February 08, 2022
Sometimes the toughest part about having houseplants is creating an environment for them to thrive. Worrying about your plants getting proper sun exposure can be difficult, but grow lights are a simple solution! There are so many options for indoor lighting. Here’s the place to begin in your search for the best grow lights for indoor plants.
Before you can find the best grow lights for seed starting, you’ve got to understand how the lighting actually works.
LED lights are the most popular variety of grow lights right now. Not only are they energy efficient, but they promote better plant growth as well.
Here is a list of what you should consider about using LEDs when starting seeds.
Energy Efficient
LEDs are more energy-efficient and can help bring your electric bill down a bit.
Lifespan & Price
LEDs have a higher lifespan than fluorescents, but they are a little more expensive.
Shapes & Sizes
These lights come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Therefore, you can customize your lights according to the square footage, type of plant you’re growing, and the space you are growing the plants in.
Lumens
LEDs have more lumens (brightness of the bulb) which means you can keep the plant’s light needs in mind when purchasing your lights.
Light in Relation to Plants
LEDs need to be kept higher above the plant because of the multitude of lumens. Like humans, plants can get sunburnt as well.
Typically, you will want to keep the LEDs at least a foot (if not more) above the plant. It is key that you keep an eye on the plant to make sure that it doesn’t burn. Once the plant grows taller, you will have to raise the height of the LEDs along with it.
Wattage
It is important to keep in mind that wattage does not determine brightness. For example, LED lights give off more lumens per watt.
Therefore, a 40 watt LED might give off more luminous light than a 60 watt fluorescent light.
Light Fixtures
This feature might not be something we initially consider when purchasing grow lights, but it is extremely important! Certain light fixtures have different reflective features that reflect light back onto the plant.
Depending on how much natural light you’re already getting, the brightness of the bulb you choose, and the ideal temperature for your plants, you will need to consider the size of the reflective features on the light fixtures.
ECO Farm Z6–600 Samsung LM301B LED Grow Light
Features:
The ECO Farm LED Grow Light uses Samsung LM301B chip with 6 passively cooled LED strips, professional SMD design provides even and wide canopy coverage, higher light intensity, less light decay. It easily achieves a 30% higher average PPFD with an incredibly high efficiency of 2.7 µmol/J. Grow lights with enhanced blue light and rich red light, plus IR and UV light provide more precise and uniform dynamic PPFD for all plant stages from seeding to flowering, accelerating growth and increasing crop yields. It is the perfect sunlight grow light for full cycle hydroponics, soil, grow tent/room growing. The high feedback grow light adopts 6 aluminum heat dissipation strips, which can dissipate 30% of the heat with zero noise.
Flexstar Foldable 645W Dimmable Led Grow Light
Features:
This LED grow light uses Samsung 3030 and Osram 3535 LED strips, which is more than 50% higher than HID light in PPFD and reduces power consumption by 37% in terms of energy saving; this high quality LED light can be used in the best, An efficient way to support photosynthesis in plants. The clamp can be folded up to 180 degrees, compact and easy to install; it doesn’t take up much space, keeping your pantry clutter-free. This LED grow light has 40% to 100% dimming options to meet various needs; in addition, the light fixture is compatible with the main controller, so you can easily and quickly adjust the LED light to accurate parameters.
When looking for an excellent grow light that’s ideal for professional indoor growing, pay attention to the following crucial qualities.
Solid build — The grow light you decide to use must have a sturdy material construction for maximum durability. You don’t need to worry about updating your setup or making any changes.
Full-spectrum light — Plants can grow under numerous lighting conditions, but using full-spectrum lighting can create the ideal state for maximum yield. Besides, with a full-spectrum grow light, the same light can serve you throughout the plants grow cycle. You just have to switch from veg to bloom!
Minimal heat emission — For an ideal growing environment, your light should produce as little heat as possible, only sufficient for maintaining room temperature. Grow lights that emit a lot of heat require more powerful HVACs to be running all the time, thus more overhead costs.
Energy efficiency — Don’t only focus on the initial cost. Your preferred fixture should be the most reliable in terms of your overall electricity consumption.
Safety and reliability — Safety is a paramount consideration for your indoor gardening. Check out for stickers to confirm quality tests and compliance to avoid short-circuits, malfunctions, or fire risks.
Easy to install and use — Whether it’s a traditional lighting system or a more advanced fixture, it should have a simple installation process and be ready to be used immediately.
Warranty — It’s a great idea to go for an artificial indoor light that has a warranty. Even if it has a long lifespan, you can never be too safe from product defects.
If you want to grow plants indoors, then full spectrum LED grow lights are your best option. They are the lights on the market that mimic the sun’s energy most effectively. Employing them in your grow room will lead to greater yields and healthier plants.
October 20, 2023