July 24, 2021
Cheap, energy-efficient, durable LED grow lights are becoming more and more popular as home grow lights for both professional growers and for plant enthusiasts. Although certain plants prefer distinctive wavelengths, it is often the best practice to have grow lights that cover the full spectrum of the sunlight — after all, plants are using that kind of light for rather a long time
First things first, if you’re new to indoor gardening, you’ll want to know exactly what you’re looking for. Full-spectrum LED (light-emitting diode) lighting aims to mimic natural sunlight, producing, as the name implies, the full spectrum of light plants require for optimal growth.
This full-spectrum is produced in two ways. One is by coating blue LEDs with a mixture of different colored phosphors. Phosphors convert the blue light’s wavelength into a wider range of wavelengths that ultimately look like white light (like sunlight does). The second is to combine red, green, and blue diodes in such a ratio and pattern that the light appears white to the human eye.
Full-spectrum LED lights are a relatively new technology. High-intensity discharge (HID) and compact fluorescent (CFL) lighting have been the standard for indoor growing but none of these lighting systems replicate daylight in the way LEDs can. As LED technology improves, they’re more and more becoming a viable option for growing and maintaining healthy plants.
Spectrum
Perhaps the biggest advantage to using full spectrum LED grow lights is right there in the name. Since they consistently put out the entire spectrum of light that plants need throughout their growing cycle, you won’t have to change the lights.
Return on Investment
While LED lights cost more than other lights, they last longer. The average lifespan for an LED light is about 50,000 hours, miles ahead of HID lights, which last an average of 24,000 hours, and CFL, which last about 8000 hours. You’ll pay more upfront but you’ll ultimately get more light and need to replace your bulbs less with an LED system.
Energy Efficiency
There’s no real comparison between LED lights and other types of grow lights. LEDs use about 75% less energy than other kinds of lights, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. If conserving energy or saving money on utilities is high up on your priority list, LED is really the way to go.
Heat
Heat is much easier to control in your growing space with full-spectrum LED lights. They generate much less heat than other kinds of bulbs, which can make them ideal if you’re growing in a small location or in a region with warmer outdoor temperatures.
Size
LED lighting systems are generally less bulky than other kinds of systems. HID lighting requires separate ballasts and reflectors, not to mention vents to manage excess heat. In smaller spaces, LEDs let growers maximize the room they have by allowing them to place plants closer to the lights themselves.
Cost
LED grow lights are more expensive than other kinds of lights like fluorescents or HID. The initial cost for setting up an LED system can be prohibitive.
Power
HID lights are much more powerful than LEDs. They’re able to generate a light intensity that encourages plant growth in a way LEDs can’t match. If you’re growing a high number of large plants, HIDs might still be the way to go because their light can penetrate foliage further than LEDs can.
Blue Light Exposure
Prolonged exposure to blue light, while necessary for plants to grow, is harmful to humans. It can damage your retinas, so working in your growing space will require you to be careful and to wear grow room glasses. You only have one set of eyes!
ECO Farm G660 Foldable Grow Light Bar
Features:
The ECO Farm grow light is equipped with Samsung LM561C 1512PCS + Osram 660nm Reds 42PCS and 6 high-efficiency aluminum rods to ensure high-efficiency PPE 2.6umol/J, better heat dissipation, and long service life. Compared with old plant lights, the average PPFD is increased by 30%, and the yield and quality are increased by 50%. With 6 LED growth lights, each rod is covered with high-grade glue, waterproof, and easy to clean, not easy to be filled with dust. This plant growth light also uses a special dimmer, which can precisely adjust the brightness. 0–10 levels are optional. This means that you can see clear brightness levels and record while adjusting. No need to worry about differences. Using ultra-thin folding design can Provide high-quality, high-yield planting solutions for single-layer or multi-layer growers. It can be folded at 180 degrees, which is convenient for transportation and saves transportation costs. At the same time, it also has an ideal full-spectrum and amazing heat dissipation, close to natural sunlight to meet the various growth stages of plants.
GrowBright Command Series 660W LED Grow Light
Features:
The system design features 8 bars, each equipped with 240 enhanced-red full-spectrum chips. A spanning frame and cool operating temperature allow Command Series lights to be placed close to the garden canopy for increased efficiency, while bars can be adjusted laterally to customize the lighting footprint. Coverage capability combined with a uniform 4×4 light footprint makes the Command Series fixture an ideal LED lighting solution for a wide range of facility configurations. Our most energy-efficient growth spectrum is designed for those seeking maximum nutritional growth and flowering capabilities Design for people. It is heavily biased towards the red part of the spectrum and aims to maximize the blade and radiation capture. On-site and laboratory testing allows us to guarantee that the luminaire will provide a higher growth rate than any LED luminaire under the same wattage. If you need efficiency, this spectrum can provide the highest μmol/Joule level of all our spectrum options.
Aceple AG-6000 660W LED Grow Light Fixture with Osram Chips
Features:
Using the new technology of 2021, with OSRAM DURIS LED, the actual power is 660W, instead of the 2000W or 3000W of other virtual standard LED plant growth lights-this high-power plant growth light can provide sufficient lighting for various plants. High energy efficiency, 2.5 umol/J, the PPF output of this plant light is 1650umol/s. Compared with the old generation purple (red and blue) LED plant growth lights or HPS lights, our sunlight LED plant growth lights are more energy-efficient. This 660W lamp can obviously replace 1000W HPS. No fan, zero noise. It consists of 12 independent light bars with aluminum heat sinks, so the plant growth lighting fixture has excellent heat dissipation performance. Compared with the quantum board LED plant growth lamp, it has a faster heat dissipation and a lower surface temperature-no need to worry about burning the plants, and the lamp has a longer life.
Buying the right full spectrum grow light is crucial to the well-being of your indoor plants. And not all of them are built in the same way. So, you need to keep in mind a few important features before moving on to choose a suitable light.
Switches
Generally, a full spectrum grow light provides sufficient light for all stages of plant growth. However, some of you might prefer products that let you control the type of light that the plants would get. These products feature switches that help in adjusting the different light modes suitable for different growth stages.
Cooling System
This is an important criterion to consider when you’re looking for a grow light. You should ensure that the light has an efficient heat dissipation system. While some products consist of mute fans, others have an aluminum heat sink that absorbs the extra heat. Note that some grow lights with fans may produce an annoying noise sometimes.
High Wattage
For providing your plants with good coverage and the ideal light output, you should find a spectrum light that offers a minimum of 300W. Though, a single plant or small crop can thrive with a light having a lower wattage.
Many of the LED lighting systems available currently offer a wattage going up to 1000W. Note that a wattage higher than this will need a much bigger room or grow tent and an air conditioning system as well.
LED grow lights are becoming more and more popular with home gardeners and commercial cannabis growers. As technology and price points become more and more attractive every day, LED lights may be a great choice for your next growth. Since quality and overall value can vary greatly, be sure to do your homework before buying, double-check product specifications, read user reviews, and talk to other growers.
June 27, 2024
When choosing Best LED Grow Lights, you should also consider the durability of the lamp, energy efficiency and whether it can meet the light needs of specific plants. For example, the LED plant growth lights provided by Philips Lighting are designed for specific crops to promote uniform growth and improve quality and yield.
June 20, 2024
June 15, 2024
On Amazon, hot growth light types include LED Growing Lights, which have a variety of functions and features such as automatic on/off timing, red and blue LED light combinations, multiple dimmable modes, and flexibility for indoor potted plants or indoor gardens.