how to choose the right grow lights
“SEVERAL
ADVANTAGES
HAVE MADE
LEDS THE TOP
LIGHTING CHOICE
FOR MODERN
INDOOR AND
GREENHOUSE
GROWERS.”
LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES
Light-emitting diodes are
a type of lighting that use
semiconductors. An LED is a
device that emits light as one
specific wavelength when energy
passes through it. Two types of
materials, each a different kind of
semiconductor, are joined to create
the diode. As energy passes through
the device from one semiconductor to
the other, a mismatch charges results
in an excess of energy. This excess
energy is emitted as light.
Several advantages have made LEDs the top lighting
choice for modern indoor and greenhouse growers. Diodes
can be sorted and chosen per light, allowing growers to
hone in on one specific spectrum for their crops. Lack of a
filament and moving parts and a longer lifespan mean less
troubleshooting and fewer replacements. Finally, LEDs typi-
cally produce 30-50 per cent less heat than other lights. This
benefit is incredibly important to energy costs, heat removal,
and light lifespan.
Because the semiconductor industry has grown so much
in the last three years, and since the demand for high-effi-
ciency grow lights has been so important, the LED industry
had the perfect opportunity to grow. As a result, the cost of
LEDs has come down significantly.
Although LEDs are becoming more accessible, the great-
est obstacle between growers and LEDs is cost. For growers
trying to make a short-term return on investment on a small
farm investment before expanding, LEDs might not be the
best option. For long-game growers, however, LEDs are
usually the best choice.
Light-emitting diode lights belong to a rapidly growing
industry with continually decreasing costs. Benefits such as
ruggedness (LEDs are solid state), efficiency, dropping cost
of manufacturing, low operating costs, and spectrum speci-
ficity tip the scales in favor of LEDs for indoor growers, even
despite higher upfront costs.
62
feature