What is LED Grow Lights and How They Can Help You Achieve Your Garden Goals

 

Whether growing vegetables, flowers or herbs, lighting is one of the most important variables to consider for success. In order to provide plants with the right amount of light to promote healthy growth and flowering, growers utilize different types of lighting including incandescent, halogen, fluorescent and high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. A newer lighting technology that is increasingly popular with growers is LED. In this article, we will explore what is led grow lights and how they can help you achieve your garden goals with minimal effort and expense.

LED stands for light emitting diode, a type of semiconductor that converts electrical energy into photons of light. LEDs are used in many different lighting applications due to their durability, efficiency and low heat production compared to other types of lighting. LEDs also come in a variety of colors and intensities, which allows growers to provide their plants with the proper spectrum of light necessary for optimal plant health.

In general, most plants need a combination of blue and red light to thrive. Blue light encourages seed germination and vegetative growth while red and far-red spectrums support flowering and growth. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a LED grow light that meets the needs of your specific species.

Many Get more info  lights are marketed by the amount of visible light they produce, which is often measured in terms of wattage. The truth is, wattage does not mean much in the case of LED grow lights. What matters more is the color and intensity of the light produced. While the most common colors of grow light are blue and red, there are several other spectrums that can benefit plants as well such as UVA, UVB, infrared and visible.

In addition to the amount of light a lamp produces, you will also want to consider its temperature and spectral distribution. High temperatures can damage houseplants and lead to premature aging and death, and too much of the infrared spectrum can disrupt plant cell development and even cause phototoxicity. Infrared and visible light can also increase the risk of photosynthesis inhibition, which is the result of excess chlorophyll pigment accumulation in leaves or stems.

Fortunately, LED grow lights are designed to minimize heat generation and are safer for use near houseplants. Regardless of the wattage of an LED lamp, it is recommended to place them 12 inches away from houseplants for lower wattage lamps and up to 36 inches away from houseplants for higher wattage lamps in order to prevent burns. To further reduce the risk of damage, it is a good idea to use a timer to regulate the light output of your grow lights and ensure that they do not remain on for extended periods of time. To avoid burning your plants, you should watch out for brown leaf edges or a yellowing of the foliage. A light that is positioned too close to a plant may also cause it to stretch out and become thin, which can lead to poor health.