As LED technology has exploded over the past year, it has created a market for powerful yet affordable LED grow lights. That’s great news for beginners because it’s now cheaper than ever to start growing indoors. With very little investment, you can start growing one, two, or even three plants with thiese sub-$200 Led Grow Lights.

Why choose LED grow lights?

There are many different types of grow lights, including high intensity discharge or HID grow lights, metal halide, ceramic metal halide (CMH), high pressure sodium (HPS), and good old fluorescent lights. All of these types of grow lights have their supporters and applications. However, as the best indoor grow lights, I prefer LED (Light Emitting Diode) grow lights.

I love growing with LED lights for several reasons:

LEDs are energy-efficient grow lights that last up to 50,000 hours. If you use them on a 12 hour timer, that’s 11 years. Some people think LEDs are expensive, and to be fair, the initial cost is higher than their HPS counterparts. However, over time, due to their low power consumption, they become inexpensive grow lights that can run for a long time.

LED grow lights for plants generate less heat than HPS grow lights and can be placed closer to plants without damaging them. Generating less heat also means you spend less energy maintaining the correct temperature in your grow room.

LEDs can be customized to emit a specific wavelength of light (for example, you could use red LED grow lights, but studies have shown that adding green and blue LED grow lights will help plants perform better. With LEDs, you can adjust the color Balanced to suit specific types of plants..)

LEDs do not contain harmful mercury, so there is no need to dispose of them in any particular way. This, combined with their energy efficiency, makes LED grow lights the best choice for protecting the environment.

ECO Farm 120W LM301B/LM301H Classic Quantum Board

Features:

This ECO Farm LED grow light uses full-spectrum white light and 660nm red light and 730nm far-red light and 395nm ultraviolet light to promote seed germination and improve the health of indoor plants. Suitable for all growth stages of indoor plants, herbs, vegetables, and flowers. This LED plant growth light panel consumes only 100 watts of energy, providing lower operating costs for indoor gardening and hydroponics. Full-spectrum LEDs also have a long life span, over 50,000 hours, they generate less heat and will not dry out your plants. High-quality components and zero fan noise make our plant grow lights very suitable for indoor gardening, planting tents, planting houses, vertical agriculture, and hydroponics. It is very ideal for a 2 x 2-foot plant area. And it is dimmable, so as to obtain the ability of higher light intensity from vegetative growth to flowering. It is designed for individuals and commercial indoor growers seeking higher-quality products.

ECO Farm Waterproof LM301B 110W Quantum Board

Features:

The ECO Farm LED grow light uses a high-efficiency white light board using Samsung LM301B diodes, with high efficiency of 2.7 μmol/J, providing high Par output, high energy efficiency, and long life, while improving light penetration. The additional dimming knob can adjust the brightness level of the light so that each growth stage can flexibly obtain the perfect growth performance. Full-spectrum lamp suitable for indoor plants: It is composed of (380nm-800nm, 3000K, 5000K), red light 660nm, and IR 750nm design, providing plants with everything they need from vegetables to flowers in all stages under natural light. Get higher output while saving energy costs! Quiet fanless design. No fan noise. The built-in large-area solid aluminum radiator is essential for heat dissipation. The light intensity is higher, the light attenuation is less, and the lumens and luminosity are higher than ordinary LED lights.

Viparspectra XS1000 LED Grow Light

Features:

The VIPARSPECTRA LED Grow Light uses the latest high quality LED technology — Samsung LM301B diodes, energy efficient LEDs that increase crop yields and save operating costs, produce more usable lighting per watt, and provide better light penetration.
Composed of 3000K warm white light, 5000K white light, 660nm deep red light and 730nm infrared light, this grow light provides a great full spectrum LED grow light for your plants. An additional dimming knob provides free control of light intensity, providing the desired needs for plants at all stages from vegetables to flowering. Large area solid aluminum fins help you achieve your ideal cooling system. With high safety performance MEAN WELL drives, achieve high PAR output, extend lifespan, speed up the plant growth process and increase yield while saving you energy bills.

Viparspectra Pro Series P1500

Features:

The VIPARSPECTRA LED Grow Light uses the latest SMD LED technology to increase efficiency and longevity while increasing light penetration. An additional dimming knob controls the brightness level of the entire light from 5%-100% for the flexibility to achieve perfect growing performance. This lamp can replace a 400W HPS/MH lamp while only consuming 150W. The spectrum includes 660nm red and 730nm IR, and 3000K and 5000K white. The P1500 provides excellent full-spectrum lighting that is perfectly suitable for all factory stages. The light also features a reliable UL listed waterproof driver. No internal fan means zero noise when operating the lighting system. The P1500 has a built-in aluminum heatsink, which is critical for heat dissipation and ensures a long luminaire life.

What to Look for When Choosing LED Lights for Plants

Durability — Obviously you want your LED grow light panels to be well constructed and sturdy. You want to make sure they are made of the best materials and that the wiring will last over time. Incorrect wiring can generate excess heat, which is not only harmful to your plants, but can also be a fire hazard. This is another great reason to buy the best quality grow lights you can afford.

Cooling System — LED lights are cooler than HID and HPS lights. However, they should still contain a high-quality cooling system. A heat sink within the system should dissipate the heat generated by the lights and move it away from the lighting system and plants.

Color Spectrum — Plants primarily use red and blue spectrum light to complete their growth stages. While HID and HPS systems use full spectrum light to target plant growth, a good LED system will include red and blue light for the perfect blend to help your plants grow. Some growers say that white LED grow lights are the closest to natural sunlight, so the effect is better. However, white LEDs contain yellow and green light that plants cannot use, so it is wasted, reducing the efficiency of the grow light.

Programmability — If you’re serious about growing, you’ll want to automate as many processes as possible, not just to reduce your workload, but more importantly, to reduce the possibility of human error. The best grow lights on the market offer a full range of programmability, including setting light schedules, changing intensity, and customizing the light spectrum to best suit individual plants.

Conclusion

Cheap LED grow lights are not the only answer. Make sure the LED grow lights you buy have everything you need for optimal and maximized plant growth.