We all want to ensure that our plants has the best possible growing conditions. From lighting to growing medium and watering, every aspect counts.

Today, we’ll concentrate on the lighting aspect of things–namely LED lights, which have taken the homegrown world by storm.

Let’s find out why LED grow lights are some of the most efficient. We’ll also investigate the what, why, and how of these stellar tools. Let’s get into it.

Grow light usage

Grow lights are used for indoor gardening, horticulture, plant propagation, and also food production, including indoor hydroponics and aquatic plants. Although the majority of grow lights are used on a commercial level, they can likewise be used in households.

According to the inverse-square law, the intensity of light radiating from a factor source (in this case a bulb) that reaches a surface area is inversely proportional to the square of the surface area’s distance from the source (if an object is two times as far away, it obtains only a quarter the light) which is a major difficulty for indoor growers, and many methods are employed to use light as successfully as possible.

Reflectors are hence often used in the lights to take full advantage of light effectiveness. Plants or lights are moved as close together as possible so that they get equal lighting and also that all light coming from the lights falls on the plants instead of on the surrounding spots.

Mars Hydro FC-E 6500 650W LED Grow Light

Features:

The Mars Hydro LED Grow Light’s innovative detachable design allows anyone from commercial growers to home garden hobbyists to organize their grow space’s lighting layout. Drawing only 650W of power, the FC-E6500 has 3978 pcs high-quality Bridge Lux chips for smooth, even coverage of a 5x5 ft (flower) or 6x6ft(veg) grow space, and it’s more cost-effective compared with other same type lights. Its high-performance BridgeLux chips are more efficient and therefore save you tons of money on electrical costs compared to other similar lights.At the same time, the high light efficiency and more even light distribution promises growers a more uniform crop and reliable yields. Mars Hydro’s FC-E6500 design includes a dimmer knob for your convenience. Up to 15 lights can be daisy-chained and controlled through just one light. The FC-E6500’s aluminum heatsink large surface area increases its passive cooling by 30%. The IP65 waterproofing eliminates any worry about using this light in a humid environment.

Fluence SPYDRx PLUS LED Grow Light

Features:

Fluence grow light is a full cycle top lighting solution for commercial horticultural planting with the ability to grow from vegetative to flowering. For best results, due to higher PPFD levels, we recommend deploying SPYDRx PLUS in environments with CO2 supplementation between 800–1400 ppm during reproductive growth. Solid state engineering coupled with a patent-pending form factor make the SPYDRx series ideal for multi-layer vertical farming applications as well as single-layer applications, including grow chambers, tables and tents with adjacent channels.

An Ultimate Buying Guide To Choose Grow Lights 

Unlike other plants, it cannot be grown easily. Some strains of plants are very sensitive that they can be grown only in indoor settings. You have to take proper care of it by keeping it under optimum temperature and humidity settings. When you are growing multiple plants under one roof indoors, you will need to grow lights to keep a regular check on the growth of the plants. We will help you with some useful tips to choose the best grow lights for your plants.

1. Budget & Warranty
Planning the budget is the first step to follow before buying the grow lights. Grow lights come in various price ranges according to their quality, quantity, light type and design. Sort out your planting requirements first and measure the size of your growing area. Choose the grow lights accordingly. For a smaller area, a minimum number of grow lights will suffice. This will come at an affordable cost than many numbers of grow lights.

Similarly, look for warranty and customer support while choosing to grow lights from a specific brand. Some brands offer to grow lights at a cheaper price with attractive features, but won’t have a warranty. Your invested money will be a total waste if the grow light stopped functioning after a month or so. So, it is highly recommended to buy grow lights with a warranty period.

2. Number of lights
The number of lights depends on the number of plants you grow and the size of the area in which the plants are grown. If you are growing two to six plants, one or two lights will be more than sufficient. Most home growers will grow only up to 6 or 8 plants, for which one or two lights will be enough.

However, if you own a large grow area with numerous plants; plan the number of lights accordingly. Also, make sure you don’t overcrowd the area with lights more than what is required. This may produce heat and can harm plant growth. You can invest in large lights if you own a big lawn or grow room with multiple chambers. Just like how the number of lights is important, the quality of the light is also important. Invest in high-quality lights.

3. Light coverage & intensity
As there are many grow light models in the market, first decide the light coverage area to select an appropriate light model. For example, if you grow plants in a 5’ x 5’ area, you can buy several grow lights according to that. Large lights can cover a 5’ x 5’ area. If you are not sure what type of light is suitable for your coverage area, you can consult a professional for advice. While buying LED lights, make sure the light intensity is as much as you expected.

Some complain of poor light, while some complain of overlighting. Both are bad. Light intensity is nothing but the number of photons your plants use for their growth and flowering. To decide the light intensity, you can check on factors like the PAR chart of the manufacturer, and PPF reading. These readings will tell you about the exact light intensity.

4. Durability & Design
Durability is an important factor to consider, especially if you are buying an electrical device. Before buying the grow lights, check their material and quality as you don’t want them to wear off soon. Buying grow lights with a warranty is an added advantage as you can claim the warranty when something goes wrong. Make sure the wires and bulbs are of durable quality. Design is up to your personal choice & plant requirements. You can buy small or large or aesthetically pleasing bulbs depending upon your choice.

5. Additional features
Apart from the above features and functionalities, you can also look out for useful bonus features to save your power cost. Many grow light models come with energy-saving technology to save your power consumption and costs. You can opt for such models over normal ones. Some grow lights are equipped with a cooling system to reduce heat produced from the bulbs. This will avoid heating inside the tent and protect your plants from bulb heat. You can also prefer lights that produce low noises without disturbing your plants.

Conclusion

With so many grow lights available in the market, choosing just one becomes a hectic choice. But, don’t worry though because we have done the hard work for you. This means that the products that we have sorted out for you are some of the best ones in the market. But you keep a check on the individual products before you finalize the purchase.