The WoW Style

When you decide to set up an indoor hydroponic garden, one of the most challenging decisions is to finalize the best LED hydroponic lights. There are so many types of hydroponic LED grow lights available that it can become an overwhelming process to choose the one that suits your requirement and fits your budget. LED lights produce extremely conducive low heat light, making them ideal for all plants. They come ready with a plug and use system, can yield high produce, are highly energy-efficient, and have a long shelf-life. But the most significant benefit LED grow lights provide is a uniform spectrum that is extremely important for plant growth. 

Types of LED hydroponic lights

To make an informed decision and choose the hydroponic LED grow light that fits the best in your requirements, you must first know the kind of LED lights that are available in the market:

LED grow light panels: These are the most commonly used LED grow lights as they are easy to install and use. They come with heatsinks to control the heat produced, a ballast, and a considerable warranty. They are most suitable for the full state growth of plants.

Pros:

• Have full-spectrum with switches for the vegetative and flowering stage
• They come with a plug and use functionality 
• Have a long lifespan

Cons:

• These are the most expensive ones of the lot

LED grow light bars: These are a single bar of diodes that come with different spectrums. Several growers use them to expand their light footprint or change their light spectrum. They are primarily used as support structures rather than as the main light. 

Pros:

• They can replace T5 fixtures and are highly energy-efficient
• They can be used with standard house outlet and come with plug and use facility

Cons:

• They usually have only one spectrum
• Typically work as a support light and requires other fixtures as well

LED grow light bulbs: These LED bulbs can be used as additional fixtures to provide supportive light. They cannot be used as the primary source of light for the complete growth cycle of plants. But they are great for growing small leafy vegetables. 

Pros: 

• They fit into a standard light socket
• They can be mixed and matched to create a full spectrum

Cons:

• Multiple bulbs are needed for one grow area
• It might require an additional reflective hood for maximum benefit

Things to look for in your hydroponic LED lights for maximum usability

While LED grows lights are efficient and provide the right kind of light for plant growth, there are certain things you must look for when purchasing LED hydroponic grow lights:

Spectrum and uniformity

The best LED grow lights provide a full spectrum and are beneficial for plant growth. A full spectrum not only consists of red and blue light but also infrared and ultraviolet. So, you can grow different kinds of plants under one set of LED installations. Full-spectrum LED lights will allow you to increase your plants from seed to harvest without replacing the lights at different stages of their growth cycle. 

Power

The more light your LED fixtures emit, the better and faster is the growth of your plants. So, look for a light that is powerful yet energy-efficient. 

Efficiency

An efficient LED light will provide a high amount of light without creating any heating effect. But make sure that your light system has proper heatsinks and fans to cool off any heat emission by the lights. 

Reliability and durability

LED lights are slightly on the expensive side, so make sure you invest in durable and long-lasting lights. Also, make sure that they have a constant current driver circuit so that there is a proper supply of direct current at all times.

Full-spectrum of light and why it is important

Light is one of the most important factors that affect the growth of plants. Light consists of different colours of varying wavelengths that make some colours from the spectrum visible to us and others not. Plants respond to red and blue light, and these two are important for their growth. While plants need blue light during their vegetative phase, red is important during their flowering phase.   

Choosing the right hydroponic LED light according to the size of your grow area

Before you jump on to decide how many LED grow lights you need, first, finalize how many plants you wish to grow. Ideally, every plant should be given an area of one square foot to grow. So, the number of plants will determine your growth area, and subsequently, the right number of LED lights you would need. 

Aim to provide 32-50 watts per square foot of growing area. So, if you are working with a growing area of 3’X3’, the amount of light you require will be somewhere around 225 watts for vegetative growth and 440 watts for flowering. 

Hydroponic LED grow lights are the ideal option for your indoor grow room. Not only are they energy-efficient and easy to install, but they also provide a full spectrum of light for better growth. An important part of your hydroponic supplies growing lights must be chosen wisely. But once you make the right decision, their long-lasting nature will make your investment worth it.