conditions, they won’t look their best. Plus, they’ll also be more susceptible to pests and disease. How can you tell if your plant is struggling? A plant that isn’t getting sufficient light will not bloom and may drop leaves or stretch toward the light, creating an unattractive, gangly stem with sparse leaves. A grow light can solve these issues!
Grow lights also let you get a jump-start on planting season by allowing you to start seedlings indoors (plus, you’ll be able to grow varieties you may not be able to find at your local nursery). Most grow lights are LEDs, which are more efficient and don’t throw as much heat as fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. They may be standalone or have a tripod-base or a clamp to attach them to shelves or counters, but there are also some that have a chain to suspend from a shelf unit. Another thing to note is that they are super, super-bright, so they really aren’t a good idea in your bedroom (many grow lights need to be on 14 hours or more per day, if you’re starting seedlings, for example). A built-in timer is a good idea, too, because plants also need periods of dark as a normal part of their growing cycles.
Fluence SPYDRx Plus 685W LED Grow Light
Features:
SPYDRx PLUS is a full-cycle top lighting solution for commercial horticultural planting with the ability to grow from vegetative to flowering. The SPYDR series is only 4.6" thick, with a recommended installation height of only 6" from the top of the canopy, and is designed for vertical farming — from vegetables to flowering — with an average PPFD of up to 1,030 µmol/m2/s on a 4'x4' top on the canopy. All SPYDR models can be dimmed with an optional light intensity Dimmer for precise control of the PPFD and provide flexibility to instantly adapt to new crops with varying light requirements. Recommended installation height is 6" for optimal light uniformity, penetration and flux density above a 4'x4' canopy.
Street Light 680w LED Grow Light
Features:
Designed to deliver an astonishing 2.7µmol/J and 1750µmol/s PPF, Street Light LED grow light uses premium Osram and Samsung LED chips to deliver powerful full-spectrum light across six LED strips. Designed for use from the vegetative plant stage to the harvest stage, the Street Light SL-680 offers growers great convenience with an easy-to-use plug-and-play setup that eliminates the need to switch lighting or move plants mid-growing. With a single LED covering the full spectrum 3000K 5000K 660nm 760nm IR, our grow lights are perfect for all growth stages. In addition, it works and supports all growth stages such as bloom and tall growth. This grow light has a dimming knob that powers the unit via an ON/OFF switch and dims it from 0–100. This customization makes LED strip lights ideal for different plant stages and growing environments.
While just about every plant loves light, they don’t all have the same taste. Here are some things to consider when buying an LED grow light.
Power consumption
Even though LEDs are much more efficient than their older counterparts, they still require a constant stream of energy to run. And leaving them on all the time — especially if you’re running a lot of them — can really start to ramp up the ecological impact and your electric bill.
Older bulbs used to measure power in watts, but LEDs don’t quite work like that. Input power on an LED suggests how much power it’ll use, but not necessarily how bright it will be. High-efficiency LEDs can put out a lot of light with a few lamps, while other arrays use a higher number of smaller lamps.
Your needs are specific to your plants, but don’t go buying an LED light array just because it has a high wattage rating. Look for an equivalent wattage number or other methods of measurement.
Spectrum coverage
Full-spectrum lights can mean different things depending on the model. True full-spectrum lights include infrared modules that emit waves you can’t technically see. Different light wavelengths often serve different parts of the growing process, so you’ll want to match up the spectrum performance with the plants you’re trying to grow. If your plants aren’t picky, most “full spectrum” lights should do a fine job. But, it’s worth doing a little research about your specific plants to make sure the light you’re buying offers what they need.
Dimmability
Not all grow lights are dimmable. Some have either an on or off setting and not much else. Other LED grow lights can offer ten or even more different levels of illumination so you’re not always blasting them on full power.
Self-timers
Plants don’t need light 24 hours per day, so you’ll want to turn lights on and off as needed. Some lights have built-in timers that allow you to program in a custom schedule. That absolves you from having to remember to hit the switch, which can have a profound effect on plants, especially if you’re trying to start outdoor plants inside.
Indoor gardening is slowly becoming popular and so is the equipment that is necessary for that. Before, you could only grow the plants and fruits in your background that is suitable for the environment around you. But now, technological advances have brought in a lot of apparatus that helps you grow a wide variety of plants even if you do not have sufficient light around you.
One such piece of equipment is LED grow light that allows you to set up your own growing platform with sufficient light. To avoid confusion due to the number of different options and their varying properties, we have shortlisted the best options for you. You should also refer to our buying guide to choose the best option for your preferred application.
October 20, 2023