ECO Farm DBL3000 Full Spectrum LED Grow Light 320W VS Mars Hydro FC 3000 LED Grow Light

With the lengthening daylight and the many seed catalogs arriving in your mailbox, it’s hard to ignore the promise of spring.

Are you planning to grow your own vegetable and flower transplants this year? You may find that shopping for grow lights for indoor gardening can be mind boggling.

When navigating the numerous options in lighting products, you may encounter confusing terminology. Don’t let this intimidate you. When choosing a grow light system for your indoor garden, you only need to understand a few basic principles.

Once seeds have germinated and the first “true leaves” emerge, light begins to play a vital role in the growth and health of seedlings. Outdoors, plants get energy from sunlight to produce their own food, a process known as photosynthesis.

Successful indoor gardening depends on grow lights that closely imitate sunlight to trigger photosynthesis without generating too much heat. Your seedlings will thrive under a quality, energy-efficient, full-spectrum light that’s evenly distributed over your growing area.

What are LED grow lights?

LED stands for light-emitting diode. An LED is basically a semiconductor that produces light when electrical current flows through it. The semiconductors, or diodes, restrict the flow of the electrons which makes them emit light. Plants can then use the light for photosynthesis. The process is very efficient and releases little heat.

LED technology allows growers to select different bulbs for different growth stages. I recently visited a vertical urban farm where the LED fixtures threw off red light and blue light to encourage the vegetable crops to flower and fruit. It was super interesting, but it also looked like a disco and that isn’t the type of light most gardeners want in their indoor living spaces. However, many LED grow lights are classified as full spectrum which means they closely resemble natural sunlight and emit white light that is pleasing to the eye.

How Do Plants Use Wavelengths?

The color of the light (or wavelengths of light) is exceptionally important for plants. There is still a surprising amount of debate about this, but plants use all of the wavelengths of visible light, including blue light, red light, green colors (although some growers will tell you differently), and more. There is even value to the non-visible light, such as the far-red and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum.

If we want to know the best light for plants, start by looking in the sky. The sun emits the entire spectrum of light. This is what we call full-spectrum light or direct sunlight. LEDs, specifically, can mimic this type of light, which is why we often credit them as having the proper spectrum of light for plants.

Most indoor plants flourish in full-spectrum bulbs (also called white light), which produce a balance of cool and warm light that simulates the sun. Seedlings, houseplants, culinary herbs, and a variety of other plants thrive with them.

The blue spectrum, in general, promotes the development of leaves, stems, and overall vegetative growth. Red wavelengths promote flower development, making it crucial for fruit-bearing plants. However, there is a wealth of information available on the unique advantages of red and blue lights. Some of it is also deceptive.

ECO Farm DBL3000 Full Spectrum LED Grow Light 320W

Features:

The ECO Farm LED Grow Light uses 864 Samsung LM281B diodes, has a market leading efficiency of 2.5 µmol/J, a maximum yield of 2.5g/watt, and an average PPFD increase of 30%, which is more cost-effective than other similar lights. Consuming only 320W, it perfectly covers the 3x3 growth space. The waterproof wide 4-LED light bar provides more even canopy coverage, and the strip light design and aluminum on the back contribute to better airflow and good heat dissipation. This LED grow light is very suitable for commercial LED grow light, DBL3000 dimmable grow light with daisy chain, can connect up to 15 lights, the master light provides great convenience for your planting! With Enhanced High Intensity Spectrum (480pcs 3000K Warm White LED, 188pcs 5000K White LED, 192pcs 660nm Deep Red LED) Ideal for Vegetable Blossom, Light for Density Buds, Widely Applicable for Full Cycle Commercial, Home, Grow Tent, grow room, hydroponics, soil growing.

Mars Hydro FC 3000 LED Grow Light LM301B Osram Diodes

Features:

The Mars Hydro LED Grow Light was designed with commercial growers in mind, but is a perfect fixture for indoor gardens or grows of any size. The FC 3000 utilizes 896 leds with Samsung Lm301b and Osram 660nm for high output and excellent heat control. This efficiency translates to lower costs for the end-user. The Mars Hydro FC 3000 LED grow light is designed to concentrate the lighting on each bar, increasing light penetration into the canopy so plants have the opportunity to absorb more light. The FC 3000’s design and high-quality components make it a durable full spectrum led grow light with an incredible lifespan. Setup is a breeze with its independent, removable power supply. The aluminum heatsink allows for better heat dissipation and eliminates noisy cooling fans so your grow area remains quiet and cool.

How close should grow lights be to houseplants?

Hanging grow lights is the best way to mimic the sun because it delivers light from above. If you place grow lights at an angle, it might not distribute the light evenly. The light should always reach the entire plant, otherwise, they will grow slanted in the direction of the light source.

Incandescent grow lights should always be at least two feet away from your plants because they give off a lot of heat and could damage the foliage. Fluorescents should be at least one foot away from your plants, so as your plant grows be sure to adjust the height of the grow light.

LED lights give off almost no heat at all, so it’s safe for houseplants to grow within 6 inches of them. That makes LED lights perfect for tight spaces like shelving or greenhouse cabinets. I personally use all LED lights to take the guesswork out.

How long should I leave grow lights on?

In addition to proximity to the plant, the time you leave the grow lights on and the strength are critical parts of the equation. When plants are exposed to light, they’re hard at work photosynthesizing. So if you overexpose your houseplants, they will “burn out” — sometimes literally — and it could damage their foliage, prevent flowering, and dry them out.

Generally, plants need at least 8 hours of darkness every day, sometimes more. Darkness is an important part of a plant’s growth because that’s when it uses the energy it has stored up to grow and flower.

Most houseplants will do great with 8 to 10 hours of sunlight per day, though flowering plants might need more. Above all, plants like consistency. Keep a timer on your grow lights to give your plants a light cycle that will help them grow and stay healthy.

Conclusion

No doubt, LED grow lights have come a long way, and now there are significant benefits to using the types of grow lights in a commercial or personal indoor grow room or cultivation. Happy growing!

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