ECO Farm MB660 Foldable Grow Light Bar VS HI-PAR 660w LED Grow Light
The evolution in indoor grow lights has given hydroponic fruit and vegetable cultivation exponential growth. Hobbyists and commercial growers alike are choosing indoor growing as the go-to option for farming and self-sufficiency over traditional outdoor plots. With the right knowledge and know-how, anyone can use the advantages that LED and full-spectrum lighting has brought to the agricultural industry.
The most common lighting systems are LED, fluorescent, metal halide and high-pressure sodium. Before purchasing a hydroponic lighting system, consider the following:
Flowering plants require a higher amount of light energy than leafy greens and herbs.
The dimensions and height of your grow space will dictate the amount of coverage you will need.
LED grow lights have become the go-to option for hydroponic gardening. For most applications, LED’s are the best choice.
Higher powered lights will consume more energy and cost more to operate. High efficient lights will pay for themselves in the long run.
The price of a lighting system will be determined by the overall quality, size and technology of the fixtures and lights.
So, if you’re enhancing or building an indoor garden, you need to set yourself up with the perfect hydroponic lighting system. Let’s dig into all the details needed to choose the best lighting system for your grow space.
What Are The Benefits of LED Grow Lights?
There are many benefits to growing with LED lights, but here are the highlights:
LEDs emit very little heat in comparison to other types of grow lights, which means they can be placed much closer to the canopy than any other system. This leads to faster growth rates and better yields!
LED grow lights can be used for all stages of plant growth, so it’s possible to start with one light and never need to upgrade. They also come in various wattages and configurations, so you can choose the exact type that best suits your needs.
It might seem like LED grow lights are expensive, but it’s important to remember that they can last up to 30 times longer than HID or fluorescent lighting systems. They only require about half the wattage of their predecessors, which significantly reduces energy costs.
LED lights are incredibly energy efficient. On average, they use about 50–60% less electricity than traditional lighting systems! If you have enough grow space for multiple light setups, you can decrease your monthly bills by a significant amount.
These are just a few of the reasons LED grow lights are quickly becoming popular among indoor growers. They also come in different colours, which is accommodating for advanced gardening techniques.
ECO Farm MB660 Foldable Grow Light Bar
Features:
The UV+IR bars of this ECO Farm LED grow light can increase your plant THC content. UV light causes the plant to create more resin to protect itself, which means higher THC and CBD levels. This LED grow light utilizes the latest technology on the market–from intensive research for optimum performance, to customized spectrums to achieve the highest yields possible. This grow light is the most powerful commercial-grade LED grow light on the market. No fans = silent & noise-free operation. The full spectrum(2112pcs LM301b 3030 White chips+48 Osram 660nm Red chips) allows you to drastically increase yields and quality. Using this LED grow light is a great way to save on lighting for larger grow rooms and greenhouses.
Features:
The HI-PAR LED grow light is an innovative true full-spectrum LED fixture with a futuristic design unlike anything else. HI-PAR 660w LED Spectro delivers maximum performance and efficiency with removable LED bars for customisation while maintaining the highest possible output and huge coverage. This LED grow light is built tough for durability and is compatible with the HI-PAR Control Station V2. And it is designed for best use for both vegetative and heavy flowering plants.
The easy guide to grow lights
When do you know that you need a grow light? What signs do you look for? How do you know it's time to get a grow light? Don’t worry, I did the research so you don’t have to.
Do I need a grow light?
Look at your plants and look for signs like:
Pale green
Searching for the sun
Stretching to reach the light
Slow, to no growth
If you are seeing those signs, no need to buy a grow light just yet. Can you simply just move your plant(s) to a different window? If this is not possible due to space constrictions or other fashion reasons. Then its time to get a grow light.
Okay, you have determined that you need a grow light, moving your plant is not possible and you have accepted your life as a crazy plant person.
Welcome.
Now it's time to figure out what kind of grow light you are looking for. There are many different options on the market with lots of confusing verbiages, so I will do my best to simplify.
PAR/PPF Value
PAR or Photosynthetic Active Radiation is the range of light that helps plants with photosynthesis. The higher the PAR the more the light produced in your plant's absorption range. This also means the higher the PAR number the further away your plant can be from the light.
PAR can be expressed in units of 100s or 10s EX: PAR 32 or Par 320
The same can be said for PPF Value or the Nanomicrons of light per second. The higher the PPF value the more absorbable light your bulb will give off.
Wattage
Wattage does not matter for the growth aspect of the plant. This is simply personal preference.
Colour
Grow lights come in a range of colours or spectrums from red to blue to natural daylight. Each colour also helps with different areas of growth.
IR (730–735nm) — good for flowers and fruit.
UV LEDs(390–395nm) — seeding and sterilization.
BLUE LEDs(460–470nm) — help plants with chlorophyll synthesis.
WHITE LEDs(6500k) — increase temperature and enhance photosynthesis.
RED LEDs(620–660nm) — contribute to photosynthesis, germination, flowering and results.
Distance
The most common misconception is that you can mount your light wherever. I see it often a low par grow light about 6 feet from the plant, this does nothing.
You have to mount your light for the distance that it's rated. This is usually stated on the box but a high PAR is usually 2–3 feet. A small LED is 6–12 inches from the plant.
Shape
Grow lights come in many different shapes from a classic bulb to a strip light. The shape you choose depends on the area you are trying to cover.
Conclusion
You can’t use any old light to grow plants. Unlike many other plants, the plants require extremely high light exposure to reach their full potential. Some lights cannot supply your plants with the powerful rays it craves.
Most importantly, you should never use incandescent bulbs when growing plants indoors. While these old-timey bulbs are “oh so retro,” they cannot supply your seeds with what they need.
Another model you should avoid is plasma grow lights. Although these lights are induction-based and are used in some commercial settings, they are not a very practical solution for indoor growers due to their cost and high heat output.
