March 29, 2022
If you are looking to purchase a grow light for your indoor plants, there are a few things you need to consider.
Grow lights come in all shapes and sizes, and each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
In this blog post, we will discuss the best LED grow lights available, as well as the factors you need to consider when choosing the right one for your needs.
Grow lights are a better option than sunlight for several reasons.
Sunlight is only available during certain times of the day, and it can be challenging to find a location that receives enough sunlight for your plants. Due to changes in weather conditions, the photosynthesis of plants affects.
We can use Grow lights year-round. The main difference between Grow light and sunlight is that Grow light emits a specific wavelength of light that is beneficial for plants, while sunlight contains all wavelengths of light. This means that We can use Grow light to grow plants indoors, even when it’s cloudy outside.
Grow lights can be placed closer to the plants, which allows for more intense light and fewer shadows.
In addition, grow lights can be used in any location, regardless of outside weather conditions.
Further, some research studies proved that using grow lights increased fresh weight, the number of leaves, and plant height.
AC Infinity IONBOARD S44 400W Full Spectrum LED Grow Light
Features:
This full spectrum LED grow light is designed with algorithmically positioned Samsung LM301B diodes to maximize plant yield. Features proprietary drivers for dimming, daisy chaining, and interfacing with our smart controllers. Built on a fanless one-piece aluminum plate for heat dissipation and longer diode life. All components are sealed to IP-65 standards for optimum performance even in high temperature and humidity growth environments. Includes a pair of metal rod hangers and rope hangers. This LED grow unit is specially designed for grow tents with internal reflective mylar lining for growing a variety of plants, fruits and vegetables.
AgroMax RAW 550 4000K LED Quantum Board Grow Light
Features:
The AgroMax RAW 550 light fixture combines top-of-the-line Samsung LED chips with premium Meanwell drivers to deliver industry-leading LED grow light technology. They produce an impressive 2.5 micromoles/watt output, enough to support a 6' x 6' growing space or 4' x 4' flowering cover. The AgroMax RAW is designed with a sturdy aluminum heatsink and a dust/waterproof conformal coating that can also withstand the conditions in a cultivation environment. To protect the panel’s circuitry, a thin polymer layer is applied to seal the electrical connections. This feature ensures that dirt, dust, water and corrosion will not damage your fixtures. Replacing LED fixtures can be expensive, and conformal coatings can prevent accidental water damage.
The lighting terms you should be aware of before buying a grow light are lumens, kelvins, and PAR value.
Lumens measure the total amount of visible light emitted by a source. This is the most important measurement to consider when choosing a grow light, as you want one that emits enough lumens to cover your entire growing area. Light intensity is the same as lumens. Lumens measure the amount of visible light emitted by a source, while intensity measures the amount of power required to produce that light. Both terms can be used interchangeably when choosing a grow light.
Kelvins are used to measure the color temperature of a light source. A higher Kelvin rating means a whiter, cooler light, while a lower rating means a warmer, yellower light. You’ll want to choose a grow light with a Kelvin rating that matches the type of plants you’re growing.
PAR value is used to measure the amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) emitted by a source. This is important for growers who want to maximize plant growth. Choose a grow light with a high PAR value if you’re looking for maximum plant growth.
The Colour of the light is not as important to plants, but some growers prefer to have a light with a cooler color temperature (higher Kelvin rating) so they can see what’s going on in their grow area better.
The majority of grow lights give full-spectrum light. Plants utilize the vast majority of the blue (“cool”) and red (“warm”) spectrum’s radiation. Blue light promotes vegetative development (foliage and roots), while red light promotes flower and fruit production.
1. Efficacy
If we know the PPF output of a fixture and the input energy you can figure out the efficacy rating. This is expressed as micromoles per joule or uMol/j. Most commercial LED suppliers will list the efficacy rating in their product specifications. The higher the efficiency rating, the more light you will get for the energy input.If you only know the PPF and the wattage of a fixture, you can just divide to get the efficacy. For example, a 400watt fixture that has a PPF rating of 800 has an efficacy rating of 2.0. Or a 400w fixture at 2.0 uMol/J produces 800 uMol of PPFIn the old days, HPS had the highest efficacy rating which was up to 1.9 umol/j. This is why it consistently got good yield. However, LEDs are currently reaching 3.0 umol/j and have left HPS in the dust. The efficiency of LEDs will continue to increase while HPS efficiency is fixed.
2. Semiconductor chips
The semiconductor chip is what converts electricity into the light that your plants need. Without this vital component, your LED grow light simply won’t work. Because of this, be sure and pick out a LED grow light that has a quality semiconductor chip. LED grow lights with a good semiconductor chip will outlive those that lack one and save you money in the long run.
3. Wattage
When you see a wattage associated with a LED grow light, it is typically the equivalent wattage you would need in a HID or HPS light to get the same result. So a LED grow light listed as 400W can replace a 400 watt HID or HPS light but the actual wattage of the LED will be far less. This is way LED grow lights are much more energy-efficient. First-time buyers often assume the more wattage a grow light provides, the better. But bigger is not always better. The rule of thumb is you need 32 watts per square foot of growing space for flowering and light-loving plants. Low-light plants like lettuces and herbs need only around 11–18 watts per square foot.When you take these all into consideration, you will quickly know which one is the best grow light for indoor plants. Of course, the cost is also an important factor that you need to consider when buying grow lights for indoor plants. This requires you to make a comprehensive comparison before you can choose the most cost-effective one.
4 .Light Spectrum
While getting the necessary light output is very important for your plants, the spectrum of light they receive is also important. Outdoor plants evolved to grow under natural sunlight, which produces every color on the spectrum. Therefore, the best grow lights have a full-spectrum grow light to best mimic natural sunlight and optimize plant growth.Within the full spectrum, each wavelength (color) is responsible for a different effect on the plant’s growth. Blue and red light are the most prominent colors since blue drives stockiness in a plant during its vegetative stage. The red light helps plants stretch and bloom in the flowering stage. However, plants also utilize other colors. The green light is not as easily absorbed by the plant for photosynthesis, so that makes it more effective at penetrating the plant canopy and delivering light to areas that are less saturated with light. Therefore it is optimal to use a full-spectrum light that uses a combination of all colors at all stages of growth.
Grow lights are commonly used in hydroponics systems to help plants grow indoors, even off-season. Many lighting options are available, but an ideal choice will always depend on your growing area. Still, there is no single best light source to use for growing plants indoors. Before purchasing any plant grow lights, consider what you will be using them for, where they will go inside your garden, and how much money you want to spend on the lights.
October 20, 2023