When it comes to planting growth and production, there’s one variable that no farmer should take for granted. Light is the most vital factor that will determine how plants develop and grow. If you’re planning on doing some commercial farming or are already engaged in it, you should know that the use of LED grow lights is a big advantage for you and your plants.
People have different reasons as to why they choose a specific kind of LED to grow light. These could range from changing their plant’s photoperiod or increasing lighting levels when their plants are photosynthesizing.
Led lights are gaining popularity amongst commercial farmers and especially for commercial farming with the use of greenhouses.
LED Pros
- Energy efficient
- Easy to install
- Are durable
- Last longer
- Emit less heat
- Are energy efficient
LED Cons
- They cost more initially.
- Some might be heavy, especially if they come with heat sinks.
- Use is limited
- A single light cannot cover a large area.
- If the environment gets too hot, their efficiency may be reduced.
Before you choose a specific LED grow light, there are many factors you need to consider, such as the cost, energy emission, durability, amount of light produced, and its effects on the growth and development of your plants.
Functionality and Design
There are three main design types when it comes to the structure of LEDs. These are:
- Lead wire
- High powered and
- Surface mounted LEDs
All of these design types, however, are all mounted onto a circuit board. LEDs work the same way computer chips work. The best thing about LEDs is that they can work almost 50,000 hours, and they don’t burn out, so you don’t have to worry about replacing a diode at a time.
The life expectancy of LEDs depends on the material used to build them, their design, and how much heat they release. The heat produce by the LEDs doesn’t leave through the surface but is instead emitted through the heat sink. This, in turn, allows for plants to get closer to the light without getting burnt.
When you use LEDs, you are guaranteed fewer carbon emissions since they are more efficient. Ultimately, you incur reduced operational costs.
Devices and Bulb Types
There are different types of LED grow lights for use in horticulture, and each one of these tiny bulbs is useful to plants in different seasons. One of the latest kinds, flowering plants, is almost the same as incandescent lamps.
Different bulb types are:
- Tubular
- Bulged reflectors and miniature types
Quality of Light and Emission
To get white light, different color combinations are used together. Typically, LEDs produce colored and white light. Sometimes, different color combinations such as red, ultraviolet, yellow, green, and blue are mixed to get the white light. Light pollution is reduced by the phosphor material that coats LEDs. Additionally, one of the best features of LED grows lights is that the composition of light can be tuned to meet the different requirements for plants at different periods.
Your LED’s type grows light will determine the wavelengths and can be from 250nm (UV) TO 1,000NM (infrared) and sometimes more. This is referred to the light quality. Most plants will require a wavelength of between 400 to 700nm. Different types of lights are useful for specific purposes. For example, blue light is great for the production of chlorophyll and will encourage healthy foliage. On the other hand, red light encourages flowering and growth.
