ECO Farm MB660 Foldable Grow Light Bar VS FloraGear FLORA X6 660w Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light

Plants need three things to thrive: soil, water, and sunlight. Soil and water are easy to come by, but if you’re planning to grow anything other than houseplants indoors, providing sufficient sunlight presents a challenge. Even if your house or apartment has plenty of windows, you likely won’t get sufficient sunlight to keep your indoor garden happy, especially during winter.

What is the light spectrum and how does it relate to my garden?

The electromagnetic spectrum is a wide range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. In Layman’s terms, there are invisible waves all around us with different sizes and speeds. These waves are so small that they are measured in nanometers (nm). A nanometer is one-billionth the size of a meter. Some more well-known parts of this spectrum include X-rays, microwaves, and radio waves.

One part of the spectrum that you may not realize is part of it is the visible light spectrum. This portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is the only part visible to the unaided human eye. These waves range from about 400 nm to 700 nm. The classic acronym “ROYGBIV” that was used to remember the colors of the rainbow can also be used to remember the order of the visible light spectrum. Red is at the upper end of the spectrum (700 nm), violet is at the lower end of the spectrum (400 nm) with yellow/green light in the middle (~550nm). You can use this information to better understand which light produces these wave frequencies in order to provide the correct color of light to your plant.

There are 3 main types of grow lights, compact fluorescent (CFL), high-intensity discharge (HID), and light-emitting diodes (LED).

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL)
Fluorescent lights (CFL) typically come in long, tube-like bulbs in a range of sizes including T5, T8, and T12. They are ideal for plants that require low to medium light, such as African Violets. When growing most houseplants, use light bulbs between 4000 and 6000 Kelvin, as the bulb’s color temperature will borrow from a full spectrum of colors — cools and warms. Culinary herbs, greens, and starter plants can be grown year-round with them. Houseplants that need lots of light, like cattleya orchids, succulents, and carnivorous plants, also perform much better under these full-spectrum lights.

​ Pros:
Inexpensive
Good for small grows
Available in many stores
Works in any standard light fixture
Available in various color temperatures
Good for beginner growers
Cons:
Low light output compared to other types of bulbs
Need to be close to plants
Need to use several
Not meant for bigger grows
Inefficient
Not for intermediate/experienced growers

High-Intensity Discharge (HID)
High-Intensity Discharge lights is a family of lights that produces light through an electric arc. This arc is formed when electricity is put into the bulb and it connects to both electrodes. This is different from incandescent bulbs as they do not require a filament to heat up to produce light.

The HID family can be broken down into two different types; High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) and Metal Halide (MH) lights. These lights both use the same principle, running electricity through an arc to produce light, however, they use a different substance in the arc to produce light. As the name may suggest, HPS lights use highly pressured sodium which reacts with the electricity to produce a red and orange color. MH lights use halides (such as Bromine or Iodine) and metals (such as Mercury) to produce a similar reaction, except this reaction produces blue and white light. Both of these lights can be expensive to purchase and operate, however, they are very efficient.

HID lights produce lots of light and the blue light of MH lights will promote vegetative growth, however, it also results in less flowering. The red to orange hue of HPS lights are powerhouses when it comes to producing buds and flowers, but plants will be less sturdy. Used in tandem, MH lights are often used to promote leafy growth before swapping in HPS lights to encourage plants to flower. It is also noteworthy that these lights need a significant warm-up time and it is not ideal to turn one on before letting the metal chamber fully cool down.

These lights are used by experienced growers, as many of them consider HIDs to be the best for growing and obtaining the highest yield.

Pros:
Costs less than other high-quality lights
Produces great results
Easy to set up and operate
Higher quality than normal incandescent lights
Cons:
Produces a lot of heat, requiring ventilation and exhausts.
Limited lifetime
Does not plug into a normal socket
Requires special hood & ballast
Needs significant warm uptime
Can significantly increase electric bill

Light Emitting Diode (LED)
LEDs are the new technology when it comes to grow lights. As technology advances these lights become more and more efficient for your plants. The lights emit virtually no heat and require a fraction of the power to operate compared to other lights. LEDs can be programmed to fully optimize the light spectrum needed for each of your plants, however, this can be very expensive to do. It is also important to know the difference between LED grow lights and regular LED lights. Regular LED lights are the kind you can find college kids using to make their room or car look cooler. LED grow lights will need a certain wattage (measurement of power) to produce certain brightness. The good thing about current-day LEDs is that the manufacturers often list the wattage in comparison to other types of lights, which can help a consumer make a better judgment on which specific bulb they should get so they do not make their electric bill skyrocket.

LEDs are able to produce enough light intensity for the most demanding grows, and the right LEDs can compete with or beat other types of grow lights. These lights can be both red/violet or white in color. Please be wary of cheap knockoffs that can be found all over the internet. Just remember you get what you pay for, so do your research and find the perfect one for you!

Pros:
The most energy-efficient grow light
Barely produces heat
Plugs into a standard outlet
Long lifetime
Cons:
High initial costs
Can be confused with regular LEDs leading to misinformed purchases

ECO Farm MB660 Foldable Grow Light Bar

Features:

The ECO Farm LED Grow Light delivers growers and indoor gardeners the ability to stimulate pre-visibility, boost yields and increase quality all season long. The grow light utilizes Samsung LM301B chip design, to deliver spectacular PPF output up to 2.7 umol/J, The light intensity is higher, the light attenuation is smaller, and the lumen and PAR value are better than ordinary LED. It enables you to obtain a 30% higher output than HPS. This durably constructed LED grow light has 6 bar technology to deliver smooth, even light over the canopy. Remotely mounted driver technology allows for quicker and more efficient heat dissipation. In addition, the plant grow light uses an advanced waterproof power supply, installed in The outside of the lamp is easy to replace. This kind of growth lamp is a full-period lighting solution suitable for all growth environments (including humid environments) and is an ideal choice for greenhouse or indoor lighting.

Model: MB660
Wattage: 660Watt
Input Voltage: 100–277Vac
PPF:1757umol/s
Efficacy: 2.7umol/J
Dimming: 0–10V/PWM
PF: 90+
Lifespan: ≥50000 hours
Frequency: 50–60HZ
Beam Angle: 120
Warranty: 5 Years
IP Rating: IP65
Folding: Yes

FloraGear FLORA X6 660w Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light

Features:

The full-spectrum LED light system for the serious grower, the FLORA X6™ features OSRAM LEDS and is ideal for flowering & bloom spaces up to 4'x4' or up to 5'x5' vegetation. Engineered for years of trouble-free operation, its full-spectrum light is strong and true. Can be part of up to a 100 light system controlled via an RJ14 hardwired network. Made to operate in damp spaces: a clear lens shield protects from moisture. 3-year warranty.

OSRAM LEDs
Inventronics 0–10v Dimmable LED Driver
Wattage: 660w with dimmer knob
Efficiency: 2.1 μmol/J
PPF: 1344 μmol/s
Input Voltage: AC 100–277v
3-Year Warranty
ETL-Certified

How to Use Lights for Plants Indoors

Supplemental light is usually essential for starting seeds indoors. Seedlings that don’t get enough natural or artificial light grow tall and rangy, with weak stems. To grow strong seedlings, the light should be placed close to the tray and raised as the plants grow taller.

Seedlings and mature plants growing indoors need more hours of light than you may expect. As a general rule, provide 14 to 18 hours of artificial light with a few hours of darkness each day. A timer set to turn on and off at specific times makes this lighting task easier.

Lights can also help gardeners in colder climates winter over outdoor container plants that wouldn’t otherwise survive frosty temperatures. Geraniums, Boston ferns, begonias, and other annuals can thrive indoors under lights, inside the home, or snug in a garage or outbuilding where they can be kept from freezing. Here, too, a timer can turn the lights on and off automatically. Plants in the potting mix under lights may dry out more quickly, so don’t forget to water those containers that are wintering under lights but out of sight.

Conclusion

Our favorite grow light was the ECO Farm LED Grow Lights. It works really well in compact spaces, and even with its remarkably affordable price includes a bunch of convenient features. Not to mention, it provides a full spectrum of light so it can nurture plants throughout their different stages of growth.

Of course, if another light stood out to you because of your specific needs and situation, then go with that one. You’ll be happy with whichever one you choose.

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