November 23, 2021
If you have plants that need a little more fun in the sun, but you’re lacking the sunny climate or the south facing window of your dreams, you might be thinking about supplementing with grow lights.
More specifically, you’re probably wondering what kind of grow lights are the best for your indoor plants. And let’s be honest — that brings up a whole other host of questions.
While picking the right kind of grow lights for your plants might seem a little overwhelming at first, don’t panic. We’ve got the lowdown on all the basics you need to know to keep your plants happy, healthy, and photosynthesizing with the best of ‘em.
Compared to HPS grow lights, LED Grow Lights are far superior.
1) Economical: As a result of using less energy and heat to create more useable light, LED grow lights are a far more cost-effective and handy solution than traditional lights, which have long electricity bills.
2) Eco-Friendly: LED lights are environmentally safe and recyclable since they do not contain dangerous gases or compounds like mercury or lead.
3) Longer Lifespan: LED lights are more environmentally friendly since they consume less energy to create the same amount of heat. Designed to last up to 102,000 hours, they are built to last a long time. They are more long-lasting and durable than conventional lights because of their low operating temperature.
4) Efficiency: More than 40–60 % of the power generated by LED lights is used to provide useable light, compared to ordinary incandescent bulbs. Unlike traditional lights, LED grow lights emit extremely little heat and use 80% of their power to produce light instead of wasting 20%-40% of their energy.
5) Less Heat Production: Due to the lack of 730nm wavelengths in LED lights, the plants receive only a small amount of heat, and the rest comes from the panel itself. As a result, grow lights are ideal for the cultivation of plants, as they do not produce as much heat as other types of lighting.
6) Better Crop Production: By giving plants appropriate lighting in the form of grow lights, they are able to grow at a faster rate and produce more crops.
Neocision Spectra Explorer 340W LED Grow Light-BVV
Features:
This BVV grow light is designed for a full grow cycle with maximized red for increased photosynthesis, and effectively promotes plant leaves, stem growth, and flower yield. The full spectrum, infinite close to natural sun light, is suitable for all stages of indoor growth of all plants, accelerating flowering time and increasing yield! Ideal for 2’ x 4’ tent environments for increased consistency and yield. Using the most advanced SMD LED technology, to provide high PAR output, high energy efficiency and long life while improving light transmission. Comparable to a traditional 600W HPS or CMH light. Save up to 70% on your electricity bill.
Fluence SPYDRx 340W LED Grow Light
Features:
Fluence grow light is a 340W LED indoor grow light with an average — not max — PPFD above 455 is perfect as an vegetative-stage, top-lighting solution for commercial applications, and as a full-cycle top-lighting solution for residential applications without CO2 addition. Anodized, extruded aluminum alloy chassis with integrated heatsink for longevity and passive, natural convection thermal management (no fans or moving components). Fluence PhysioSpec Indoor is a full-cycle spectrum optimized for rapid growth and complete plant development. Tailored for growing plants from initiation to senescence (germination, clones/cuttings, mothers, vegetative and flowering applications) in indoor environments.
Seasonal changes or lack of windows can make it tricky to provide enough light to your houseplants or cultivate a wide variety of plants at any climate and during any time of the year. Grow lights are specially designed to substitute natural sunlight. They help to stimulate photosynthesis by providing the correct color spectrum needed for the plant to grow and flourish. The right light fixture or bulb enables you to savor delicious tomatoes in the dead of winter or enjoy the aesthetics of beautiful violets year-round. Different varieties of Grow lights have their strengths and characteristics. Here’s a list of factors to consider before choosing Grow Lights for your plants.
1. Color (Light Photosynthetic Spectrum)
Light spectrum measured in nanometers is helpful to know the wavelength of lights. We use different nanometres ranges for different growth phases of plants. Certain types of bulbs filter out the rays in the spectrum needed by your plants. Indoor plants need a light spectrum, ranging between 400–700 nanometres, also known as Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR). This rating is mentioned on the packaging of the bulbs. A 2700K bulb will be a good starting point for flowers but is not high enough for growing vegetables, which requires a 6500K bulb and is a wide-spectrum option.
2. Intensity
Plants are exposed to a certain amount of light. It depends on the kind of light, the strength of the bulb, and the position of the lights.
3. Duration
Photoperiod means the duration of time in which a plant receives enough light; day length. It is the developmental responses of plants to the relative durations of light and dark periods. Plants need 16–18 hours of exposure to external light each day to grow. More exposure doesn’t necessarily improve plant growth at any rate. Plants that indicate photoperiodism that use day length to trigger blooming should be exposed to under 12–14 hours of light in the stage of flowering. The cycle of darkness that follows should, however, be uninterrupted to form fruit and flowers well. A timer should ideally be used to control the duration.
4. Plant Kind and Growth Phase
Various kinds of plants may require different light intensities. Forest plants typically don’t need the same amount of light as tropical plants originating from a hot sunny climate need. Additionally, the amount of lights plants need are not the same at different phases of their growth. Of course, a full-spectrum grow light can aid in all stages of plant growth.
5. Placements
Correct placement of light is very vital for your indoor plants to induce photosynthesis. It is also crucial to choose the appropriate light with the best intensity and a supplemental light source to extend daylight. Additionally, full-cycle lighting in a space without any natural light should also be considered before choosing Grow Lights. Hot bulbs can burn plants and ruin the crop. In essence, plants placed far away from light absorb little heat. Typically, each square foot of the growing area of indoor plants needs 30–50 watts.
6. Cost
Small bulbs can be obtained for cheap, while large operations to set up a light source for growing plants can cost thousands of dollars.
Ultimately, grow lights come down to your preferences, growing space and whatever your budget allows. Just start small if you’re not sure how often and how much you’d like to grow.
I sincerely hope this guide on growing lights helps you successfully grow your veggies indoors.
And, speaking of that … It really feels empowering to be able to grow your own food. Whether you can’t find what you need in stores or you just want to be more self-sufficient, this is an excellent step in that direction!
June 27, 2024
When choosing Best LED Grow Lights, you should also consider the durability of the lamp, energy efficiency and whether it can meet the light needs of specific plants. For example, the LED plant growth lights provided by Philips Lighting are designed for specific crops to promote uniform growth and improve quality and yield.
June 20, 2024
June 15, 2024
On Amazon, hot growth light types include LED Growing Lights, which have a variety of functions and features such as automatic on/off timing, red and blue LED light combinations, multiple dimmable modes, and flexibility for indoor potted plants or indoor gardens.