LED Grow Light Review
LED Grow Light Review - How To Find The Best Models Of 2010
by Cora Ladd
The indoor gardening world was rocked a few years ago with the introduction of LED grow lights. In the midst of controversy, many questions arose as to whether or not they could give true results and live up to the hype. By putting in a bit of research, you can plainly see that, not only do LED grow lights deliver, but they are here to stay.
When using LED grow lights, it is vital to understand that you are trading the high-intensity brute force concept (expensive energy cost) of metal halide and high pressure sodium grow lights for the focused power of an LED grow light.
With a typical HID light setup - replete with expensive accessories like fans, ducting, ballasts, etc. - the full spectrum of white light is emitted. From red to blue and all wavelengths between, your plants are bombarded with light and a tremendous amount of heat without regard for its actual effectiveness. HID grow lights have an average of 15% efficiency, the lion's-share of energy is thrown away in the form of wasted light (un-absorbable) and unnecessary heat. Do you like throwing away money?
The highest quality LED grow lights enjoy a 95% efficiency rating which means that almost all of the light is beneficial to your plants and can directly help them grow. Nearly none of the light is wasted and the heat they produce is negligible. Only with years of research and development can determine which specific wavelengths are targeted to produce energy usable in photosynthesis. Blue and red light are the most important for growing plants while, to a lesser extent, orange is also needed. This makes sense because plants are green. On a scientific level, this means that plants reflect green and yellow light to such an extent that those wavelengths are nearly useless for growing plants. You have to ask yourself, why buy a grow light that wastes energy on producing those wavelengths?
To be sure, choosing the right LED grow light for your indoor garden has its challenges.
Just like any other product in existence there is a wide range of quality represented by the various brands available on the market. From the very basic models up to the Mercedes of LED grow lights, styles range in price, shape, light colors, and power output that all play a part in determining your success as an indoor grower. I can tell you from experience that, for the most part, you get what you pay for.
I am not telling you that you must buy the most expensive model you can find because cost is not the sole factor that determines quality. It is the composition of the LED grow light and the quality of the components used in its construction that is the real factor.
What you need to look for in an LED grow light is the power of each individual LED bulb. It is common to find 225 LED grow panels for sale very cheap - around $50-$100, however, you would totally waste your money. Each bulb in such an array typically has only 0.06 Watts. This is severely underpowered - unless of course you only want to grow a 4 inch tall plant. Because of the lack of power, you will get poor results, no canopy penetration, spindly plants, and some plants just wont grow or flower at all. The minimum power output to look for is 1 Watt per bulb - about 16 times more output than "bargain" LED grow lights and you are still saving a ton of money in electricity.
With the powerful, highly-targeted light from a high-quality LED grow light, you will experience thick, stocky vegetative growth with massive blooms and the biggest yields possible when growing indoors.
About the Author:
Looking to find the best deal on LED Grow Lights, then visit www.MyHydroponicGardening.com to find the best advice and an LED Grow Light Review for you.
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