As indoor gardening becomes more and more popular, LED grow lights have become an important tool for achieving healthy and abundant plants. By providing an optimal light spectrum, these lights allow gardeners to grow vibrant plants year-round. However, with so many different types of LED grow lights available, navigating the world of spectral science can be overwhelming.
That’s why we made this comprehensive guide. We hope this guide has given you the knowledge and tools you need to choose the ideal spectrum for your plants.
What kind of LED lights can grow plants?
You can use any kind of LED lights to grow plants. It depends on the size of your growing business. If you have a lot of plants or plan to grow plants that require a lot of light to grow, you will need larger, higher output LED fixtures.
The reason there are specialized LED grow lights is because the output and spectrum of regular LED lights are not optimized for growing plants. They work well, but not as well as LED grow lights designed for growing plants.
For small plant grows, any standard LED lights will work fine, but true LED grow lights will be even better. For larger plantings, it doesn’t make sense to get a bunch of standard lights. You better get grow lights.
ECO Farm G3 MARS 800W Samsung LM301B LED Grow Light
Features:
The ECO Farm Full Spectrum LED Grow Light 800W is one of the most Advanced Multi-Bar Led Grow Light with 1–10V Dimmnig. This grow light has full spectrum (Samsung LM281B/ LM301B(3000k+6500k) with OSRAM red 660nm and OSRAM 730nm)with Light Intensity measuring up to 2240 µmol/s, matching the natural sunlight, using Samsung LED package. It just consumes about 800w power. High Efficiency PPF LEDs make you cost less but get more. High-end & high performance self-heating dissipation construction for long lifespan. Re-defined & Wide coverage light design, benefit your plants everywhere. Real full spectrum(sunlight) for plant from veg growth to bloom, no need to change your light source. No Fan design and make grow room so quiet.
Spider Farmer G860W Full Spectrum LED Grow Light
Features:
This Spider Farmer LED Grow Light features an even peripheral PPFD score for even coverage, ensuring maximum light per plant. The elongated light bar design also ensures a more even distribution of light, reaching all edges and corners. The strip grow light design and the aluminium heatsink on the back contribute to better airflow and good heat dissipation. The G860W Garden Light features a detachable driver and 6.56″ long power cord to reduce ambient heat in the grow space for longer life. The LED diodes are coated with water repellent, so they are not afraid of a wet environment. Dimming daisy-chaining allows you to link up to 60 G680W Series grow lights together — dimming multiple lights simultaneously. Widely used in commercial cultivation, vertical farming, home gardens, home cultivation, CO2 systems and hydroponics.
Spectrum King Phoenix 840W LED Grow Light
Features:
Spectrum King’s Phoenix 840W is ideal for photon-hungry crops that can handle strong light. With 16% less wall power than standard HPS fixtures, the 840 provides some decent output compared to other fixtures while still saving electricity and heat. Spectrum King’s custom spectrum is tested and customized to maximize plant and flowering cycle growth. The intensity of this dimmable light can be as low as 10%, enabling growers to simulate a sunrise/sunset effect. Spectrum King’s innovative Cryo-Therm cooling technology features an ultra-thin profile that maximizes airflow and minimizes microclimates. The Phoenix 840 grow light is optimized for single or multi-level planting close to the canopy.
Gavita Pro RS 2400e 800W LED Grow Light
Features:
Gavita LED grow lights produce 2400 μmol/s at an impressive 3.0 μmol/J efficiency and provide a broad spectrum of white light and enhanced blue light to help enhance flavor and aroma. This powerful full-spectrum light source is designed for all aspects of plant growth — from the vegetative stage to the end of flowering and when higher light levels are required. Using the Gavita Master EL3 controller, the luminaire can be dimmed by up to 10% without any loss of efficiency. The RS 2400e is built with high quality components including Gavita drivers and custom Gavita branded diodes to deliver the performance and longevity you’ve come to expect from a trusted brand.
Factors to Consider When Buying Grow Lights
No matter what type of plant you are growing, the quality and intensity of your grow light has a direct impact on your crop’s overall health, vigor and potential yield. Therefore, before investing in grow lights, it is important to consider some key factors that will help narrow down your options.
These factors may include:
the size of your space and its orientation/layout;
what type of lights and fixtures to use (such as fluorescent, HID or LED);
cost comparison;
cooling options;
total power required;
Lux value requirements;
the heat generated by each light source;
Spectral output that meets the needs of photosynthesis;
Components of ballast/enclosure/reflector and safety features such as grounded socket/fuse.
Once you have a better understanding of all of these factors — from design to power requirements — then you’ll be better able to make an informed decision about which type and model of grow lights are right.
Conclusion
When selecting and using LED grow lights in terms of spectrum, it is important to consider the specific needs of plants at each growth stage. It’s also important to choose grow lights with broad-spectrum or full-spectrum lighting to provide a more natural light source for your plants, rather than just using lights of a single color or wavelength as your primary grow lighting solution.