October 12, 2021
In today’s article, we’ll go over some of the best LED grow lights available.
As you’re no doubt aware, if there’s one thing that plants need to thrive, it’s light. So it’s of crucial importance that you pick the right lighting system when starting a grow set-up.
There are many different tried and tested lighting solutions out there, all produce some impressive results. But with the advancement in LED technology in recent years, more people are starting to realize the benefits of incorporating LED grow lights into their grow setups.
LEDs are still a long way off from overtaking the traditionally used lighting systems in terms of popularity and pricing for the home grower, but significant inroads have been made. It now seems it’s only a matter of time before LED grow lights become the standard for indoor growers worldwide.
On this occasion, experts strongly recommend applying an environment similar to that in which plants and flowers are found in nature.
All plants and flowers in nature are exposed to a period of darkness at night. So leaving lights on 24 hours a day and every day of the week can be detrimental to any plant or flower.
Even different plants and flowers require a period of darkness and a period of light that are different. For this, some guidance should be consulted about the periods of darkness needed by plants and flowers. Applying this accurately allows for natural and efficient growth.
In cases where plants and flowers are getting too little light, some common signs may be present. Some of these signs are a dull green color, elongated stems, overly stunted leaf growth, leaf drop, or yellowing of many parts of the leaves.
Conversely, when flowering plants receive too much light, there are burned or scorched parts. Here the most important thing is to consider all these symptoms to implement the exact amount of light and darkness that each plant or flower needs.
Phantom PHENO 440 LED 100–277V 440W MP Spectrum
Features:
This Phantom LED grow light combines high photon flux with superior efficiency. The low-profile design and wide voltage range are ideal for a wide range of applications. Two adjustable light bars allow the user to adjust the light spread. The integrated output knob and PX port provide control over the number of photons to the plant canopy. This efficient and versatile system is compatible with PX series controllers to manage photoperiod and output. Suitable for both flowering and vegetative stages, the Multi-Phase (MP) spectrum provides the ideal red to the blue ratio for vigorous growth and to maximize flower development. The Multi-Phase spectrum does not change when using the dimmer knob and still provides the ideal red to the blue ratio for vigorous growth and to maximize flower development.
VOLT VL-1 Full-Cycle LED Grow Light for Indoor Plants
Features:
This Volt LED grow light is a compact high-output LED grow light ideal for use on racks or in tents. High output, compact LED grow light with 1220 µmol/s PPF and 2.8 µmol/J efficacy. At 440W, it has is a higher light output than 600W HPS light and uses 27% less energy. It has Samsung and OSRAM LEDs that allow this fixture to efficiently produce full-spectrum white light. Full-spectrum light mimics the spectrum of the sun, which is optimal for maximizing crop yield and quality. The VL-1’s light panels can be tilted to either spread light over a larger area for vegetating plants or concentrate it for flowering plants. The built-in dimming control knob and remote dimming access allow you to easily adjust the light output.
If you’ve ever done research when wanting to buy grow lights for your indoor plants, you probably saw that there’s a variety of choices of both types and brands. How do you choose the one to buy then? Well, as long as you keep in mind the essential features that the plant lamp you purchase should have in order to keep your indoor plants healthy, you’re safe. So, without further ado, let’s talk about the crucial features to have in mind when choosing.
1. The type of light
There are two types of grow lights that are both good for indoor plants — LED and fluorescent.
The choice will depend on your preferences and needs. While both of them will help your indoor plants grow healthy and lush during every growth stage, LED lights are more energy-efficient. Even though modern fluorescent grow lights save more energy than in the past, LED will still use less electric power because it only produces blue and red light that your plants need.
That’s why fluorescent lights will be white, and you’ll be able to use them indoors without problems because they won’t be unpleasant to look at if your plants are close to the everyday rooms in your home. When it comes to LED lights, they do produce purple light so they can be a bit hard to look at and that’s why they are the better option in closed growing tents or rooms that you use only for the plants.
2. Color spectrum
Depending on the growth stage of your indoor plants, they will need a different color to produce energy and grow, so you should use grow lights according to that fact.
However, it’s always better to have grow lights that emit a full-color spectrum because those are versatile and can be used for every stage and many different plants.
3. Material
If you want to be sure you’ve bought good-quality grow lights, you should choose those that are made of high-quality, sturdy material, preferably stainless steel.
Why? Because grow tents and areas around plants, in general, can be humid. Since the water will constantly be close to the grow lights, they should be water-resistant in order to last you for a long time.
4. Weight
Even though the material should be sturdy, the grow lights you buy shouldn’t be too heavy, especially if you need to hang them. Lightweight grow lights will be easier to adjust, and there won’t be any risk of them falling on the plants.
5. Dimming levels
As you’ve already noticed, some models offer the possibility to choose between different lighting intensities, which can also be very useful.
This feature offers a lot of versatility and allows you to use the same grow light for different kinds of plants and stages of the same plant. So, if it’s possible, invest in the model that offers this solution.
6. Easiness of setup
It’s always better to choose a simple product, right? With that in mind, purchase a grow light that will be easy to install, use, and even bring with you if necessary.
Also, it’s very convenient to purchase grow lights that have the option of being connected with the daisy chain cables because then you will need only one power outlet for multiple grow lights — mess-free installation!
7. Adjustability
When choosing the right grow light among all of the choices on the market, it’s always better to look for those that can be easily adjustable. This is important because every plant will require a different distance from the source of light.
And not only different plants but also the same plant in various stages of growth. That’s why, if you plan on hanging the lights above the plants, you should be able to adjust them when needed.
We all know that it would become a tough task to make the right choice when shopping for an LED grow light because you have come in contact with several products but here you would find that we have rounded up the best and reliable LED grow lights for you.
It is also a known fact that you cannot go ahead and buy each of them just to try them out but you should know that you are guaranteed the best light performance and excellent yields no matter the choice you make.
October 20, 2023