LED Lighting Blog

Light is very important for plant growth, but plants do not absorb all types of light that the sun emit. Then which types of light will plants absorb during the process of photosynthesis? To discover the answer, it is best to find out what a light wavelength is and why a plant needs light to begin with. We have to go back to school and learn some biology knowledge.

A light wavelength is the distance between the two nearest peaks (the top of the wave) or the two nearest troughs (the bottom of the wave). A lights wavelengths measurement can tell you what the color of the light is. Visible light is measured between 400-700 nm or 400-700 nanometers (a billionth of a meter). The shorter the wavelengths of visible light are more violet in color, the longer the wavelength of visible light are redder in color. Wavelengths shorter than 400 nm are known as ultraviolet (UV) waves whereas wavelengths longer than 700 nm are known as infrared (IR) waves. Most of the light wavelengths plants use for photosynthesis is between 400-750 nm because UV waves and IR waves can actually damage plant life. The primary colors used are blue and red whereas green wavelengths are reflected (giving plants their green color.)

Plant growth depends on photosynthesis and photosynthesis is the process which converts light, water and carbon dioxide into sugar, algae and bacteria. These sugars are used to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is the fuel for all living things. In the outside world, the sun does the work of supplying plants with the light they need. However, for the indoor gardens and greenhouses, which will provide adequate light for photosynthesis? LED grow lights can be the perfect solution.

The very first LED grow lights are designed with six different light wavelengths, primarily blues and reds. This light was designed using only colors that plants need and use for photosynthesis. Traditional white lights emit only 18% of usable light for plants and most of the LED grow lights on the market only emit blue and/or red wavelengths. The newest model, the 300w LED grow light is the most spectrally rich, highest performing plant light source in the world. By designing the LED grow light using only the wavelengths that plants need and keying in on the specific light wavelengths (blues & reds) that they use most for photosynthesis, we now have an indoor grow light that will not only grow plants but will also help in production and blooming.

The LED grow lights are also designed to be environmentally friendly – no lead, no mercury, no glass, no white light pollution, low heat output, made of recyclable aluminum, and is safe around kids and pets.

Only when you have a better understanding of what light is for plants, can you have a better understanding of why the color wavelengths of your grow light are so important. Next time when you are choosing grow lights, you should first understand which types of light it emits and which types of light are useful for you plants. LED grow lights can be the very right choice for your plants since most of light they emit is the useful for photosynthesis.

LED grow lights are beneficial for indoor plant growth in so many different ways due to a variety of reasons. We have to understand the process of photosynthesis first. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants create their food in the presence of sunlight. In this process, carbon dioxide in the air is converted into food and oxygen is expelled into the environment. During the process of photosynthesis, adequate sunlight or lighting source is quite essential. Plant growth is determined by not only the amount of light but also the quality and duration of the light. But for the indoor plants, it is very difficult to get enough sunlight, then LED grow lights can be the best replacement.

LED grow lights are the best artificial lighting source for plant growth ever. Sunlight or natural light consists of all the different wavelengths, but plants can only use the red and blue wavelengths. Now while sunlight can never be wasted, it doesn’t make sense to have an artificial light source that produces all the other wavelengths as it only leads to wastage and an increase in the power consumption bill. LED grow lights only emit the two wavelengths which are useful for plant growth, so they can greatly reduce the wastage and electricity bills.

Compared with other types of grow lamps, LED grow lights definitely are the best. This is because most of the incandescent light bulbs produce red and orange wavelengths. While red is useful, orange is just useless. Blue light is essential for leaf growth and helps the plant to bloom along with the red wavelength. Other types like fluorescent lights are good options for plant growth but do not produce red light. They can however be used during the early stages of plant growth. LED grow lights just emit the exact blue and red wavelengths which are useful for photosynthesis and can be absorbed by plants.

Meanwhile LED grow lights will not generate too much but appropriate heat for plants. When plant growth is concerned, too little heat can kill a plant just as too much heat. A balanced temperature causes the plant to thrive. Certain types of lights are known to produce an excess amount of heat and often end up damaging the roots and the growth process of the plant as a whole. They can also dehydrate the plant faster. You will then have to water the plants at regular and short intervals just to help them survive. Compared with other types of grow lamps, LED grow lights just provide a optimum environment for plant growth.

Another advantage of LED grow lights is their long lifespan which can be over 50,000 hours. You can use these lights for over fifteen hours per day and still have them running for a good decade and a half or so. They are also environment friendly and do not contain any materials that harm the environment like mercury. You can combine solar or wind energy to power your LED lights to really save a fortune in power consumption bills. Due to the advantages of low power consumption, low heat generation, environment friendly, easy installation and maintenance and long lifespan, LED grow lights have become the most popular lighting solution for indoor growers.

Plant growth depends on photosynthesis which creates the necessary nutrients, and light is one of the most essential factors for photosynthesis. When grow outdoors, the sun will provide the plants with enough light for their photosynthesis. Getting sunlight to an indoor garden can be very difficult or impossible. For plants thrive indoors, they should be provided with the right amount of light in the right color spectrum.

Just using some old light bulbs is not enough, and some special type of grow lights are required. The newest innovation in grow light technology is LED grow lights. It is the following features that make LED grow lights different and the best choice for indoor gardeners.

LED grow lights emit light with proper spectrum to stimulate plant growth. Humans see these electromagnetic frequencies as colors. “Blue” light helps plants to grow best in certain stages of their development, while “red” light is best at other times. LED bulb can come with any color you want, though the most common colors for the LED grow lights are, of course, blue and red. To encourage all stages of plant growth, blue and red LED grow lights are often used together, bathing the indoor garden in a purplish glow.

Most other types of grow bulb emit light from either the “blue” or “red” color spectrum, necessitating the use of different lights for different plants or at different times, or a combination of bulbs.

Conventional grow lights always generate too much heat. The heat will scorch plants and soil and evaporate hydroponic mineral solutions. To counterbalance all that heat, some sort of ventilation, whether from air-cool reflectors, fans or air condition systems, is needed. LED grow lights, however, emit much less heat which can be negligible than those conventional grow lamps, allowing indoor gardeners to cut the expense and effort of ventilation. Since they run cooler, LED grow lights can also be placed closer to the plants. Since bulky fans are not necessary, plants can be successfully grown in a smaller space than with most other categories of grow light.

LED grow lights are great for both hydroponic and soil-based gardening. With LED grow lights, you can cultivate any type of plant you desire, indoors. Extend the growing season for your favorite herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers using LED grow lights. Not all plants need the same amount of light, of course. Some plants will benefit from a cluster or LED grow bulbs, while others will thrive under the light of a single bulb. The varieties of plants you want to grow will also determine the intensity of the LED bulbs you buy.

In any case, LED grow lights are easy to set up, making them a particularly attractive option for the beginning indoor gardener. LED grow lights consume less energy than most other bulbs and have a longer useful life, making them a more cost-effective lighting solution in the long run. Available figures vary, but it is not unusual for LED grow lights to use 40% – 75% less energy than some other grow bulbs. The best LED grow lights last up to twenty times longer than other bulbs, as well.