January 28, 2023
Choosing a hydroponic light source is one of the most important factors for success. It’s also probably the most expensive item you’ll buy for hydroponics, so you want to get it right! Thankfully, in this day and age, there are plenty of great options that won’t break the bank. In this article, we’ll look at several lighting options. We include the specific grow lights that we have used and found to be of good quality.
Under natural conditions or in an outdoor setting, the sun provides the light needed to grow plants.
Ozone filters solar radiation, allowing a spectrum of light energy between 300 and 1100 nm, representing the more useful light for indoor plants. The visible spectrum is made up of the seven colors you see in the rainbow.
To successfully grow indoor plants using LED grow lights, you must mimic the sun and provide the different color spectrums your plants need at each stage in the form of artificial light. The main color spectrum that indoor plants need includes blue light and red light.
Growing plants with LED lights is easy if you know what your plants need at each stage of growth. Manufacturers are aware of these needs. In addition to making full-spectrum LED lights, they also offer lights with switches to activate different spectra at different stages.
Spider Farmer G860W Full Spectrum LED Grow Light
Features:
This Spider Farmer LED Grow Light features an even peripheral PPFD score for even coverage, ensuring maximum light per plant. The elongated light bar design also ensures a more even distribution of light, reaching all edges and corners. The strip grow light design and the aluminium heatsink on the back contribute to better airflow and good heat dissipation. The G860W Garden Light features a detachable driver and 6.56" long power cord to reduce ambient heat in the grow space for longer life. The LED diodes are coated with water repellent, so they are not afraid of a wet environment. Dimming daisy-chaining allows you to link up to 60 G680W Series grow lights together — dimming multiple lights simultaneously. Widely used in commercial cultivation, vertical farming, home gardens, home cultivation, CO2 systems and hydroponics.
Mammoth Lighting Fold Series MF08 LED Grow Light
Features:
The Mammoth LED grow lights are built with high-quality Samsung diodes. The lights encompass a continuous range of wavelength from blue and green to red, creating a light blend matching the natural sunlight. 469 Samsung LM301B diodes per bar delivers the industry’s Highest PPFD and Yield. Mammoth customized their light spectrum to optimize plant growth and increase yields while consuming less energy and reducing operating costs compared with traditional horticulture technologies. With a proprietary blend of 3000k+5000k+660nm+730nm, for full cycle growth. 730nm speeds up flower (~5 days) and adds up to 5% more yield. Up to 5x5 flower coverage, 7x7 veg coverage. Strategically designed bars/spacing delivering more even lighting coverage (and growth) over a 5'x5'.
Here are important aspects of indoor growing that you should know to get the best LED grow lights for your strain.
Price
A grow light can cost from as low as $100 to as much as $2000; generally, the more the price, the better the quality of the LED light.
Another cost factor is the electricity bill you’ll have to pay monthly. LEDs won’t consume a lot of electricity due to their energy-saving properties, but the bigger the growing operation, the more the cost of electricity.
The frequency of growing plants will also influence the overall cost of buying the lights. For example, if you buy an expensive LED light, then it means that you’ll get a return on your investment if you use it to get multiple harvests in a year.
The Number of Plants
Most states that allow the planting of plants will have regulations regarding the number of plants you can plant in your home. For example, most states will limit the number of plants from 6 to 12. One or two lights should cover these lights.
If you’re planning on growing plants indoors on a large scale, you’ll need several huge LED lights or many small ones. When growing plants on a large scale, it is important to consider the room’s size and grow space. It will dictate the size of the grow lights you’ll install.
Power
It can be difficult to compare the power outputs for LED grow lights as manufacturers use several metrics and standards to quantify them.
Generally, 1 watt will provide 90 lumens of light output. There is also a standard lumen requirement for a plant in the different stages of growth.
For example, in the seedling stage, the plants require 2,000 lumens for every square footage. It translates to power needs of 23 watts per square footage. In the flowering stage, the lumen requirement goes up to 10,000. It translates to power needs of 113 watts per square footage.
Determining the power needed for growing your plants also helps you choose the right LED light.
Safety
When growing plants indoors, you’ll use a lot of electrical equipment to grow plants effectively. Since the equipment runs with less human interaction, ensure you maintain high safety standards.
For example, you should consider the power needs of the grow light. Chances are that you’ll be running the lights constantly for a long period. It means they’ll consume a lot of power over a long period.
It’s important to check if the power outlets and breaker board can safely handle the drawing of such power. Overloading electrical outlets can spell trouble when there is a short circuit.
You’ll agree that the ideal LED grow light for any grower must be full-spectrum, feature high-quality diodes for maximum intensity, cover a large area, and most importantly, be affordable.
October 20, 2023