ECO Farm DBL3000 Full Spectrum LED Grow Light 320W VS LEX Grow Mini 300W Commercial LED Grow Light

 Everyone knows plants need light to grow, but not all light sources are the same. Growing lights allow you to cultivate beautiful indoor plants in any climate, any time of year. There are many different types of grow lights that are all specifically designed to stimulate photosynthesis and help your plants grow.

Which bulb type is best?

Grow lights come in a variety of types that range in price and longevity.

LED
LED or light emitting diode bulbs are the most effective at producing light and the most efficient to operate of all the home grow lights. They last up to five times longer than many other bulbs and have come down so much in price, there’s little reason not to choose them if you’re looking for a long-term, sustainable and non-toxic option. Choose a full spectrum LED bulb for your desk lamp or grow fixture, or opt for one of the many red-blue light combinations available for specific plant needs.

Compact fluorescent
These bulbs are less efficient than LEDs, making them more expensive to run. While they’re less expensive to purchase up front, they have a shorter lifespan and contain mercury, which can be released as vapor if broken. If using compact fluorescents, choose full spectrum for a broad range of plant needs.

Halogen
While not the best choice for growing plants, halogens are brighter than standard incandescent bulbs and can meet some of a plant’s requirements for light. Given that they produce light farther along the red spectrum, they lack the blue light needed for healthy growth. However, if combined with other types of light, they can contribute to overall requirements. Keep in mind that halogens get quite hot when activated, so take care to avoid burned and damaged leaves.

Incandescent
Incandescent bulbs are not well suited to growing plants indoors. When turned on, they get quite hot, meaning they need to be placed some distance away from your plants, which reduces their effectiveness. They also produce light farther along the red spectrum. Finally, they’re inefficient and cost more to operate.

ECO Farm DBL3000 Full Spectrum LED Grow Light 320W

Features:

The ECO Farm LED Grow Light uses 864 Samsung LM281B diodes, has a market leading efficiency of 2.5 µmol/J, a maximum yield of 2.5g/watt, and an average PPFD increase of 30%, which is more cost-effective than other similar lights. Consuming only 320W, it perfectly covers the 3x3 growth space. The waterproof wide 4-LED light bar provides more even canopy coverage, and the strip light design and aluminum on the back contribute to better airflow and good heat dissipation. This LED grow light is very suitable for commercial LED grow light, DBL3000 dimmable grow light with daisy chain, can connect up to 15 lights, the master light provides great convenience for your planting! With Enhanced High Intensity Spectrum (480pcs 3000K Warm White LED, 188pcs 5000K White LED, 192pcs 660nm Deep Red LED) Ideal for Vegetable Blossom, Light for Density Buds, Widely Applicable for Full Cycle Commercial, Home, Grow Tent, grow room, hydroponics, soil growing.

LEX Grow Mini 300W Commercial LED Grow Light

Features:

The Lex Grow LED grow light puts off a high intensity full spectrum light designed to replace any 600w HPS on the market with a highly efficient alternative. Using only 300 watts, this light is perfect for growers looking to cover larger areas while conserving valuable resources. The Lex Grow Mini 300 Watt Premium Commerical and Home LED Grow Light offers a coverage area of 3' x 3' for flower footprint and a 4' x 4' coverage for veg footprint. The Lex Grow Mini was engineered to meet the needs of dedicated home growers. Lex understands the desire to reduce high power consumption and reduce the need re replace bulbs and lower heat output. The Lex Grow line take care of those issues. Coming in at over 2.5 PPF/Watt, the Lex Grow is the a highly efficient LED grow light.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best LED Grow Lights

The following sections detail some of the most important qualities to keep in mind when shopping for the best LED grow lights for your needs.

Power
It’s a bit difficult to compare LED grow lights because manufacturers use a variety of metrics to measure the power of their lights and the amount of light they emit. The brightness of LED lights is measured in lumens. Seedlings require approximately 2,000 lumens per square foot to thrive, while flowering plants may need as much as 10,000 lumens.

While lumens measure visible light, biologists often use photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) or photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) to measure light intensity in terms of the light that indoor plants will actually absorb. PPF is measured in μmol/second (or micromoles per second), which is the number of photons of light emitted every second. PPFD is also measured in micromole/m2/s and measures the density of light distributed per square meter per second. The higher the PPF and PPFD, the more effective the light should be.

Heat Output
One of the risks when using a grow light is that the heat emitted by the bulbs can damage your plants. However, LED lights give off very little heat relative to the amount of light they produce. But they do produce some heat, so many models are equipped with built-in cooling systems to ensure proper temperature regulation.

Some LED lights have aluminum heat sinks, and others come equipped with fans. A unit with a fan might be loud, so factor noise level into your choice when selecting a grow light.

Coverage and Wattage
To choose the right plant grow light, you’ll first need to establish how much coverage you need. To do this, group the plants together and measure the square footage they take up. Most grow lights will clearly list the coverage they provide.

To establish how much electricity a light uses, look for its “actual power draw” or “actual power consumption.” This is measured in watts and gives a good indication of the light’s power. Bulb wattage is not a good indicator because LEDs are designed to be energy efficient.

Connectivity
Many LED grow lights are designed to link to other units to cover larger areas, which is typically referred to as “daisy-chain connectivity.” Products with this capability simply plug into each other and then plug into one outlet, which minimizes the number of cords required for setup.

Tips for growing plants under lights

Group together plants with similar lighting needs so they can benefit from the same amount of light.

Purchase grow lights that will fit into your regular light fixtures to help reduce costs. Desk lamps work well for houseplants. Tube lights work well for seedlings and groupings of plants.

Choose lights with adjustable intensities and/or spectrums. Alternatively, choose a grow light with a slightly warmer spectrum for a cozy, ambient light in your home.

Set your grow lights on a timer so your plants get the right amount of light every day. Many grow lights come with a built-in timer. If they don’t, use a plug-in timer to achieve consistent, regular light.

Conclusion

Your gardening hobby doesn’t need to end when the weather turns cold. You can have a thriving indoor garden as long as you have enough space and the proper tools. Grow lights are essential for indoor gardening, and with this guide, your plant babies will grow, flourish, and yield fruit, even without the light of the sun.