December 24, 2021
Growing plants is becoming a more openly discussed topic in all types of circles as it becomes a reality in more and more places around the world. One of the most important factors in growing plants is the lighting — plants require tons of light to produce the best buds. LED lights are a fan-favourite among indoor growers, but what are the best LED grow lights you can get in the US and Canada?
Our selection was made based on several different factors. You’ll agree that the best LED grow lights for a beginner may not be as good for someone who’s been in the business for years.
Whether you’re a beginner grower doing research on his first set of grow lights, or a very experienced grower looking to maximize his yields — there’s something in this list for you.
LED technology is not groundbreaking. It has been around for decades now.
LED stands for “light-emitting diode.” It is a small bulb that converts electricity into light energy. The history of LED lights stretches back all the way back to 1907.
The earliest LED bulbs in the 1960s and ’70s were costly and used only in advanced instruments.
But in recent years, the costs have declined, and LEDs are used in everything from home lighting to consumer devices like TVs and mobile devices.
It was only a matter of time before LED panels started appearing in the hydroponics and indoor grow scene as well.
These days, LED grow lights are available in different sizes, intensities, and colours to suit various plant requirements. They are accessible for both small-scale as well as commercial productions.
Nanolux LEDzx 630W LED Grow Light
Features:
The Nanolux grow light is designed to be lightweight and compact. This fixture is foldable for easy handling. It allows random start, soft start, soft dimming capabilities, and features over-temperature protection, under-voltage protection and open / short circuit protection. The fixture is 0–10V COMPATIBLE, allowing control of your lighting with 0–10V protocol. The units can be used at any voltage range of 100–277 volts and features a smart digital control. If one or several bars fail, the life of other bars and the power supply will not be affected.
Iluminar 630W iLogic™8 Full Spectrum LED Grow Light
Features:
The iluminar Grow Light is designed to outperform the competition with additional diodes and a tuned spectrum to deliver iconic results. The new iLogic™8 has actual heating fins that help dissipate the heat. As for hanging and anything like that, each has two swivel points on either side so that you can have it properly sitting level. The cable that is included is NOT waterproof, If they buy additional waterproof connectors that slide over this RJ14 cable and twist over, it becomes waterproof and no more issues with any type of water, spraying down, cleaning, etc. The way to take off a bar is the same way — hold the pin down and slide to your left.
Low Heat Output: Some cheap LED grow light tends to get overheat and make the environment hot. This could burn plants out. Also, LED grow lights that tend to overheat seem to have a shorter lifespan than the ones that don’t produce excessive heat.
Thus you save some money not having to buy LEDs again and installing them.
LED Grow Light With Cooler: Few LED lights have high-quality cooling fans included in them which internally cools the LEDs. This is great for lengthening the lifespan of the LEDs. Thus, you should look for LED grow lights with a high-quality internal cooling fan.
Quality of the Semiconductor Chip: It is like the heart of a LED grow light, and the heart needs to be of great quality, right? This chip is responsible for converting electricity into light and also determines the wavelength of light.
Make sure you buy a LED grow light with a good quality semiconductor chip that has a minimum wattage of 3.
1. What Type Of LED Is Best For Growing Plants?
The best LED type for growing plants varies from one person to another because the grower needs are different. However, if you have a large plantation unit or plants that require more light, it is best to consider the LED panels since they can illuminate a wide area. If you have a smaller plantation unit, then you can consider the light bulbs since they are more affordable.
2. What Lights Do Professional Growers Use?
The most widely used lights for growing vegetables and flowers are the Metal Halide HIDs and High-Pressure Sodium (HPS). However, the fluorescents and LEDs are now replacing these two lights because they are efficient and economical.
Any full-spectrum light should be a good choice for growing plants. This is because they provide all the rays of light required for plants to thrive fully.
3. What Is The Best Wattage For LED Grow Lights?
The wattage required to grow plants differs from one plant to another. For example, plants that require high amounts of light, like tomatoes, need to have around 40 watts per square foot for them to flourish.
For plants that require low light and small leafy plants, like lettuce, you might only need about 20–30 watts per square foot.
Also, the wattage of different LED grow lights will determine how many plants can be used under them. For example, for a 450 watts LED light, the maximum number of plants that can be grown is nine.
Indoor grow lights are becoming very popular in recent decades to expand indoor gardening, as the latest technological advances have allowed LED lights to outperform all other types of lighting within the market.LED grow lights are manufactured in such type of shape for additional focus.
Full spectrum led grow lights may provide more additional light per watt than typical lights. Therefore, LED lights to offer lights for a more extended period than similarly incandescent bulbs and fluorescent bulbs. This eradicates the hassle of having to obtain bulbs constantly. Therefore, you can try to find a good grow light after reading that will surprise you.
October 20, 2023