Because technology is maturing, led grow lights are being considered more in hydroponics and indoor gardening. It all began as a market that had its own style of cult following. However, now it is focusing on things such as lettuce, wheat grass, strawberries and even cannabis. The market is also not stagnant as it continues to grow. The reason for this is that some manufacturers ensure that they are constantly doing some research and coming up with new developments. This is proof that suppliers are not out there to only make money by supplying poorly made contraptions. There are legitimate suppliers whose aim is to genuinely satisfy their customers.
Here are some thoughts regarding new technology:
LED Grow Lights developments
Introducing new technology is something that is never easy. However, with time LEDs is becoming more conventional. Nowadays it is not only considered as an alternative to HID lights, it is actually seen as a means to produce more in an area which is much smaller. The lights are advantageous mainly because they release very precise wavelengths. As a result, plants tend to absorb more light when compared to HID lights. They are also able to change this light into energy through the process of photosynthesis. This converted energy is necessary when it comes to promoting vital vegetative growth as well as an abundance of fruits.
The focus in this article is not on particular brands or even comparisons. Instead, the focus is on usual features as well as advantages of LED grow lights. I will also mention the recent developments in technology which are guaranteed to assist you if your goal is to produce healthy and big plants.
LEDs – A theory shift
People who grow plants indoors have had limited choices for more than 40 years when it comes to grow lighting. However, what these growers will be trying to do in all instances is to attempt to imitate the effect of sunlight on indoor plants. At the end of the day sunlight is vital for plant growth. The sunlight is required for the process of photosynthesis to take place.
It is a well known fact that sunlight is basically white light. This means that it comprises of light wavelengths from the whole visible light continuum together with unseen types of light radiation which include infrared and gamma. The conventional grow lights try to copy this light. However, the success is limited because the lights are essentially ineffective. All plants have varying lighting needs, for instance cannabis has different light requirements when compared to orchids. However, a lot of these plants will grow with a limited light range. The reason for this is that the chemicals and processes involved in the process of photosynthesis act readily in response to this type of light. When compared with HID bulbs which emit only 15% of light that is used during photosynthesis, LEDs emit between 90 and 99% of light which is used during photosynthesis.
As a result it becomes necessary to change the conventional growing techniques, the light cycles, water needs and the nutrient requirements. This does not mean that one has to make changes that are too drastic, you just have to make the necessary changes such as changing the light cycles by a few hours or simply altering the growing environment.
It might also be necessary to make some changes to the period of growing cycles as well as the flowering and vegetative. Seed packets normally have growing instructions whether you want to grow your plants indoors or outdoors. A good example is that of cannabis seeds which have different strains that have specific needs. If you buy the seeds now it is important to note that it is generally assumed that you will be using HID lighting and this is completely different to LEDs. On the other hand, LED grow lights will give you up to 8 times more lighting. That is why it is necessary to alter our techniques with regards to growing plants indoors if we want to be successful. You might think that using LED lights is more difficult than using the traditional HID bulbs, but that is not the case. In actual fact, it is simply a different and more effective way. It is an option that I would recommend to anyone.
The following is my Cannabis Grower’s manual to LEDs. It is still a work in progress, but it contains important information.
Wavelengths and Spectrum- Do we need more
Initially, these lights had designs which were very simple. They basically covered one blue and one red band of light. Generally, the red light helps with the flowering of the plants and the blue light is needed for vegetative growth. The early designs did emit this light, but it just was not enough. With years of research it became apparent to manufactures that 2 bands of light were just not enough when it came to optimal plant growth. More light would be required especially when the process of photosynthesis peaked in efficiency.
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In the past couple of years there has been a visible change from the red and blue LED grow lights to the tri-band, 6 band and 11 band lights. You can even find company that sells white light and full spectrum lights. From the research that I have conducted, it is clear to me that all that is required for plants to grow well is 1 orange light band, 2 blue bands and 2 red light bands.
To me, 6 band and 11 band LEDs are basically a step backwards in the direction of HID grow lighting. This is because light which relies on white light too much is not very efficient as it does away with the notion of peak targeting and basically takes technology a step backwards instead of forward. It is also important to note that HID lights are around 15% effective. This is because a huge amount of light is lost or it is just not usable. This kind of light is the same as that produced by full spectrum and white LEDs. I am of the view that the LED array requires a smaller quantity of white light.
If this kind of grow light is less effective, why are LED companies copying it?
The answer is that most of these companies do not conduct proper and thorough research. We are living at a time where people are under the impression that more is always better. As a result the manufacturers are trying to please the customer by giving him or her more when in actual fact the customer ends up getting something that is not well researched and therefore not up to standard. This is why it is vital that you request proof of the company’s claims. Alternatively you can ensure that you are given a return guarantee.
Commercial cannabis grows and micro grows
Is the led grow light prepared for primetime?
Right now the general consensus on many forums is that LEDs work perfectly with micro grows like Sea of Green and techniques where the focal point is on short vegetative growth. Afterwards you can then have a flowering stage that is extended. What you will have as the end result is a plant that is short and has a single cola and a few branches. There have been reports that with this technique you can produce in excess of about 4 grams per watt and this is quite remarkable if you are growing the plants indoors. However, the fact of the matter is that these lights are not quite ready when it comes to commercial planting. In other words, you cannot exactly grow big trees for the purposes of the medical marijuana industry.
Even though that is the view of some people, I seem to think that these lights can be used to grow plants on a commercial level. A good example is that of the hydroponic tomato growing project that is currently taking place in New Hampshire. They are basically making use of LEDs. It is stated in the article that the farmer has actually managed to save up to 50% on electricity because he has been making use of LEDs. When the bills are calculated, the farmer makes a saving of about $500 each month. Having proof of this kind, it is clear why switching to LEDs is a good move.
Watts and grow areas
There are certain claims that I think manufacturers will drift away from in the following years. Such claims include the idea that a 90 watt light can be compared to a 400 watt HPS or that a 350 watt light can actually produce up to 1000 watts HID. I am also of the view that manufactures have to rework their space area and they must also elaborate what growers can produce with a 90 watt LED, the type of plant, quantity, strain of cannabis, height of the plants and vegetative stages. It is important for the growers to make comparisons.
To make it clear, I suggest a grow space of 2 by 2 or less for a 90 watt light. This is for flowering and vegetative stages for cannabis. When it comes to the space area this can be compared with a 250 watt HID light hat will guarantee a saving of about 60% in power consumption. However, if for instance you are thinking of growing lettuce, the light coverage should be increased 4 by 4. The reason for this is that lettuce has requirements which are lower than those of cannabis. To add on to that, with lettuce you do not have to worry about flowering requirements. You will only be dealing with vegetative growth. Because of these technical specifications, manufactures have to clearly explain what these specifications really mean. At the same time buyers also need to do their own research prior to buying a specific light.
A few closing thoughts
It is always advised to ask questions about LED grow lights if you want to get a better understanding. You can direct these questions to a LEDs supplier that you have an interest in. you can also place a comment at the bottom of this article or even contact me for assistance. If the supplier does not respond to the questions or does not give you satisfactory answers, it is better to move on. There are people whose aim is to make quick cash. As a result they are not going to clarify certain information to you. Just because you contact that kind of company does not mean that all suppliers are like that. There are plenty of legitimate companies out there that are willing to give you all the details you need.
Even though I am of the view that we will be seeing new companies coming out in 2011, I think that legitimate industry leaders will merge before the end of the year. In other words, before 2011 ends, it is highly likely that we will see fewer true suppliers than we actually have now. However, they will be stronger and more efficient. I think this is a better way of going about it. That is why people are always advised to do some thorough research prior to choosing a company to work with.
