Best LED Grow Lights For Hydroponics

Light, though not tangible, is the most crucial resource on this planet. Plants, the main sustainers of life, require it to make food for themselves as well as for others. Through this article, we have tried to shed light on the advantages of growing under LED grow lights for hydroponics.

The plant grows healthy under the LED light system with the right amount of light source. These full spectrum LEDs are energy savings and can be used in grow tents. We humans can only see visible light but plants can see light differently. Plants require blue light viz. high pressure sodium with a good light fixture. These light emitting diodes are useful in large growing spaces because the amount of light source is directly proportional to plant growth. LED bulbs with the right amount of light source can make sure that plant growth is healthy.

Hydroponics at home

Hydroponic LED grow lights for plants are artificial lights that help plants grow by attempting to provide the full spectrum similar to that of the sun or by tailoring the light spectrum as per the needs or requirements of the plant in a grow room. Grow lights form an important element of the entire hydroponics system on which the mechanism of this scientific breakthrough depends. These LED lighting systems with an adjustable full spectrum are crucial for plant growth in an indoor garden. Sunless cultivation might cringe some people, but what we need to understand here is that the availability of artificial adjustable full spectrum indoor lights of LED grow lights, wipes out the need for sunlight for the plant’s optimum growth in a grow room.

LED light bulbs emit high-pressure sodium light e.g. blue light is not visible light to the naked eye. But the plant absorbs this light from the full spectrum. An LED lighting system with a good light fixture is useful for the good growth of plants. The plant absorbs the light from the LED bulb. Before heading forward let’s see the types of grow lights-

Types of LED grow lights

Grow Lights are of different types that can be set up in hydroponics system suiting the requirements of the plant being cultivated–

01. Fluorescent Bulbs / Lamps

A fluorescent bulb/lamp makes a decent grow light for indoor gardening. The high output fluorescent T-5 Fluorescent Fixture Bulbs consume less electricity while emitting more light in the grow room. These lamps are accessible in a wide range of full light spectrums. They are a good option when growing small plants in an indoor garden. When large plants are grown under these lamps in a grow room, reflectors or more lamps and light fixtures are required.

02. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs)

Compact Fluorescent lamps (CFL) are an excellent option for small spaces like a grow room and are also an efficient alternative to incandescent bulbs. These lighting led bulbs consume less power and can be simply screwed into a standard socket. One thing to be noted is that CFLs generate light in all directions, so, if we opt for CFLs as indoor lighting tools, we should always use a reflector to ensure minimum wastage of light.

03. Agricultural Led Grow Lights For Hydroponics

One of the most desirable options when choosing lights for indoor gardening brings us to a relatively new technology that is increasingly available from horticultural suppliers, i.e., LEDs. While being comparatively expensive than fluorescent lamps, they are available in full spectrum and produce good intensity with less heating thereby reducing the electricity costs. The coverage area of these lights is wide. This makes LED grow lights for hydroponics an ideal choice for large plantations. Moreover, based on your requirements you can also install LED grow lights for indoor plants.

04. High Intensity Discharge (HID) Grow Lights

As the name says, High-Intensity Discharge grow lights are extremely powerful with high strength, making them effective for growing large plants like tomatoes or citrus. With high penetrating power, they are much more intense as compared to other light bulbs. They are expensive; they radiate a lot of heat, consequently increasing the cooling costs. HIDs are available in two variants, viz, High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) bulbs and Metal Halide (MH) bulbs. HPS bulbs emit a low light spectrum which makes them efficient for the flowering stage, besides; MH bulbs emit a high spectrum, making them appropriate for vegetation. The light source coming from these grow lights is more intense as compared to others.

05. Metal Halide (MH) Bulbs

Metal Halide bulbs advance with a full spectrum of colors which is suitable for the growth of plants, especially during their vegetative state. They mainly emit a blue light spectrum which is ideal for young plants, making them a great option for greenhouses or hydroponics gardening.