May 18, 2022
With the legalization of recreational plants use in states across the nation, many hobbyists have proceeded to grow the plant indoors. If you are only a starter in indoor growing, then you have a lot to learn regarding this plant.
Since you are growing plants indoors, you will need an artificial light that is bright enough to support the plant. I would advise you to go for LED grow light products since they are highly efficient and feature increased output per watt. Also, they last for long and typically cost less to operate. Compared to HID lamps, LED lights make a more favourable choice.
Most indoor grow lights in use today are divided into two main categories — light-emitting diode (LED) lights and high-intensity discharge (HID) lights.
HID lights
HID lights include metal halide (MH) and high-pressure sodium (HPS) lights, and HID grow systems often use a combination of the two in order to increase yields. These lights tend to produce more heat and require more energy than LED lights. This means you may need more height in your grow space to keep the lights further from the plants.
LED lights
LED lights are typically more energy efficient and give off less heat. This can mean that they are more safe, but looks can also be deceiving. Because the lights don’t appear to be working as hard, it can be easy to underestimate the light your plants are receiving, potentially resulting in light burn. Also, they tend to have a higher price tag than HID lights.
There is no black and white answer to this question. LED lights allow more customization in the light spectrum meaning that they can be easily adjusted for the vegetative and flowering stages. They also produce less heat, are more energy efficient, and last longer. At the same time, they can cost significantly more — even to an extent that exceeds what you may save in energy costs.
It’s important to note that many LED lights are relatively new in the market while HID have been reliable go to for indoor growers since the 1990’s.
HID lights produce great light coverage and penetration at a lower cost and are quite easy to set up and operate, but will require more energy for cooling and more attention to make sure your plants are getting too much light.
To answer the question, you’ll need to consider how much you’re willing to invest in your lighting system and energy costs, and how much technical know-how you have at your disposal.
ECO Farm LM301B UV&IR 600W Quantum Board
Features:
The ECO Farm LED grow light delivers a powerful light output and uniform canopy penetration to resulting maximum higher yields. Excellent full spectrum LED Grow Light is designed with Full spectrum(3000K), red light 660nm and IR 730nm and UV 395nm, infinite close to natural light, best for all plants all stages growing, rapid plant response from seed to flower and increase yield & crop quality.This grow light uses the most efficient and safe LED Grow Light, SAMSUNG LM301B diodes (2.7 umol / J), which will not emit a lot of heat, and efficiently save energy and your electricity bill. This Plants Growing lamp makes you get a 30% higher yield and saves up to 50% energy compared to old blurple led lights.It is designed for indoor growers, this LED light quantum board uses aluminum to make it cool down instead use fans, bring you a fanless quiet grow experience.
Phlizon 600W Dimmable Plant LED Grow Light
Features:
Over 90% highly reflective aluminium of this Phlizon grow light ensures the quickly flourish of your plants, light output PPFD value is 327 umol/m² hanging at 18".High reflectivity aluminium hood boosts reflectivity by 20% compared to standard aluminium reflectors; Contouring of the polished surface ensures no hot spots or dead spots. The newest high efficient SMD leds , higher light intensity, less light decay , better lumens and PAR values than ordinary lamp beads. It runs at a lower temperature and can bring higher energy conversion and longer life. This waterproof grow light is a full-cycle lighting solution for all growing environments. The intensity of light can be adjusted according to the needs of plants.
Before we reveal the different grow lights for indoor plants, there are quite a few factors to consider. Therefore, we condense them into a handful of handy categories below.
Сost
First thing’s first; what is your budget? If it is under $100, you can still find something. However, you won’t get anywhere near the yield of what a $1,000+ high-quality LED system provides, for instance. Also, bear in mind that you need different lighting for the various stages of the grow cycle.
It is best to calculate how many plants you need each year. MMJ patients and regular recreational users are best served to make a one-off investment in decent standard lights. Also, the more harvests you intend to have, the quicker you ‘pay off’ the cost of lights. If you only plan to grow plants occasionally, HIDs may fit the bill because of their cheaper initial cost.
Ventilation
Certain lights run significantly hotter than others. HIDs, for instance, run extremely hot and need an air conditioning unit. Otherwise, the temperature of your grow room could become excessive and harm your plant’s growth. Please note this is an extra expense to add to the ‘cheaper’ HID setup.
Space
How big is your grow room going to be? If you don’t have much space, you should steer clear of ‘hot’ lights, or else the room’s temperature will increase rapidly. You also won’t have enough space to install an AC unit.
Safety
Check your breaker board to ensure there are plenty of outlets and enough power to handle your lighting easily. Next, go through your full list of equipment to determine its power usage. If you don’t have enough power capacity, the risk of electrical fires increases markedly.
Growth Cycle Stage
The lighting required by indoor plants varies according to their stage in the growth cycle. Young plants require a different light spectrum from their mature counterparts. For example, Metal Halide lights are associated with plants in the vegetative stage. In contrast, HPS lighting is frequently used in the blooming phase.
Finding a suitable LED grow light is not a simple process, especially with a lot of products available for purchase on the market. Hopefully, this LED grow light bulb review has helped to narrow your options. If you have just started indoor growing, you should consider taking small steps in the field to minimize your risks. Try to experiment with one of the grow lights above to see how well they work.
October 20, 2023