The most basic thing to understand about indoor plant cultivation is that it requires several essential natural elements: air, water, temperature, and light! While all four of these elements are available in outdoor growing systems and occur naturally, the problem with outdoor growing is that growers cannot control them. Essentially, there may be days when the sun is hidden behind clouds, meaning both light and temperature are cut off—sometimes for many days. In addition, long dry spells may occur, and water may become scarce!
Therefore, it is essential for any good “grower” to grow indoors, in a controlled environment, ensuring they can simulate the “best-case scenario” for their plants by providing temperature and light through grow lights, along with the right amount of air and water!
Grow lights- especially LED grow lights are the most important tool because they simulate the natural light and heat that the sun provides to plants. Plants need light and heat to produce pigments and energy through processes such as photosynthesis. This is what allows plants to grow stronger and healthier. Furthermore, especially for indoor plants, grow lights hold another level of importance. Depending on the type of heat and light you provide at each stage, you can somewhat alter the chemical composition of the plant, making indoor-grown plants taste richer or milder! Therefore, learning about grow lights and understanding how they function is essential.
TYPES OF LED GROW LIGHTS
One thing you need to know before you begin growing plants indoors with LEDs is how many types of LED grow lights exist! Below is a detailed breakdown of the main categories.
Diffuse LED Grow Lights
In these types of grow lights, numerous small LEDs are spread across a large surface area. Diffuse LED lights are further divided into two types—quantum boards and spider-style LEDs.
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Quantum Board LEDs use low-power LEDs, are energy-efficient, and are suitable for plants that don’t require too much heat.
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Spider LEDs are also low-power but have a different light distribution. They have a central bar with several “arms” that hold LED diodes. These lights are slightly more expensive but provide better coverage and lighting efficiency than most other LED grow lights used for growing cannabis.
Traditional LED Panels
This is the classic, reliable type of LED light that has been used for a long time! The basic feature of these lights is that they use medium-power LEDs and are slightly more compact than spread-style lights. You will need several panels if you are growing cannabis in moderate to large quantities.
COB LED Grow Lights
COB stands for Chip on Board. Instead of using many small diodes, COB grow lights typically use large LED bulbs. They are known for delivering intense light and heat and have become increasingly popular among growers! They are often manufactured in arrays, where multiple COBs are combined to provide the strongest possible light and heat output. There is also a type called AutoCOB, which essentially uses a single bulb.
Phlizon 1000W CREE COB LED Grow Light
This light has a bright red color, a complete contrast to the pale-colored panels from other manufacturers.
It is slightly more powerful than 3W chip panels because it uses 110 pieces of 5W LEDs. All optics are made from high-quality glass and focused at a 90-degree angle. In addition, the light includes two 15W UV-B bulbs to promote plant growth during the flowering stage. This panel operates cool and quiet thanks to its built-in fan and comes with a 3-year warranty. California Lightworks has always been a very reputable brand in the LED community, so you will definitely be satisfied with this choice.
ECO Farm 1200W CREE COB LED Grow Light
This brand has been on the market for a long time, making installation easy for most people (they’ve been around for more than 7 years and are well known in the industry). This is certainly one of the most energy-efficient lights compared to some of the others we tested (especially the cheaper ones). We used this light in a 3×3 canopy and it performed very well because the light could penetrate every open space.
This light has a switch that allows you to toggle between the veg/flower modes, making it one of the best options for compact spaces. It can also be used for medium-sized grow areas, making it extremely versatile. It provides a full spectrum of blue, red, and white for both vegetative growth and flowering.
ECO Farm LED grow lights are truly high-quality.
Why Choose Full-Spectrum LED Grow Lights?
Now let’s take a closer look at full-spectrum LED grow lights and why they are an excellent choice if you plan to grow cannabis indoors. We will also examine some of the advantages of using full-spectrum LEDs.
A typical grow light is basically composed of two spectrums—red and blue. You can recognize this by observing these lights because they emit a slightly reddish-blue tint. Although many lights contain a balanced mix of the two, you can usually identify which color is dominant if you look long enough. Photosynthesis works perfectly between these two spectrums, which is why most lights contain red and blue.
However, plants need more than just photosynthesis, and grow lights need more than just red and blue light. This is where full-spectrum LED grow lights come in!
Full-spectrum LEDs include all wavelengths, including infrared and ultraviolet. Essentially, the final light output is white.
Simply put, full-spectrum LEDs allow you to mimic sunlight as closely as possible, which is beneficial for plant development, supports optimal photosynthesis, and encourages the production of various pigments essential for healthy growth. In addition, the focused light and heat can also help you fine-tune the plant’s flavor—something cannabis growers love! Now, let’s look at some advantages of full-spectrum LEDs compared to standard LED grow lights:
- Compared to LEDs that offer only red and blue wavelengths, full-spectrum LEDs tend to produce more photons, which is excellent for plant growth.
- This is the closest you can get to recreating natural sunlight in a controlled environment, and plants benefit greatly from the different wavelengths.
- These lights run cooler than traditional LEDs, so you don’t need additional cooling systems like extra fans.
- Red and blue work for specific growth stages, but full-spectrum LEDs are essentially an all-in-one solution for every stage of cannabis growth.
- These lights do not flicker and do not require a light stabilizer, making them ideal for anyone growing cannabis indoors because they provide stable, continuous lighting.
Final Thoughts
The best cheap LED grow lights allow us to garden indoors and in greenhouses year-round. Grow lights simulate natural sunlight and use the correct color spectrum to promote photosynthesis, helping plants thrive indoors. LED grow lights are energy-efficient, durable, and full-spectrum, and in this article we cover the best LED grow lights for indoor and greenhouse cultivation.
Explore more grow lights, accessories, and more on our page in here: LED Grow Lights.