Best Small Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights For Indoor Plants 2022

 When gardening in enclosed spaces, you must rely on other light sources. LED grow lights are perfect if you decide you want a garden but don’t have outdoor space. These indoor grow lights create a plant-friendly environment that allows you to be the gardener you’ve always wanted to be.

But choosing the right light for your specific growth needs can be difficult. LED grow lights all work by providing different types of light that provide the same benefits as sunlight, but they each have unique features to consider. Whether you want to grow succulents in your bedroom or a full range of vegetables in your kitchen, there are a variety of grow lights to suit your specific needs.

What kinds of grow lights are there and what do they do?

In addition to the most common LED and fluorescent options, you may also encounter high-intensity discharge or HID grow lights. These usually tubular lights include MH (metal halide) grow lights and HPS (high pressure sodium) grow lights, some of the market's most powerful lights. MH lights tend towards the blue end of the spectrum, while HPS grow lights tend to be more yellow or red.

However, these color temperatures are not unique to MH and HPS grow lights. You can also find fluorescent and LED grow lights specifically for blue or red light. But different colors are not for aesthetics. Here’s how cool and warm color temperatures affect plant growth when used in grow lights:

Blue light is the most efficient absorbing spectrum and is therefore more suitable for growing green leafy crops and properly cultivating plants in the vegetative stage, as it helps build structural growth and promotes peak chlorophyll absorption. The vegetative stage — or, the period between plant germination and flowering — is a busy time for plants as they perform photosynthesis and gather all the resources they need to germinate and flower and carry out the plant reproductive cycle. (You can think of it as the plant world’s equivalent of “nesting” during human pregnancy.)

On the other hand, red light is generally ideal for actively bearing and flowering plants because it helps regulate their growth and development. These grow lights can increase the rate of photosynthesis and even extend flowering time. While red light is necessary for plant growth, you don’t want to have plants in red light 100% of the time, as this will make them stretch out and have a more elongated appearance.

Fortunately, there is a happy medium between the two. Some grow light manufacturers have made lights with both blue and red bulbs — a combination that successfully promotes blooming without overdoing it.

You may also see references to “full spectrum” and “broad spectrum”. Full-spectrum grow lights most closely mimic natural sunlight, including invisible wavelengths such as infrared and ultraviolet. Alternatively, broad-spectrum grow lights emit the same full spectrum as the sun, except without the UV rays.

ECO Farm FLD 320W Full Spectrum Dimmable LED Grow Lights

Features:

Equipped with SMD 3030 chip, this ECO Farm LED grow light has a maximum yield of 2.5 grams per watt, 30% higher average PPFD, and 50% higher yield and quality compared to other similar lights. Consumes only 320W. This LED grow light has a Yield Max spectrum (3000k, 6000k, 660nm red, 730nm IR LED), which can make the light more uniform, truly simulate the sunlight, and perfectly meet the entire growth cycle of all plants from seed to harvest, including Medicinal plants, flowers, vegetables, etc. Newly designed fast heat dissipation material aluminium with 4 slim cooling strips, produces less heat and saves 50% energy than other old grow lights! The whole plant grow lights are waterproof. No need to worry about wet growing conditions. LED grow lights can be folded 180°, easy to install and move.

Mars Hydro FC-E 3000 300W LED Grow Light

Features:

MARS HYDRO LED grow light with 1184 BridgeLux diodes, market-leading 2.8 µmol/J PPE, max 2.5g yield/watt, 300 watts, smaller footprint, better crop quality and more cost-effective. 3x3 feet for personal planting and 2.5x2.5 feet for commercial planting. Built-in removable rod spacing and disabling allow precise dynamic PPFD control for each plant growth stage, the FC-E3000’s easy-to-install removable rods provide uniform, adjustable PPFD levels throughout the plant canopy, ideal for more uniform densities bud.

Neocision Spectra Explorer 340W LED Grow Light-BVV

Features:

This BVV grow light is designed for a full grow cycle with maximized red for increased photosynthesis, and effectively promotes plant leaves, stem growth, and flower yield. The full spectrum, infinite close to natural sun light, is suitable for all stages of indoor growth of all plants, accelerating flowering time and increasing yield! Ideal for 2’ x 4’ tent environments for increased consistency and yield. Using the most advanced SMD LED technology, to provide high PAR output, high energy efficiency and long life while improving light transmission. Comparable to a traditional 600W HPS or CMH light. Save up to 70% on your electricity bill.

Buyer’s Guide

Before buying LED grow lights, read the buying guide below to learn about the important factors that will help you make an informed buying decision.

Coverage
Grow lights can often measure how much plant and flowering cover they provide. Be sure to choose lights that match the coverage and type of coverage you need.

Watts
The wattage of a grow light determines the amount of light it produces. Different plants need different amounts of light, so don’t just choose the highest wattage lights. Instead, match the wattage to the plants you’re growing. For example, if you’re growing tomatoes, choose grow lights that provide about 32 watts of light per square foot.

Adjustability
Several functions of your LED grow light should be adjustable.

Color

Plants need a different color of light at each step of the growth cycle. The best LED grow lights are available in red, blue and white options.

Brightness

In addition to color adjustability, LED grow lights often have knobs for adjusting the brightness of the bulbs.

Proximity

You can also adjust the distance of the lights from the plants by lengthening or shortening the ropes or chains that hang them.

Install
Plant lights are usually mounted on the ceiling with chains or ropes. This installation process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.

Conclusion

There are many possibilities for indoor lights suitable for indoor plants. The most efficient lights for indoors are LEDs because they are the most energy-efficient, emit minimal or no heat and provide full spectrum lighting.
 
Another feature to look out for is an automatic timer that ensures your plants get adequate lighting.

There is also this list of top lighting options for houseplants. Are you using interior lights? If you have a favorite not listed, please share it with us. I’d love to hear about other lights that can help our beloved plants reach their full potential.