November 16, 2021
Of all the factors it takes to grow a successful cannabis plant, lighting is definitely the most important one.
After all, light is your plant’s food.
If you don’t feed your plants the right food, they’re not going to produce the big potent buds you’re looking for.
Today we’re going to talk about what watt light bulb is needed for growing weed.
We’ll also discuss some other things that you should watch out for when choosing a grow light for your setup.
The number of plants that a single light can grow is entirely dependent on the light intensity, spectrum, and duration of light exposure. A grow light with a light intensity of around 120 µmol/m2 s is required to grow a plant indoors in a controlled environment. However, the light of this intensity would result in a very high energy cost. In fact, alight with a light intensity of 100 µmol/m2 s would require total energy consumption of around 700 watts over a period of 16 hours to grow a plant in a controlled environment.
The light spectrum preferably should be approximately in the blue spectrum range for optimal plant growth. A light with a light intensity of 150 µmol/m2 s and a light intensity of 40 µmol/m2 s for red and blue respectively will cost around 27 watts to grow a plant in a controlled environment. The red and blue light intensities can also be used in combination with each other to obtain plant growth with low energy consumption.
There is no fixed number as there are many factors that affect the growth of a plant under a LED light. The factors include the nature of the plant, the nature of the light, the intensity of the light, light duration and intensity, temperature, humidity, etc. In general, the growth of a plant under a LED light is faster as compared to a conventional incandescent light as it uses less energy.
ECO Farm ECOZ PRO 700W Samsung 301H Chips LED Grow Light
Features:
This ECO Farm LED grow light for indoor plants has a max coverage area of 5x5ft, provide a wide range of irradiation area. The growth light Using 120–277V AC, 50/60Hz, composed of Top Bing Samsung LM301H& Os-ram Chip and brand driver for higher efficacy and longer lifespan, patented “Plug & Play” design, light and easy to install, fast and straightforward. Aluminum heat sink fanless passive thermal management, excellent heat dissipation no noise. With 2784 diodes (white light 5000K +red light 3000K+660nm+730nm, and UV dimmer to control UV 395nm), grow lights draw 700 watts, with 1960μmol/㎡s PPFD output, achieving a high luminous efficiency PPE of 2.85 umol/J, Infinite close to natural sun light. Targeted optimization of plant absorbable wavelengths, average PPFD increase by 30%, effectively ensure that plants get enough light absorption, in line with the 95% law of natural growth of plants.
EYE HORTILUX Ascend LED 700-ES Grow Light
Features:
The EYE Hortilux 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. Full-spectrum including energy in UV and Far Red to enhance plant development and spectrum efficiency. This grow light utilizes wide distribution LEDs to disperse colours uniformly over the coverage area. Robust thermal and electrical design allows LEDs to run cooler and retain 90% of output beyond 36,000 hrs. The rigid frame provides consistent positioning of LED boards for maximum uniformity. This grow light can be dimmable to ease plant transition from veg to flower stages. The conformal coating protects LEDs against dust and water, has no optical loss, easy to clean.
That’s a common misconception. In fact, an LED light system can work very well in a 4′ x 4′ space. In fact, it will probably work better than a higher wattage HID system. With an HID lamp, you need a higher wattage to make it work well. With LED, you can use a lower wattage and still get a very good amount of light to the plants. In short, a 4′ x 4′ area is a great place to start with for LED for a first-timer.
LEDs are highly efficient and highly effective, and they never emit a large amount of heat. You can always use a lot of LED lights in a small space, but you should never use a lot of high-pressure sodium lights in a small space. So you can always use a lot of LED grow lights.
Since LED grow lights can be expensive, you shouldn’t buy them willy-nilly. There are things to consider if you want to make a smart purchase, such as:
Lifespan
One of the biggest benefits of LED light products over others is their burning time. Some brands have managed to produce LED grow light with a lifespan of 100,000 hours or so, which is admirable, to say the least.
However, don’t expect all LED lights to have such a long lifespan. Around 50,000 or less is what you should expect, and anything over it is a huge plus.
Still, it’s a lot more compared to others and you do get the best value for your money.
Generally speaking, the best grow LED lights are long-lasting, but make sure to check the lifespan of the light you choose for your 4×4 tent so you know what to expect.
Shape and size
A 4×4 feet grow tent is not a very large grow space so you have to take into account the size of the LED grow light you want to purchase.
You have to match the size of the light to the size of your grow tent to ensure the heat balance and that your plants receive the heat evenly during each growth stage.
While the shape is not crucial, you can choose between different types according to your preferences.
The great thing about LED grow light is that they come in different shapes and sizes, so be sure you’re getting the ones that suit your grow tent and your plants the best.
Efficiency
Every LED grow light features info about energy efficiency. Usually, you’ll see it expressed in μmol/J or micromole per Joule.
This measurement determines how efficiently a light converts electrons into photons. The higher the value, the more efficient the light.
LED lights are generally highly efficient.
We don’t have to tell you the significance of energy-saving capabilities — if you have a grow tent (or tents), you know that inefficient lights can run up your electric bill in the blink of an eye.
Installation
Most of the best LED grow lights for 4×4 feet grow tent is not complicated to install.
The ones that made our list are all fairly easy to install and use, so you ought to be able to do it yourself without any issues.
If, however, it comes to that, they come with detailed instructions that can help you out.
Worst case scenario — you can call a professional to help you install the light properly.
Price
When choosing the best LED grow light, we can’t dismiss the price points, especially since some models cost twice as much as others.
That being said, we’ve made sure to include excellent choices from both sides of the price spectrum, so you can choose between high-end items and budget-friendly options.
On average, an LED grow light goes for $200. You can find options under this amount, and there are plenty that cost a lot more.
However, most of the really expensive ones are commercial-grade grow lights used in grow tents much larger than 4×4.
The bottom line is — think about your budget and how much you can (and want) to cough up for LED grow light, and start from there.
Sure, the expensive ones may have better features, but don’t dismiss the cheaper ones so easily, they might surprise you!
Dimming abilities
Most products and brands mentioned today have amazing dimming options.
It’s vital to consider the dimming capabilities of the best LED grow light for a 4×4 grow tent. In other words, you have to think about the light intensity.
Different growth stage requires different light intensity, so proper dimming options are crucial.
Power consumption
Most LED grow lights consume around 300W in a grow tent. Some use less energy, some use more, so don’t forget to check the exact power consumption before purchasing.
Heat sinks
A LED grow light for a 4×4 grow tent should feature a sturdy, ergonomic design with aluminium heat sinks that dissipate heat in grow tents.
This is important for any growth stage so your grow tent doesn’t get too hot and burn your plants.
Full-spectrum lighting
Full-spectrum lighting is a vital part of LED grow light products.
Growers know the importance of adequate light in every stage of plant growth, and the only way you can achieve that in grow tents is with a full light spectrum.
LED grow lights help a lot of people to provide their plants with the needed supply of light, no matter if you are a gardener, a hobby gardener, if you just like plants or a shopkeeper of a flower shop. They speed up the upgrowth and take care of a dense growth. Ideal conditions can also be established for exotic plant species. The variety of products is huge and one can spend a lot of money for such a lamp without problems.
LED grow lights are perfectly suitable for darker rooms and places with too little light. During darker seasons, plants also get the light they require. Every plant can be nourished properly this way — reliable and economical thanks to the LED technology.
October 20, 2023