Indoor plant lighting has totally revolutionized the way we grow plants. It comes as a beneficial alternative for anyone who can’t grow their plants outdoors. If you’re a new plant grower who’s wondering “How do I ensure my plants grow well even without sunlight?” The LED grow lights are taking centre stage for their versatile lighting solutions. If you are considering which grow lights to buy, check out this review.

Reasons to choose the LED grow light

The energy-efficiency benefits of LED lighting
LED lighting can save growers up to 50% on lighting electricity costs. There are two main reasons for this. The first reason is that LEDs consume a lot less energy to generate the same amount of light compared to traditional lights. For example, in a tungsten light source, the wire is made hot and when it is hot it illuminates light. LEDs don’t need to generate heat as a requirement to make light, hence they are more efficient. The second reason is that LEDs can be made with a certain spectrum. Using a spectrum that is relevant for plant growth (photosynthesis) will help to make sure that energy is used effectively for plant growth. 
 
The lower heat output of LEDs
Incandescent lights or HID grow lights generate heat as a by-product of making light. But LEDs won’t generate the same amount of heat, therefore, saving you costs of HVAC. Moreover, the LED light beam is cold which allows you to place the light very close to the plant. Whereas the light beam from HID might be warm, hence HID fixtures often need to be placed at a distance to avoid plant stress. The LED fixtures still generate some heat, because the diode dissipates heat onto the heatsink in the lamp or fixture. Most of this heat is dissipated upwards, but if you’re placing grow lights very near plants the plants may still perceive some warmth. 
With LED lights you can save space and HVAC costs.
 
The optimized spectrum of LEDs
LEDs enable manufacturers to develop special spectrums to stimulate biochemical pathways. Banana researchers use the improved spectrum to improve rooting in banana plants and have 30% better growth.
 
The benefits of flexible-spectrum LEDs
Flexible spectrums enable growers to manage plant photosynthesis, plant morphology, flowering, flavor, color, and many other factors. Vegetable growers use flexible spectrums to improve the flavor and color of their produce. Flower growers can use the light spectrum to manage flowering time. E.g. long day plants can flower earlier and short-day plants can flower later so they can grow taller.
 
The benefit of quality lights
LEDs can offer a more consistent light output and quality than fluorescent and HID lights. With this improved performance and consistency, researchers at major universities see better results and higher quality plants.

Improved crop quality
Vegetable growers appreciate the improved crop quality under LED fixtures. They report that flavor, color (and marketability) can be improved with good LED lighting. Using the right lighting can also speed up the turn times, enabling you to harvest more than you would without LED grow lights.

Arden Emerald Hammer EH500

Features:

The Emerald Hammer EH500 is a high-output, energy-efficient toplight that can be used as the sole lighting source in a 4×4 grow tent or paired together in an open indoor grow space. Designed to fill all your needs during plant life cycle with on-product dimming for precise control over PPFD, the EH500 grow light easily accommodates your grow from germination through flowering. With a full output photon flux of 1,305 µmol/s you’ll have plenty of light — while only using 500W of power.

Emerald Hammer EH500 Energy-efficient at 500W, with even distribution of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) 90+ color rendering index lets you see and care for your plants. This LED grow light accurately uses Horticulture-specific spectrum-Samsung LM301H full-spectrum white and LH351H deep red 660nm. Besides, the highly reflective white paint for a clean, efficient grow room Conformal coating over LEDs to mitigate sulfurization and protect against humidity and chemicals.

Equinox 480W Led Grow Light

Features:

The Equinox 1000 utilizes the latest LED technology available from Samsung to deliver an impressive light output of 1057μmol/s. Drawing only 480 watts this light offers a 56% energy reduction when replacing a 1000W HPS light. The rugged workhorse design makes this fixture the obvious choice for growers seeking a high production and low energy lighting solution. The rugged high-grade aluminium design ensures this fixture can be utilized in tough working environments with minimal risk of damage.

This grow light’s thermal protection auto-dimming feature guarantees the fixture will never overheat or reach temperatures that could degrade the components and shorten its lifespan. And the manual dimming feature allows growers to conserve energy when plants are at the early stages of development. The heatsink of this grow light is the mounting plate made of 6061-grade aluminium. It is durable and has excellent heat sinking properties. With proper air circulation within the grow area the plates are warm to the touch but will not injure. This was part of the safety certification requirements.

What Are the Best LED Grow Lights?

Plants require photosynthetically active radiation, also known as PAR, for photosynthesis. This means you need to select a light spectrum that is tailored to the growth phase of your plant and that will be useful in the environment where you’ll be growing, such as indoors or in a greenhouse.

Some of the best light options available are full-spectrum LED grow lights. The following are the key factors to consider when determining which full-spectrum LED grow lights to purchase:

Size: While other types of grow lights are cumbersome and bulky, full-spectrum LED grow lights are better for smaller spaces. The fixtures are generally more compact and don’t require reflectors or ballasts, which frees up space in your grow room or tent.

Cost: These lights tend to be more expensive initially, but you’ll save money in the long term due to the increased efficiency. The lifespan of LEDs is much longer than the average HPS bulb, for example, and you will see these cost savings over time. You can operate a full-spectrum LED grow light setup for many years before you’ll need to replace it.

Heat: Your grow room’s temperature is a crucial variable, and grow lights can contribute to rising temperatures. This is why ventilation is so essential in a grow room. However, full-spectrum LED grow lights run cooler, which means this won’t be as much of an issue. This is especially advantageous if you’re growing plants in a warmer climate.

Conclusion

Growing plants with artificial lights are, very scientific: you need some basics of botany to manage it successfully, especially at a professional level.

What’s more, it also requires a lot of technical competence; there are so many grow lights available that choosing the best grow lights for you must be done carefully.

Only if when you manage to understand what exactly your plants want and offer your skills and knowledge as a service to them will you be able to make them really happy and get the results you hope for…