ECO Farm ECOM 480W LM301H Full spectrum LED Grow Light Bars VS EYE HORTILUX Ascend LED 450-EVS Grow Light

 Grow lights are one of the most important parts of an indoor gardening setup, especially if what you’re trying to grow is edible. But with many options available, and so much technical mumbo-jumbo being used by manufacturers, figuring out the right option for you can be an overwhelming task.

The purpose of this article is to simplify your grow light purchasing experience. We will look at the LED grow lights, and tell you what to look for in them.

What color LED grow lights are best?

Depending on the type of plant, different colored lights do differently. There is a lot of misinformation online about the best lights to use and some LED lights have unusual color combinations or varying strengths.

The science behind using LED lights to boost your shrubs says that organic life responds best to red and blue LEDs. The three best colors are red, blue, or UV LED lights and although there is a lot more information about spectrums, wavelengths, and the science behind these lights, those are the three you should concentrate on for your greenhouse.

All plants with green leaves (so the majority) absorb UV, blue and red lights. The other colors in the spectrum, such as yellow and green, are not taken in as well by foliage which means as a LED grow light, they are not effective.

Some gardeners find themselves investing in expensive lights without checking the spectrum first and then don’t see the results that are expected. This is down to the wrong color light being used.

ECO Farm ECOM 480W LM301H Full spectrum LED Grow Light Bars

Features:

The ECO Farm LED Grow Light delivers growers and indoor gardeners the ability to stimulate pre-visibility, boost yields and increase quality all season long. The grow light utilizes Samsung LM301H chip design, to deliver spectacular PPF output up to 2.5 umol/J, The light intensity is higher, the light attenuation is smaller, and the lumen and PAR value are better than ordinary LED. It enables you to obtain a 30% higher output than HPS. This durably constructed LED grow light has 4 bar technology to deliver smooth, even light over the canopy. Remotely mounted driver technology allows for quicker and more efficient heat dissipation. In addition, the plant grow light uses an advanced waterproof power supply, installed in The outside of the lamp is easy to replace. This kind of growth lamp is a full-period lighting solution suitable for all growth environments (including humid environments) and is an ideal choice for greenhouse or indoor lighting.

Model number: ECOM 480
Input voltage: 100–277vac 50/60Hz
KED Brand: Samsung and Osram 
Efficacy: 2.5 umol/J
Lifespan L90: 50,000 hrs
Power factor: >0.95
Operating environment: -40°C to 80°C
Coverage: 4ft*3ft-5ft*4ft
IP Grade: IP65

EYE HORTILUX Ascend LED 450-EVS Grow Light

Features:

Our powerful LED extends the standard LED growing spectrum providing energy outside the PAR range to include ultraviolet (UV) and far-red, promoting stronger plant growth with heavier flowers. The LED 450-EVS was designed to lower the wattage and cost for lighting your veg space. The grow light provides a true full-spectrum, including UV and far-red, all in one fixture. This setup gives your plants the best chance to grow under LED lighting without sacrificing the benefits of natural sunlight. The 450W fixture includes an onboard dimmer for complete output control, wide distribution LEDs for uniform coverage, conformal coating to protect from dust and water, and sturdy construction. Use it for flower or even start-to-finish using the dimmer during veg.

Wattage: 450W
PPF Efficacy 2.1 μmol/Joule
Coverage Area 4 ft. x 4 ft.
Height Above Canopy 18 in.
Dimensions 44.8 in. x 44 in. x 3.9 in.
Distance Between Fixtures** 8 in.
Environmental Protection Designed to meet IP66
Warranty 5-year Limited

How do you use LED grow lights?

LED lights are easy to set up and usually very cheap to buy. While they’re not as powerful as your standard light bulb, groups of LEDs can be clustered together to create a strong enough light for your plants.

They will need to be closer to your plants than other growing lights which are something to bear in mind if you are replacing the lights on your current rigging system.

How long should the lights stay on?

This isn’t too hard to work out; you just need to use the artificial light to replicate what the plant would normally have in its optimal habitat. Look at the information about that plant species to understand where it will thrive. For example, roses need around five to six hours of full sunlight every day so if you are using LEDs to replicate this then they need to be on for a little longer than that as the artificial light isn’t as nourishing.

Most plants should be receiving light for around 14 to 16 hours every day but you should make sure your lighting system is switched off for at least eight hours to give your plants a chance to stop photosynthesizing and to imitate the natural conditions of a day/night cycle as closely as possible.

Common mistakes when using LED grow lights

As mentioned above, there is a lot of misinformation online about using lights to grow plants and this can lead to people making mistakes and causing damage.

One of the most commonly repeated myths is that red light is needed to make your crop flower while blue light makes the whole plant grow. This is untrue as a plant needs both colours of light to grow. Natural light is best, even if gardeners swear by LED lighting, so if there is any way you can get your plant into a natural light source you should. Even putting your plant on the windowsill for a few hours a day can really help it flourish. Direct sunlight is best so if your property only gets indirect sunlight using a LED light system is still a good idea.

Some people also forget to move the lights as the plants get bigger. What may start out as the ideal distance between the top of your shrub and the bottom of the light, which will gradually shorten over time as the leaves reach upwards and the branches grow? Make sure you are measuring the plants’ growth and then adjusting your light setup accordingly.

To make it easier, invest in an adjustable growing light rig that can be moved and tweaked easily as your crops mature.

Conclusion

So if you’re thinking about getting some LED grow lights to boost your plants, then we hope to have given you some valuable information. We recommend using the ECO Farm grow light. This light has red and blue LEDs which are crucial for good growth. It is cheap, comes with a 12-month warranty, and will run for 50,000 hours before it needs replacing. It can also operate for up to 24 hours per day so it will suit any type of vegetation.

Remember to check the color of your LED lights, make sure they are the right strength and are positioned as close to the plants as they need to be, and monitor them regularly as the crops grow. Switch your lights off overnight to give the plants rest and you will soon see your foliage flourishing.