May 19, 2022
We all want to ensure that our plant has the best possible growing conditions. From lighting to growing medium and watering, every aspect counts.
Today, we’ll concentrate on the lighting aspect of things–namely LED lights, which have taken the homegrown world by storm.
Let’s find out why grow lights are some of the most efficient. We’ll also investigate the what, why, and how of these stellar tools. Let’s get into it.
LED lights first arrived on the scene in 1962 but found agricultural use much later.
While the popularity of LED grow lights has skyrocketed over the last decade, using LED lights for plants is a relatively new idea.
Since the first attempt at growing plants with LED grow lights, the concept has rapidly gained momentum. The low cost of running LED grow lights offsets the cost of growing plants, which adds to the appeal.
Today, it’s not uncommon to find LED grow lights for producers. The worldwide attitude shift toward plants is widespread, leading to many companies optimizing their products for this market. One of these specific products is the LED grow light for plants.
Are LED lights for plants a good idea? The short answer is yes. Under LED, plant grows exceptionally well.
Most manufacturers of this product type incorporate various settings. While you once needed multiple lights to complete a cycle, times have changed.
The best LED grow lights feature multiple spectrums, which allow you to change between color frequencies. You don’t need to use different light bulbs for the vegetative and flowering cycles. At the flip of a switch, you can choose the appropriate color spectrum.
Grow Light Science PROGROW 850 850W LED Grow Light
Features:
Grow Light Science LED grow light is a full cycle overhead lighting solution for commercial or residential plants cultivation. The 850’s form factor allows for expandability and multiple grow room and grow tent configurations where photosynthesis and yield maximization are the goals. PROGROW 850 provides high PPFD levels and can be used with CO2 supplements. Top light output (PPF), spectral distribution and efficacy will deliver amazing results with little impact on your wallet. PROGROW 850 will deliver PPFD levels of over 1,400 umols/m2/s, either individually or in arrays of multiple cells. We recommend that all growers conduct research and trials within their growing space to design the best combination of inputs.
TopoGrow Professional 800W LED Grow Light
Features:
This TopoGrow LED grow light uses durable IP65 waterproof aluminum material used, Branded led chips and drivers provided. high Efficiency is 2.6 umol/J, delivers powerful light output and uniform canopy penetration to resulting maximum higher yields. PPF is 2080 umol/s, maximize yield with 50% higher Average PPFD, achieve 60% higher yield & quality compared with the traditional led lights. Consume power is 800W, make it a High-End&High-Performance commercial grow light.
This groe light utilizes the latest in high yielding LEDs technology today, max yield Spectrum with enhanced red 660nm led chips and warm 4000K led chips, it speed up blooming & fruiting stages, perfect for Density Buds.The light could be used for commercial,home,grow tent,grow room, hydroponic,soil growth. this 800W led grow ight is best for 6x6ft growth.
Each kind of LED light has a specific set of ratings; lumens, watts, and kelvins.
Each of them tells you something different about how the light operates. You need to find the ideal combination of all three ratings to light your grow room effectively.
Let’s check out the essential elements of lighting your grow room and how each rating comes into play.
Consider the Size of Your Grow Room
Each type of LED light produces a certain amount of usable spectrum, measured in lumens. Lumens indicate how brightly the light shines and how far away from the plants you can place it.
You need to place lights with a low lumen count relatively close to the plants. Devices with a higher lumen count can be further away from your bushes.
If you have a small grow room, you could install a few lights with a high lumen count. Larger growing facilities require more lights with high lumen ratings or many smaller devices.
Energy Budget
With your energy budget, there’s one essential rating. The light’s wattage tells you how much electricity it uses and how quickly.
The typical standard for measuring electricity usage worldwide is the kilowatt-hour. You can calculate how many kilowatt-hours, commonly referred to as units, of electricity you’ll use.
1 — Divide the wattage by 1,000 to find your ballast’s kilowatt usage.
I.E., a 50-watt unit uses 0.05 kilowatts.
2 — Multiply the result by the number of hours the light will be on each day.
0.05 ✕ 24 = 1.2 kWh each day.
3 — Multiply the daily amount by the number of days in the month.
1.2 ✕ 30 = 36 kWh per light each month.
4 — Calculate the total usage by multiplying the monthly total for each light by the number of lights.
36 kWh ✕ 15 lights = 540 kWh.
5 — To calculate the monthly financial outlay, multiply the overall total by the price per kilowatt-hour in your region.
540 kWh at $0.1331 each means a monthly expenditure of approximately $72.
Plant Type and Needs
Different types of plants have different lighting requirements. The top LED grow lights on the market are all-inclusive but have an exclusive price.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Which light colors do I need?
How many lumens do the plants need to stay healthy?
Does the strain I’m growing have any special lighting needs?
Overall Budget
The best LED grow light for you is the one that fits your overall budget. You need to calculate not only the initial expense but the ongoing costs.
If a part breaks, can you afford to replace it? Will the energy consumption fit your budget? Do you need to build a specific framework to house your lights?
These things, and more, affect your decision. Before you buy, ensure that you work out every outlay. You need a product that is both affordable and meets your needs.
LED grow lights are becoming increasingly popular with home gardeners and commercial growers alike. With both the technology and price points becoming more and more attractive every day, LED lights might be a great choice for your next grow. Because quality and overall value can vary greatly, be sure to do your homework before purchasing by closely examining product specs, reading user reviews, and talking to other growers.
October 20, 2023