Why you should be using LED's.

Liz Filmer
13 Sep 2021

LED's do not burn a filament; they pass light through semiconductors to create a spectrum. LED's can be used as the sole means of indoor Grow Room lighting or can be paired with other types of grow lighting.


LED's do not burn a filament; they pass light through semiconductors to create a spectrum. LED's can be used as the sole means of indoor Grow Room lighting or can be paired with other types of grow lighting.

Cost-efficient

LED's are expensive, but they will save you money long term as they are cheaper to operate. They consume fewer watts but produce about the same amount of usable light as HID bulbs. LEDs deliver more PAR to your plants per watt of electricity. LEDs can be focused so that no light is lost between the bulb and the plants. They generally have a lifespan of between 50,000 to 100,000 hours. 

Quieter and more efficient 

LED's provide a lower wattage per square foot than HID's, pushing out less heat and eliminating issues with excessive temperatures. Lower temperatures mean less ventilation and less money spent on energy bills. 

A broad light spectrum 

LED's offer a complete spectrum, benefitting plant growth from seed to harvest. Higher-end models produce wavelengths ranging from the visible spectrum to Ultraviolet light, beneficial for resin formation. 

Distance to plants

LED's can be positioned close to plants due to their low heat output. This is advantageous in growing areas limited by height.

One unit set up

No need for a ballast, reflector, and bulbs; LED's are a single integrated unit, usually comprised of a slim panel that you simply hang and plug in.

Top Tips on buying LED's

Reliability 

Watch out for misleading wattage claims of 1,000W or 1,500W lights. For inexpensive grow lights, a 1,000W value will not reflect the drawing power in watts but the total wattage of the diodes used. Diodes come in different sizes, so some brands will count the total number of diodes and simply multiply that number by the wattage of the diode. For example, 100 diodes at 15W would equal a "1,500W light." which isn't strictly true!

The drawing power for these "1,000W" and "1,500W" lights is about 150-200W, around 15 per cent of their max capacity (150W draw power/1,000W total LED wattage = 0.15 or 15%). However, smaller diodes with good heat disposition can run at 50-60 per cent capacity.

Light Output and Intensity (PPFD/PAR)

PPFD means photon density; how much light hits a particular area every second high PPFD means high light intensity. A cannabis plant needs around 300 PPFD (PAR) in the vegetative stage, then 600 PPFD during flowering. 

Colour Spectrum.

Plants need a full spectrum of light for optimal growth, health, and photosynthesis. The ideal colour spectrum for plants consists of 15-20% blue light, 15-25% green light, and about 60% red light. A light range close to natural sunlight is a perfect choice. 

Lamp Efficiency 

You need an LED grow light with high efficacy measured in umol/J (otherwise known as PPF/W or PPE). Effectiveness refers to the LED's efficiency at turning electricity into light. High-efficacy, measured in umol/J or PPF/W dictates that the lamp is better at converting electricity to light. Budget lights perform on average at around 0.8 to 1.5 umol/J whilst other more expensive lights can reach levels twice as high. 

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Liz Filmer