August 18, 2021
If you live in a particular area of the world where your winters are harsh and the overall climate is not suitable for growing seedlings, then you shouldn’t rush your decision when looking for the best grow lights for seedlings. While buying a grow light is a great way to speed up the growth of your plants and create a controlled environment for them in your home.
Fluorescent lights emit more heat than LED lights, and because of this, you should position them approximately 12 inches away from your seedlings. For LED lights, this distance decreases to 6 inches since they emit less heat than fluorescent lights and are much more energy-efficient. This is just a rough guide, and it’s always good to check and adjust your lighting positioning as your seedlings develop over time. Another factor that may influence how far away you position your grow lights from your seedlings is the type of plant you are growing. You might need to place it either higher or lower, so it’s best to keep this in mind as well.
For the most part, grow lights are resistant to moisture, but you will want to pick carefully if you need an option for a room with a higher humidity level or a hydroponic harden. Some grow lights, come with an IP66 rating, which certifies the product as both water and corrosion-resistant. It’s natural and necessary for you to spray your seedlings with water to speed up their growth, and this moisture resistance can help you avoid any problems with your product.
VIVOSUN VS2000 Samsung LM301H Full Spectrum LED Grow Light
Features:
VIVOSUN LED grow lights use the latest LED plant light technology including Samsung LM301H Diodes, high-energy efficiency with 2.9 umol/J; Extremely high output but consumes only 200W of electricity, making it more efficient than traditional HID lamps and other plant lamps on the market. This LED grow light has a dimming knob that makes it adaptable to different growing periods of your plant by adjusting its output from 40% to 100%; It is super convenient for both beginners and professional growers. These VS2000 full-spectrum LEDs deliver optimal full-spectrum coverage — offering power needed by your plants at all growth stages and maximum PAR output at various distances, supporting photosynthesis of your plants in an efficient way
Features:
The hortiONE LED continues to perform 190 watts, but now has an increased proportion of far-red spectrum. It can now also be dimmed with an external dimmer (not included). The strain relief has been improved, a waterproof DC connector has been installed, and the platinum design has been refined and streamlined. The hortiONE is thus ideal for compact grow boxes. The HortiONE 592 V2 LED is equipped with a combination of highly efficient mid-power and high-power LEDs. This hybrid design of the hortiOne ensures vigorous growth and high-yield flowering for your indoor growth. You can also use this plant light well for cuttings propagation. The perfect ratio (1/10) of Hyper-Red (660nm) to Far-Red (760nm) can effectively increase the photosynthesis rate by contributing to the Emmerson effect (enhancement effect).
PICK YOUR PLANTS AND CROPS
Before you buy a grow light, you must first determine the type of plants and crops you wish to grow. Decide on the kind of plants and how much of them you wish to grow. This way, you will also get an idea of how much light you need.
The type of plants you choose will also affect the other factors for choosing a grow light. Moreover, it will have an impact on the light’s intensity, spectrum, and coverage. It will set the direction toward the right light bulb to choose from.
Also, certain plants benefit the most from grow lights, especially during winter. For starters, succulents like aloe vera, jade plants, snake plants, and cactus love the sun and its brightness.
In the same way, orchids also love to get a lot of light. Ideally, they need about 10 hours of light per day. This should go alongside proper indoor temperature and humidity.
MIND YOUR BUDGET
Another factor to consider when buying a grow light for sale is your budget. The key is to set a budget before you begin your search. This way, you already know your limits and avoid options that will hurt your pockets.
You also want to consider the amount of light in relation to the energy costs you are willing to pay. In this case, the wattage of the lights will matter a lot. Thus, keep in mind that you need to turn on your grow lights for about 12 hours a day.
THE INTENSITY MATTERS
The intensity of the grow light is also another factor to consider. This pertains to the amount of light that reaches your plants from the light fixture. Hence, the higher the intensity, the farther you can position it away from the plants.
This is important since you don’t want the light to be too close to the plants. This poses the risk of burning the plants because of the light’s heat.
Ideally, it is best to go for a grow light with a low photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). This is the measurement that determines the average density of the fixture’s output.
THE SPECTRUM COUNTS
You also need to decide on the right spectrum for your plants. The spectrum pertains to the different bands of colors where light comes from. Interestingly, most plants benefit from the spectrum’s blue and red ends.
Moreover, they use a little bit of green and yellow too. To break down the spectrum even further, plants in their vegetative stages need blue light to build their roots and leaves. As they reach their fruit-bearing phase, red light is what they need.
When it comes to grow light options, they come in two types, namely, targeted spectrum and full spectrum. Targeted spectrum grow lights only emit specific colors like blue or red. On the other hand, full spectrum grow lights emit light that is akin to natural sunlight, which covers different stages of plant growth.
If you’re going for targeted spectrum lights, pick one that comes with the option to change the color of the light.
AMPLE COVERAGE IS A MUST
As your plants need to get the right amount of light, you need to ensure that they’re getting ample light coverage. Otherwise, it will affect the health and condition of your plants. When we talk of coverage, the more grow light fixtures you buy, the more coverage your plants get.
Also, you consider the ideal recommendation of 20 to 40 watts of coverage per square foot as a guide. To compute for the lowest coverage per square foot your light bulb offers, divide its wattage by 20. To get the highest possible coverage, divide the wattage by 40.
CHECK THE HEIGHT AND MOBILITY
Lastly, you want to consider the distance of your grow lights from your plants. In this case, you want something that offers mobility in terms of adjusting the height.
When your plants are still sprouts, you want your lights to sit lower. As they grow and mature, you should adjust the lights to a higher level.
GROW LIGHTS VS REGULAR LIGHT FIXTURES: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Another important question is, does it matter if they use regular light fixtures? What are the key features of grow lights that regular lighting options do not offer?
Firstly, the heat emission coming from regular lights can burn the plants. On the other hand, the heat coming from grow lights is just right to help the plants grow.
Another difference is power intensity. Grow lights generate more power compared to regular lights. In turn, it increases the rate of photosynthesis necessary for plant growth.
When it comes to the price, LED grow lights can be more expensive than regular lights. Nevertheless, it is the impact on the plants that you should look at.
Many more people are choosing to bring their plants indoors these days, which has resulted in a huge choice of grow light options available. Here are some final points to consider:
Opting for LED grow lights will assure your lights do not overheat and cause damage to your tender plants
You’ll need a wide-angle to allow for both even lighting on your plants and indirect lighting
You will need to be aware of energy efficiency, choosing products that won’t be too expensive to run for at least 6 hours per day, and those which have a greater life expectancy
Obviously, the final decision is up to you.
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.