LED grow lights make it easier to use to grow plants indoors. For anyone who wants to build an indoor garden or grow cannabis at home, having the best LED grow lights is a must.
Just like any other technology, LED grow lights are available in a wide range of qualities and prices. This makes it a bit challenging to pick the best option for your plants.
To be able to buy the right LED grow light you need to first know about the key features that these lights offer. If this is your first-time LED grow light shopping, you are in the right place. That said; let’s check out the salient features of a LED grow light.
What are the main features of LED grow lights?
The features listed below are what make an LED grow light efficient. When buying a new grow light make sure that you look into these features.
- Wavelength Output
As a grower, you must know that certain light wavelengths are important for the photosynthesis, growth, and overall development of plants.
Photosynthesis active radiations (PAR) are defined by the wavelengths that are suitable for plants. When buying an LED grow light, you must consider the wavelength output as it is an important factor. Remember that blues and reds are vital for plants including the entire PAR spectrum.
- Lumens, Lux & PAR
Since you are buying LED grow lights for the first time, you may not know these professional terms. Lumens describe the total light quantity from the visible spectrum that is emitted from a light source. What is more important is the amount of light an LED grow light will emit.
Lux is measured in lumens per square meter. It refers to the quantity of light reaching the surface while PAR is the amount of energy available for photosynthesis.
- Watts
Watts refers to the amount of energy needed by the grow lights to operate. This is an important feature as electricity input is related to the total light intensity.
The light emitted is based on the overall design and the quality of the light components. The higher the wattage, the less effective an LED grow light is. That’s because higher wattage causes the temperature in the circuit board to increase.
- Intensity of Light
The intensity of light reduces as you move away from the light source. You must keep this factor in mind when comparing different LED grow lights.
To get the most out of your LEDs, you must position them at a correct distance from your plants. It should be positioned in such a way that the light should cover the entire plantation platform. You must also adjust the height of the LEDs as your plants start to grow.
- LED Chip Quality
Another important feature to look into is the quality of the LED chip. Quality diodes are usually expensive as they are designed based on specifications to emit the right wavelengths.
They make use of different semiconductors to make LED grow lights. It is mixed in different ratios so that it can emit a specific wavelength.
- Low Heat Output
This is a very important thing to consider when buying LED lights. The total heat output affects two main factors including durability and plant protection.
In simple words, too much heat is not good for your plants. Generally, these lights are positioned near the plants. In this case, you must make sure that the LEDs emit low heat, otherwise, it can be damaging for your plants. Not just that, but a LED grow light with higher heat output is also less durable. That’s because it burns out more quickly than LEDs with lower heat output. You must look for LEDs with balanced heat output.
- Full-spectrum LED lights
Even though plants can grow under any type of light, full-spectrum LED lights to help in efficient photosynthesis.
A powerful LED can provide plants with the full spectrum that is necessary for their growth. These types of LEDs enables you to meet the specific needs of your plants.
So these are the important features of LED grow lights that you must be aware of. Now that you have a fair idea about LEDs, it should be easier for you to find the best one for your plants.
