October 28, 2022
When the sun isn’t on your side, grow lights can come to the rescue. Whether you’re looking to get a leg up on vegetable growing season or just help your houseplants survive the winter, here’s how to find the best grow light for your needs and space.
When choosing a LED grow light for a 4×4 grow tent, it is important to consider the size of the light. In general, it is recommended to choose a light with a wattage that is equal to or greater than the size of the grow tent. So, for a 4×4 grow tent, it is recommended to choose a LED grow light with at least 400 watts of power.
ECO Farm SP-400 Samsung Foldable Dimmable Full Spectrum LED Grow Light
Features:
ECO Farm LED grow light is equipped with 1088 high-efficiency Samsung LM281B LEDs. It has a market lighting efficiency of 2.8μmol/J and an output of 2.5g per watt. The average PPFD is increased by 30%, and the actual power is 420 watts. Proven high-yield full-spectrum (lm281b LEDs (3000k+5000k) + RED 660nm + IR 730nm + UV 395nm), with enhanced deep red 660nm. Born for big buds, the plant responds quickly from seed to flowering, which speeds up the flowering time and increases the yield. The relaxed dimming design meets the needs of different growth stages of indoor plants. No fan, no noise. The aluminum light bar can better dissipate heat and keep cool, and at the same time spread the light evenly. Save you a lot of ventilation and exhaust costs. The most powerful daisy chain-up to 100 lights can be connected, the controller can be used, especially suitable for homes, planting tents, planting rooms, greenhouses, gardens, and hydroponics.
Kind LED X420 Grow Light For Indoor Plants
Features:
This Kind LED grow light combines great innovation with a new shape optimized for home growers. The full-spectrum diodes used by the White LED Company were originally designed for home and office use. Kind’s Targeted Full Spectrum is specifically designed for plants to maximize harvest weight and plant quality. You can have both ultraviolet and infrared rays, which are essential to increase flower development and increase the production of secondary metabolites, thereby increasing potency and terpenes. The external drive mount of the New X series can also reduce the light height by 60% (more growth space) and reduce the heat output by 25%.
EYE HORTILUX Ascend LED 450-EVS Grow Light
Features:
Our powerful LED extends the standard LED growing spectrum providing energy outside the PAR range to include ultraviolet (UV) and far-red, promoting stronger plant growth with heavier flowers. The LED 450-EVS was designed to lower the wattage and cost for lighting your veg space. The grow light provides a true full-spectrum, including UV and far-red, all in one fixture. This setup gives your plants the best chance to grow under LED lighting without sacrificing the benefits of natural sunlight. The 450W fixture includes an onboard dimmer for complete output control, wide distribution LEDs for uniform coverage, conformal coating to protect from dust and water, and sturdy construction. Use it for flower or even start-to-finish using the dimmer during veg.
Power Supply
If you are considering growing plants that do not require much intensity or a high degree of absorption, you should choose from the products that do not draw much power or need more current to function.
If you are interested in vegetation that only grows when it absorbs a greater amount of light, it is better to select from the LEDs that suit the need.
Durability
When looking at the specifications of a LED grow light, it is necessary to check the materials used in its construction.
The elements should resist damage from stress and moisture, and there should be a protective layer on the body. Furthermore, all the electric components inside the body should have adequate insulation where necessary.
Cooling System
Most of the products overheat if customers use them for more than 14 hours a day. If the product you bring produces more heat than the limit, it will not only possibly burn your plants, but also has a negative impact on the unit itself.
Check if there is a sufficient built-in system for the heat sink. Generally, high-quality aluminum with ventilation holes or a sufficient number of fans is long-lasting.
Compare the PAR Values
Checking the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) of a product is also among the crucial aspects to remember. These radiations are beneficial to plants and act as an alternative to natural light. High PAR means more brightness level, which most of the plants love.
However, you must note that this quality does not necessarily mean that the light source is suitable. There should be an even distribution of this light so that no plant faces the inhibition in development phases. In this case, only those in the vicinity of LEDs will receive light and grow well, while the others will take a longer time or might die.
Programmability
The option to program certain features is something that proves to be extremely beneficial to the plant owners. They make your task more convenient by allowing you to adjust schedules and the specific wavelengths that your plants require. Just set the alarm for turning on and off the source, and ease the pressure of doing it yourself every day.
Price
It is better to note those options in the list that involve moderate to high costs. Why? Usually, LEDs are more expensive than other items such as fluorescent lights and there are fewer chances that they will be available at extremely reduced prices. It will also mean that they might not work for an extended period.
Thus, it might result in contacting the customer service or an electrician for the repair frequently, indicating more effort and bills. If you still want to buy a cheaper variant, make sure to check if it can last for a maximum of six to seven months and has a nice cooling system.
When it comes to LED grow lights, there are so many options on the market. We tried to provide as detailed a review as possible, with all the pros and cons of the product. However, if you think you would like to know more about a specific aspect, or would like us to review more of your selections, please contact us via a comment or email and we’ll get it done as soon as we can!