LEDs are the newest lighting technology on the market, and many plant growers and owners are asking themselves if it can be used effectively as a grow light. In fact, LED grow lights have proven to be a great artificial light source for houseplants when used correctly.
What exactly are LED grow lights?
In short, an LED grow light is a light designed to mimic the natural sunlight spectrum that plants need to grow.
These lights are designed to stimulate plant growth by delivering the correct type of light spectrum at the correct intensity and duration.
Grow lights are widely used in indoor farming, vertical farming, hydroponics and other types of controlled environment farming.
Unlike traditional grow lights that are bulky, hot and costly to run, LED grow lights are compact, energy efficient and affordable. Additionally, you can program these lights to deliver a specific light spectrum to enhance plant growth, increase yield and improve crop quality.
Grow lights come in all shapes and sizes, from small panels for home use to large fixtures for commercial farming operations.
You can customize grow lights to provide specific ranges of optimal wavelengths for different plant growth stages such as seedlings, vegetative growth, and flowering. Providing plants with the right light spectrum and intensity helps regulate plant growth, improve nutrient turnover and increase photosynthesis.
Spider Farmer G5000 480W Full Spectrum LED Grow Light
Features:
Spider Farmer led grow light has a unique elongated light bar design, which provides more even and comprehensive canopy coverage. Equipped with 1680 high-efficiency diodes, the G5000 LED grow light delivers 480 watts, achieving an impressive 2.8 umol/J PPE, covering a highly productive full-cycle grow of 4×4 feet. The G5000 Grow Light is a full-spectrum LED grow light (660–665nm, 3200–4200K, 4800–5000K) with different wavelengths of light, perfect for every stage of plant growth. The dimming button can adjust the brightness of the light, 10–100% dimming to meet the needs of plant growth.
Mammoth Lighting Fold Series MF04 LED Grow Light (Veg)
Features:
Mammoth Lighting was developed by indoor growers after years of careful trial and testing. Scientifically engineered to provide the highest level of PAR output and balanced coverage in LED growth markets. Mammoth LED grow lights are made of high-quality Samsung diodes. The light contains a continuous range of wavelengths from blue and green to red, creating a light mix that matches natural sunlight. Mammoth customizes its spectrum to optimize plant growth and increase yields while consuming less energy and reducing operating costs compared to traditional gardening techniques.
What should you look for in LED grow lights?
Can you use regular led lights as grow lights
Can any LED lights be used as grow lights? of course not. Not all LEDs are created equal.
Specifically designed for growing LEDs are carefully designed and crafted to create a special spectral blend that provides efficiency to your plants, reducing energy waste.
There are actually a lot of factors to consider when trying to choose the right grow light for you, with spectrum and intensity being the top priorities. We recommend asking yourself the following three questions to help:
What are you growing
The obvious first step in choosing any equipment for your growing space is to consider the types of plants you are growing. Full-spectrum LEDs will provide your plants with the light they need at any point in the growing cycle. But some lights are designed for specific plants.
Where did you grow up
The next thing to consider is your setup location. For hobbyists, we generally recommend a grow tent, or opt for one of our starter kits, which include everything you need to grow your first time. Grow tents make it easier for you to control different aspects of your plant’s environment, such as temperature and light.
When shopping for grow lights, it’s a good idea to aim for around 32 watts per square foot. Smaller plants like herbs and lettuce may only need about 18 watts per square foot, which is why choosing the type of plant you want to grow first is the best choice.
What type of LED do you need?
Full cycle LED lights are the lights we recommend for most plants, but if you only need lights during the flowering period, you can save some money by choosing a different light.
In addition to different spectrums, LED lighting can also come in the form of panels, strips, bulbs and tubes.
Conclusion
For indoor plants, grow lights are an important lighting supplement. In a greenhouse or grow tent, the needs for grow lights are different in different situations. Don’t buy any plant light on impulse, you have to choose the product that suits you best according to your gardening needs.