Green plants need light to make photosynthesis happen. In this process, a few cells convert the energy contained in the light into sugars. After that, the plants give off oxygen. But the amount of light required depends on plants, including low-light houseplants ( dracaenas), fruiting edibles ( tomatoes), etc. Seedlings usually need plenty of bright light. Therefore, they become weak and leggy if they don’t get it. Mostly, the sunniest windowsill cannot offer the intensity or duration of light required, especially in winter. A best LED Grow lights can helps the plant by doing the function of Sun.
What Are LEDs, and How Do They Work?
These are tiny electronic components consisting of two various types of semiconductor material. One material has a negative charge, known as electrons, whereas the other has a positive charge, called holes.
If you apply voltage over LEDs, electric current begins flowing through them. As a result, electrons and holes begin colliding, due to which it releases energy in the form of photons, light quanta, a process called recombination. Previously, these came with low light output and limited selections of colors, whereas modern ones offer high brightness. Besides, the latest models are available in many colors. In addition, you can get them in different ranges, including visible, infrared, and ultraviolet spectral.
What Are LED Grow Lights?
LED grow lights refer to luminaires. These Grow lights use LED chips in a modern way to generate light for growing plants. These Grow lights are available in multiple shapes and sizes. Besides, the chips offer the most effect on the spectrum (colors) and photon flux (“brightness”). Manufacturers can select which they use in their lamps as they need to know the type of devices which can fit the specific application. These can fulfill the light to the requirements of plants, but the traditional lighting solutions don’t.
What is the Effect of LED Grow Lights on Plants?
A few colored models have a direct connection to the intended purpose. According to some studies, a few specific colors can influence plant growth, affecting root and flower formation. For example, it indicates that most plant sorts complete a normal growth cycle while exposed to blue and red models. Adding other colors to the spectrum like green, far-red, and deep-blue will help you add the process.
A spectrum containing all colors is known as a full spectrum, and it looks like the sunlight. When it has high proportions of green, you will see white light. LED grow light’s full spectrum help to make a visual inspection of the plants possible.
Which One Will You Use— LED Grow Light or Fluorescent Grow Light?
Both can create full-spectrum light. However, it is better for plants, the environment, and your wallet than fluorescent. These are perfect for plants and can fulfill the proper needs of indoor plants. It can enhance photosynthesis and make sure peak growth. In addition, these give off very little heat.
These cost a bit more but are super-efficient. Besides, these take the help of half the electricity and can last five times longer than fluorescent bulbs. Moreover, these are earth-friendly. Mercury-free tubes usually do not shatter like glass. As a result, a few ones end up in landfills.
On the other hand, Fluorescent ones come at a reasonable price. Therefore, these are a good option if you are a beginner at indoor gardening or grow just a few plants.
Types of LED Grow Lights:
These are available in different forms. When you learn about the most famous ones, it helps you to select the correct type for your indoor garden.
Spread-Style Grow Light:
These come with multiple small individual lights which can spread out over the whole surface area. It helps to offer light to a large number of plants. The spider-style and quantum board are the two major subcategories of these types.
Quantum board ones take the help of a large number of small models which can spread out over an area of large, flat surface area. These use full-spectrum white diodes. Besides, these come with a passive cooling feature that enables you to place plants instantly under them without any danger of too much heat emission.
On the other hand, the Spider-style ones feature multiple LEDs on narrow “arms” in an open bar design. Unfortunately, these are most costly than quantum board lights.
Chip on Board (COB) Grow Light:
It comes with a few small LEDs placed close together on a single chip which causes a single powerful point of light. In this case, the center point of the area covered receives optimal lighting. Unfortunately, these don’t provide similar widespread, equal coverage and spread-style models.
As COBs are strong, they can emit more heat than other types. Besides, these can need fans to cool down the area. In addition, these types use full-spectrum white diodes and can offer deeper canopy penetration than spread-style types.
Traditional Grow Light:
The traditional types come in a compact design, which allows you to use them in small spaces. These can offer medium power. In addition, they have multicolored LEDs helping you to cover the full spectrum of color frequencies as white LEDs. As a result, you can get a colorful appearance.
Advantages of LED Grow Lights:
In the early days, technology was impractical and cost-inefficient. But in recent times, the newest technology has increased production, due to which it has become cost-effective. These are energy-efficient plant growth lamps and come with a shorter life span. However, as a result, it makes them costlier in the long run. Sometimes, the heat emitted by HPS lamps is lucrative in greenhouse settings, but these can make them useless for vertical farms or growth chambers.
On the other hand, these are more compact and faster switching, making them ideal for the environment. Moreover, these release less incandescent heat, affecting plants’ moisture and nutrition requirements. Compared to the conventional HPS models, the benefits of the revolutionary models are as follows:
Economic Electricity Consumption:
The LED grow lights for indoor plants use up 50% of the energy used by HPS systems. According to a few experts, they anticipate higher LEDs efficiency shortly.
More Extended Lifespan/Lamp Durability:
They are more long-lasting than the HPS ones. When it comes to HPS lamps, the lifespan is usually one year, whereas, for LEDs, the lifespan is up to 8 years or about 50 000 hours of use.
Smaller Spaces Convenience:
You can set them closer to the plants. However, the growing space should not be extremely high or wide.
Energy Efficiency:
Using them, you can optimize the spectrum while concentrating energy on the wavelengths. These are lucrative for every application and plant. Moreover, the decreased heat production lets you put LED fixtures near plants, ensuring that you have lost less light elsewhere.
Fire Safety:
You can use them safely as these don’t become warm as the conventional HPS lamps.
Dimming:
Mostly, HPS lamps use the full light intensity, whereas these dim. It is possible with a remote control or via an app. As a result, you can handle it easily apart from consuming less power.
Better Crops:
LED grow lights for seedlings can generate better crops to get bigger plants and allow them to grow fast than the HPS ones. In addition, these consist of a spectrum aimed at a specific goal, including anthocyanin accumulation, flowering inhibition, enhanced rooting, etc.
More Environment Safety:
These emit less heat. Besides, you can add UV light to these lamps, reducing bacteria and mold formation probability. It indicates that you will have fewer pesticides and less environmental pollution.
Top Five Best LED Grow Lights:
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2022 Newest SPIDER FARMER SF2000 LED Grow Light with Samsung LM301B Diodes
Description:
The model takes the help of the recent technology today-Samsung LM301B diodes. It can offer high Energy Efficiency with 2.7 umol/J, helping you to generate more canopy light penetration. The veg coverage comes in a 3 x 4 ft. design, whereas Flower coverage comes in a 2 x 4 ft. As a result, you can get extremely high output, but the product consumes only 200W of electricity. This feature makes the model more efficient than traditional HID lamps and other plant lamps available on the market.
Features:
Design: The product comes with many light beads at the edges and contains fewer in the middle. Thus, it can offer a more uniform PPFD. In addition, you can use the dimming knob to manage the light intensity at liberty. If you are looking for a model for a big indoor growing area and commercial planting, it is perfect for its multi-light connection with a unified dimming feature.
Perfect for All Stages: It can provide a full spectrum including white, blue, red, and IR of 3000K, 5000K, 660nm, and IR 760nm, respectively. 3000K diodes of the product can offer more reddish light whereas the 5000K can offer more blueish. While blooming, 660nm red and IR light are required. In this case, these can increase flowering time and boost yields, which is helpful for supply. The product’s look is natural, and therefore, it is perfect for accurately monitoring plant health.
Construction: It is highly efficient and does not provide fan sound, which is a huge benefit. Besides, the product is reliable and detachable. It has an Aluminum heat sink coming in a sturdy design. In addition, the model comes with protective covers for cables and User-Friendly Packaging. A model having quality components indicates that it will last long. This product comes in a more thoughtful design, saving money without buying lights frequently.
Affordable: The product comes in quality design, making it a great choice. Besides, you can get five years of after-service at a local maintenance center (US/CA/UK/DE). In addition, all the accessories come in at a reasonable price.
Pros:
- Study design
- User-friendly packaging
- Long-lasting
Cons:
- Broken lights
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2022 Upgraded MARS HYDRO TS-1000 LED Grow Light
Description:
The reflected designed model comes in a patent design. Its refraction angle of 120° allows you to cover a more comprehensive reflector range to increase its light intensity and assist plants in absorbing more light. 150 Watts is the actual power of the model, whereas other models provide only 100 watts.
It comes with new diodes arranged in the middle and sparse on both sides. As a result, the product becomes more uniform between sides and middle compared to the old arrangement of other brand models. It is ideal for 2.5×2.5ft, and however, it can cover a maximum of 3x3ft. As a result, plants absorb more than 90% of energy. Besides, the product’s high intensity and more coverage capability make it an ideal option to choose.
Features:
Low Energy Consumption: It contains 354 LEDs which consume only 150W in total. In addition, the model comes with a new SMD LED technology helping to offer the highest PAR/LUMEN output. Moreover, its design enables you to replace a single-ended 250watt HPS. As a result, the TS 1000 lamp can ensure that you will get 30% more return than the old HPS/MH models. Furthermore, it can save up to 50% more energy than others.
Full-Spectrum: It comes with 730-740nm Red IR / 3200-4200 Knm / 5200-6800 Knm spectra. These can create the most light in the 400-700nm waveband, perfect for all plants in all stages. It helps to offer rapid plant response, whether flower or seed. Moreover, the model helps to boost yield & crop quality.
Daisy Chain: Daisy chain relies on an independent dimming button on the external driver. In addition, the model can adjust settings from 0 to 100% adaptation. It has up to 60 LEDs which are daisy-chained in a group; moreover, the product features an Auto-sensing power supply that can support 120VAC and 240VAC and 277VAC. Furthermore, it is perfect for big Rooms and Personal Setups.
Noise-Free: Its Fanless Professional system design makes it lucrative. Besides, the aluminium heat dispersing material helps decrease light lost to aisles and walls, and it also boosts the intensity up to 20%. Thus, it lets plants receive more energy.
Warranty: The product is available with a 5-year service warranty. Besides, it offers local after-sales repair centers and 30 days money-back guarantee with professional after-sale customer service. Therefore, ensure that you have purchased an authorized product. We can offer 24-hour free support.
Pros:
- 30 days money-back guarantee
- 5-year service warranty
Cons:
- Dim lights
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Barrina Plant Grow Light
Description:
The product uses full-spectrum sunlight replacement for 4ft provides indoor plants. It can offer the most reasonable wave depending on the ratio of the absorption of the plants. Besides, it comes with 1152 LEDs and consumes merely 252W, perfect for replacing 1400w general plant lights.
These can absorb more than 95% light energy. In addition, you can use a reflector to increase the efficiency by 17~20%. The shell consists of 100% aluminium that can offer high-efficiency heat dissipation. It makes you sure you will have a longer service life for the chips.
Features:
Easy Installation: If you are willing to install it manually, you should use tape, clips, and cable ties. These help you to install the model in minutes, and you only have to plug the model and play it after that. In addition, it is possible to link up to 6 led grow light strips in a series to help you save your installation cost and time.
Eyes Protection: They are perfect for planting plants in any indoor application. Try to have Sunlight white color as it can make the eyes feel comfortable. In addition, you can use it for plant grow tents and shelves, seedling cultivation, succulents, hydroponic rooms, greenhouses, etc.
Accessories: It includes two years warranty, six Barrina LED Grow light, three Power cords with ON/OFF switch, five Connecting Cords(48″), six Small Connectors, 24 Installation Clips, and twelve Tapes, 24 cable ties, etc.
Pros:
- Two-year warranty
- Make your eyes comfortable
Cons:
- The toggle switch can be melted
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UNIT FARM Upgraded 100W Grow Lights, UF2000 Osram LED Grow Light
Description:
The model offers mixed 3000K, 5000K, 660nm Red, and 3500K final spectrum, ideal for full-cycle growth. In addition, it comes in 730nm IR, allowing you to stimulate growth. If you have better diodes, you can get a more evenly output. By increasing the yield by 20%, each leaf can get more light.
It comes with 30% more diodes than other 100W light. As a result, it can provide 30% higher output as 200Watts blurple light or HPS. Their 100,000 hours long lifespan and OSRAM diodes offer CRI up to 90 and make it ten times higher than blurple light. It is 30% higher than the cheap SMD model. Moreover, it is possible to overserve the health of plants.
Features:
Design: You can find the model’s driver available with 13FT(4M) length. In this case, you need to put the driver outside your tent to the ambient temperature cool in summer. You can even keep it inside, warm in winter. Besides, it comes with an Ultra-thin yet strong load-bearing capacity allowing you to set an inline fan on it. As a result, you will get more space for your plants.
Assistance: The model includes a worry-free 36-month warranty. You can repair the center in the USA. In addition, it even allows you to message through Amazon message. Finally, you can ask a few questions like the “have a question” part.
Versatile Uses: You should use a 20”-24″ in 2x2FT perfect for herb, tomato, or pepper in veg. It allows you to use 14”-18″ in 2x2FT for flowering. Whether you are searching for a light for a 2x2FT room with high levels of CO₂, you can use a UFS300, which is a better idea for you.
Pros:
- Versatile uses
- 36-month warranty
Cons:
- Not long-lasting
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VIPARSPECTRA 300W LED Grow Light
Description:
It is one of the best models that can offer plants in all stages, including flowers, veg, etc., required in the natural sunlight. Besides, it helps to turn the seeds into your supply and creates beautiful high-yielding plants. Thus, the product can make indoor planting simpler and more convenient, and it can cause bigger buds and higher yields while saving energy costs.
Its Reflector Design allows you to boost PAR Output by 50%. It is produced scientifically to balance PAR Output and suitable coverage. Therefore, these designs can provide more light to the plants when you have these designs. Besides, these won’t get too concentrated in the middle of the growing area resulting in excellent plant growth.
Features:
Daisy Chain: It comes in a Daisy chain feature that helps you connect multiple lights with fewer outlets. In this case, you don’t have to use any extra cords, and you merely need to connect the power cord to the second light’s outlet to get a connection among many units.
Excellent Design: The model is durable. Besides, it has sturdy construction featuring fire-resistant iron housing, and it is perfect for every growing phase. In addition, the product comes with upgraded aluminum cooling heat sinks and advanced high-speed, quiet fans, which help to dissipate heat easily.
Dimensions: It consumes only 150W more than the traditional 250W HPS/MH. The product is ideal for a 2’x2′ vegetative coverage at 24″. Besides, it can offer 1.5×1.5′ flowering coverage at 18″.
Warranty: It is a professional manufacturer specializing in these products for multiple years. These are manufactured considering the quality and professional customer service. You can get 3 Years local warranty with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- 30 days money-back guarantee
- 3 Years of local warranty
- Excellent design
Cons:
- Light and fans may not work
Best LED Grow Lights Buyer’s Guide:
Go through these aspects before purchasing the best LED grow light. It helps you to make an important decision.
Power:
Manufacturers use different metrics for power measurement and light amount. Therefore, it is pretty challenging to compare them. Lumens are the unit of measurement of brightness. For example, seedlings usually need about 2,000 lumens per square foot to thrive, whereas flowering plants can require 10,000 lumens.
It can measure visible light. However, biologists can take the help of the photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) or its density to measure light intensity absorbed by indoor plants. You can measure PPF in μmol/second (or micromoles per second), and it is photons number of light emitted every second.
You can measure PPFD in micromole/m2/s, distributed per square meter per second. Try to use a model with higher PPF and PPFD to get more effective use.
Heat Output:
While using these models, the heat the bulbs emit may damage your plants. In this case, you should use LED types. These give off little heat compared to the amount of light they generate. However, they create some heat, for which you can find multiple models featuring built-in cooling systems to ensure proper temperature regulation.
A few models contain aluminum heat sinks, whereas a few contain fans. In this case, a fan can be loud. Therefore, you must consider noise levels while choosing such models.
Coverage and Wattage:
If you’re willing to select the correct model, you have to know the coverage required of you. In this case, your job is to group plants together and then measure the square footage. Mainly, these list the area of coverage.
If you want to set up the amount of electricity a light uses, you must find its “actual power draw” or “actual power consumption.” Then, you can measure it in watts, letting us know about the power. However, you should not use bulb wattage as it isn’t a good indicator. These are manufactured and designed primarily to be energy efficient.
Connectivity:
There are many models designed to link to other units. These help to cover more extensive areas, like “daisy-chain connectivity.” If you use a model with such ability, you need to connect it. After that, your job is to connect it to one outlet, reducing the number of cords required for setup.
Adjustability:
Ensure that the product you will buy must have adjustable features.
Colour:
Plants usually require different color lights in every life cycle step. You should choose the best model to provide you with red, blue, and white color options.
Brightness:
When it comes to color adjustability, these come with knobs to adjust the brightness of their bulbs.
Proximity:
You can increase the length of the rope/ chain or reduce for adjusting the distance between plants and lights.
Installation:
These enable you to mount to the ceiling with a chain or rope. But you may need thirty minutes to install it or a couple of hours.
Conclusion:
LED grow lights are lucrative to use. In addition, they allow you to install quickly without any hassle. Our guide on the top five products will help you select the best one from there.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is the semiconductor chip on LED grow light?
The semiconductor chip is something that helps to convert electricity into light. Besides, it has at least a three-wattage rating sufficient for adequate light production.
- Are there other grow lights that don’t hang from the ceiling?
A few freestanding grow lamps are available, which can sit on the tables or clip to them. These are simple to install compared to hanging grow lights, and however, these are unable to illuminate multiple plants.
- Will my LED grow light increase my electricity bill?
These are energy-efficient. Therefore, you don’t need to pay your monthly electricity bill too much.
