Experienced growers know that the success or failure of cultivation depends on three main factors: soil, water and light. No matter what other variables you adjust, these three elements must be included if you want to enjoy a good harvest.

But for the overall cost of your planting, choosing the right lights can make it all seem worth the time and effort…or ruin your wallet and your overall earnings. While LED grow lights may not have been a great option even 5 years ago, advances in LED technology have made them our favorite light style for consistent, low-maintenance indoor growth!

The only problem with LED grow lights for growing plants? There are a lot of copycats on the market trying to sell cheap lamps at high prices. That’s why today, in this review, we’re offering a comprehensive guide to choosing the right LED grow lights for your indoor growing.

How do LED lights actually work?

The light in conventional high-pressure sodium lamps is created when sodium and other elements enclosed in a glass tube are heated with an electric discharge. LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology produces light by passing an electric current through a semiconducting material, which consequently releases photons (light) based on the principle of the so-called electroluminescence. This means that the electrical resistance of the semiconductor filament causes it to heat up and glow with a bright light.

Sodium lamps have been widely used since the mid-20th century and they are predominantly considered a very efficient way of illuminating large spaces. They are installed, for example, in street lights, however they are not an ideal solution in grow-ops. LED grow lights outperform them when it comes to energy efficiency, durability, and they provide optimal light spectrum while also being much easier to handle.

ECO Farm ECO NET 680W Samsung 301B Chips LED Grow Light

Features:

This ECO Farm LED grow light used foldable design, can be easily to adjust the angle between the lamp and the plant, and according to your plant stage to adjust the illumination area. which is more effectively to promote plants growth. It is designed for home growers, fans get noisy when long time use, but this LED light board use aluminum make it cooling down instead use fans, bring you a FANLESS QUIET grow experience. Simple structure, no fan,no noise. New folding design for a fast installation.High Safety performance driver and Pure Aluminum light bars for better heat disappear and stay cool,never burn your plants like other low quality led grow lights. Full Spectrum Led Indoor Growing consisists Red 660nm / White 3000K, 5000K, infinite close to natural light, best for all plants all stages growing, rapid plant response from seed to flower and increase yield & crop quality‎, improve the nutritional value of plants.

OCL SKWID 1900 Pro LED 680W Grow Light

Features:

The OCL SKWID 1900 PRO LED grow light offers an absolute market leading PPF up to 1.938 μmol/s! A high-performance energy-efficient alternative to the traditional commercial 1000W DE HID fixtures. The eight bars are passively cooled in an extra wide shape to enhance spread and coverage. The absence of moving cooling parts reduces the possibility of mechanical failure. The OCL SKWID 1900 PRO LED is dimmable and delivers broad, full-spectrum light anywhere from 400w to 680w while maintaining efficiency. The dim switch on the driver makes it easy to control the light intensity. Developed for growers by growers whose cultivation is in low rooms, on vertical racks, over rolling benches, and in tents. For maximum uniformity, hang the fixture 6–12 inches from the crop.

Things to consider when choosing the best lights

The grow lights are the artificially created light which provide a broad spectrum of light, replicating the natural source of light- sunlight. As there are so many brands and so many options of grow lights in the market, it is necessary to consider some specific factors. Let us discuss the necessary factors to consider when buying the grow lights.

Heat Generation
The heat generation is much different between the different lights. This is very important as you need to consider two things. Firstly, excess heat can damage the plants or can reduce production. And secondly, excess heat can mean less light generation, which means the money spent is not worth it. The CFL lights produce the most heat among HID and LED lights. For all lights, as the price increases, the quality and heat production decrease.

Colour
Red and Blue are the most common and best-coloured lights for the growth of plants, however, red is the most appropriate colour for the flowering stage of a plant. Therefore, for the flowering stage, go for red-coloured lights or similar colours. For this stage, the colours between 620 nm to 780 mm are the most effective.

Lumens
Lumen is the unit for measuring the total light emitted from the light source from the visible spectrum. This is a critical factor as they help to determine the total amount of light the plants can absorb. The plants cannot grow effectively if the right amount of light is provided to them. The LED bulb is the best in lumens, followed by CFL.

Wattage
Watts or wattage is the unit to show the rate of the electrical power used by the light. Companies often describe the watts as the power capacity of the light. But, the light strength is not directly related to the function or wattage of the light. As higher wattage produces more heat, the light becomes less efficient.

Safety
Light safety is crucial as the safety of the light is more than just eye protection. There are two things that you need to consider while looking for light safety. Firstly, you need to consider how fragile the light is. And secondly, what are the components used for the construction of the light? In both areas, LED bulbs are the clear winners.

Conclusion

There are many things to consider when buying LED grow lights. Coverage area and light distance will help narrow your search results and ensure your planting space is properly covered. PAR output is measured in different ways, and misinformation about intensity is very common. The spectrum that LEDs emit is important because the plant has different needs throughout its life cycle. Also, an even light spread will aid in the growth of the entire plant. Wattage is often confused with light intensity rather than what it actually means — energy consumption. It is better to choose high-quality diodes and high-efficiency drivers from trusted manufacturers, rather than using unknown brands. Finally, the warranty on your LED grow lights will protect you in the event that the lights fail. Considering these things before buying LED grow lights will help ensure you get your money’s worth.