Phlizon Pro Series 2000 Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights VS Grow-It-LED Excalibur King Series 200W Veg LED Grow Light

 Anyone who’s tried growing plants from seed knows that proper lighting is critical to producing an abundance of stocky, green seedlings. For those of us lucky enough to have a south-facing window with 12+ hours of full sun, lighting isn’t an issue. But for the rest of us, an indoor lighting system of some kind is a necessity.

This primer on indoor lighting for seed starting will help you choose the options that work best for you.

Best Grow Light Distance For Seedlings?

When plants are young, at the seedling stage, their energy requirements are typically pretty low. Some varieties of edible plants actually prefer complete darkness to germinate. More on that here. And where to buy grow light bulbs near me?

Generally speaking though, any window that has a decent amount of light coming through it is going to provide ample light for seed starting. If natural light isn’t an option for you, then don’t get too hung up on grow light placement — just use whatever you have and make sure it is no closer than the ‘lettuce’ recommendations below for grow light distance from seedlings.

How Do Plants Use Wavelengths?

The color of the light (or wavelengths of light) is exceptionally important for plants. There is still a surprising amount of debate about this, but plants use all of the wavelengths of visible light, including blue light, red light, green colors (although some growers will tell you differently), and more. There is even value to the non-visible light, such as the far-red and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum.

If we want to know the best light for plants, start by looking in the sky. The sun emits the entire spectrum of light. This is what we call full-spectrum light or direct sunlight. LED grow lights, specifically, can mimic this type of light, which is why we often credit them as having the proper spectrum of light for plants.

Most indoor plants flourish in full-spectrum bulbs (also called white light), which produce a balance of cool and warm light that simulates the sun. Seedlings, houseplants, culinary herbs, and a variety of other plants thrive with them.

The blue spectrum, in general, promotes the development of leaves, stems, and overall vegetative growth. Red wavelengths promote flower development, making it crucial for fruit-bearing plants. However, there is a wealth of information available on the unique advantages of red and blue lights. Some of it is also deceptive.

Phlizon Pro Series 2000 Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights

Features:

Compared with other grow light, the outstanding feature of this Phlizon grow light is that it has a larger irradiation area. This is not only due to SMD lamp beads, but also because of its special appearance design. It contains 1152pcs led beads and itself has a large area . The all-aluminum alloy design also makes it lighter and easy to use. Newest high efficient SMD leds , higher light intensity, less light decay , better lumens and PAR values than ordinary lamp beads. It runs at a lower temperature and can bring higher energy conversion and longer life. This waterproof grow light is a full-cycle lighting solution for all growing environments. The intensity of light can be adjusted according to the needs of plants. The leds are all new technology SMD leds, It contains 720pcs SMD led beads , including 704pcs 3000K leds , 256pcs 6000K leds,176pcs 660nm red led,16pcs IR leds.

Grow-It-LED Excalibur King Series 200W Veg LED Grow Light

Features:

The LED grow light comes in the spectrum packages you need to offer both tiered pricing and spectrum options. These LED grow lights features a passively cooled design that provides completely silent operation. Each LED is under-driven for increased efficiency and longevity so you can expect 100,000 hours of life from this system. Each spectrum is itself an excellent option, depending on your specific needs. Even the lowest priced option can easily replace a 300w MH grow light and still produce a product that is far better than anything you’ll get from an HPS fixture. UV to IR grow lights utilize new technology to leverage growing techniques such as the Emerson effect for quicker flowering times — UV is also an excellent addition due to its known properties for increasing oil production and terpene profiles.

How Many LED Grow Lights Do I Need?

How many grow lights you need boils down to how many plants you need to cover within an intended space. Generally, grow tents come pre-fabricated in grow light sizes (or multiples thereof). This makes the calculation easy. For example, a 2' x 2'5" ECO Farm Grow Tent will fit one 2' x 2' LED grow light.

If the solution isn’t as clear as grow tent size, estimate how large your veg and flower canopies will be. This is based on the number of plants, pruning and training techniques used, and grow space. Next, determine the size options for your chosen grow light (ex: 2'x 2', 5' x 5', 6' x 6'), and aim to buy a single bigger fixture instead of several smaller ones.

As you expand your grow space, the calculations get more complicated. For larger grows, these basic calculations may need modifications. Work with the grow light manufacturer to develop individual schematics for commercial spaces.

What is the Best Spectrum to Grow Cannabis Indoors?

Plants require a specific spectrum to create energy through the process of photosynthesis. This spectrum is called PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation). This range falls between 400 to 700 nanometers (nm).

Each stage of your indoor grow needs a slightly different application of light. The vegetative stage needs substantially more blue than red. The blue and white spectrum will encourage bushier plants, with lots of internodial development.

Flower, on the other hand, requires a deeper red spectrum, which is partially how cannabis knows it’s time to switch between the stages. Boost the red as high as you can during flower to increase yields.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing Grow Lights for Your Plants

Seasonal changes or lack of windows can make it tricky to provide enough light to your houseplants or cultivate a wide variety of plants at any climate and during any time of the year. Grow lights are specially designed to substitute natural sunlight. They help to stimulate photosynthesis by providing the correct color spectrum needed for the plant to grow and flourish. The right light fixture or bulb enables you to savor delicious tomatoes in the dead of winter or enjoy the aesthetics of beautiful violets year-round. Different varieties of Grow lights have their strengths and characteristics. Here’s a list of factors to consider before choosing Grow Lights for your plants.

1. Color (Light Photosynthetic Spectrum)
Light spectrum measured in nanometers is helpful to know the wavelength of lights. We use different nanometres ranges for different growth phases of plants. Certain types of bulbs filter out the rays in the spectrum needed by your plants. Indoor plants need a light spectrum, ranging between 400–700 nanometres, also known as Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR). This rating is mentioned on the packaging of the bulbs. A 2700K bulb will be a good starting point for flowers but is not high enough for growing vegetables, which requires a 6500K bulb and is a wide-spectrum option.

2. Intensity
Plants are exposed to a certain amount of light. It depends on the kind of light, the strength of the bulb, and the position of the lights.

3. Duration
Photoperiod means the duration of time in which a plant receives enough light; day length. It is the developmental responses of plants to the relative durations of light and dark periods. Plants need 16–18 hours of exposure to external light each day to grow. More exposure doesn’t necessarily improve plant growth at any rate. Plants that indicate photoperiodism that use day length to trigger blooming should be exposed to under 12–14 hours of light in the stage of flowering. The cycle of darkness that follows should, however, be uninterrupted to form fruit and flowers well. A timer should ideally be used to control the duration.

4. Plant Kind and Growth Phase
Various kinds of plants may require different light intensities. Forest plants typically don’t need the same amount of light as tropical plants originating from a hot sunny climate need. Additionally, the amount of lights plants need are not the same at different phases of their growth. Of course, a full-spectrum grow light can aid in all stages of plant growth.

5. Placements
Correct placement of light is very vital for your indoor plants to induce photosynthesis. It is also crucial to choose the appropriate light with the best intensity and a supplemental light source to extend daylight. Additionally, full-cycle lighting in a space without any natural light should also be considered before choosing Grow Lights. Hot bulbs can burn plants and ruin the crop. In essence, plants placed far away from light absorb little heat. Typically, each square foot of the growing area of indoor plants needs 30–50 watts.

6. Cost
Small bulbs can be obtained for cheap, while large operations to set up a light source for growing plants can cost thousands of dollars.

Conclusion

It’s an undeniable fact that plants grown in greenhouses yield a greater harvest when they’re provided healthy amounts of photosynthetic light. You’ll wind up with more leafy greens and larger, juicier fruit when your plants receive the light they need.

With that said, when winter arrives, the amount of sunlight decreases. Many geographic locations see a significant dip in photosynthetic light in the colder months. For those who want to grow and harvest year-round, a grow lighting system that can supplement natural sunlight is an investment that makes sense.