Do LED Lights Really Help Plants Grow?

Cannabis cultivation is a rapidly growing and changing world. Growers are continually seeking ways to optimize yields, potency, and plant health. One of the most significant technological advancements in recent times is the utilization and progression of LED grow lights.

These lights have revolutionized indoor cannabis growing by providing a customizable light spectrum, reducing energy consumption, and promoting faster, healthier plant growth.

Do LED Lights Really Help Plants Grow?

Can LED lights be used as grow lights? The short answer is Yes!

LED grow lights are now the preferred lighting solution in most commercial grow facilities. Their ability to mimic the exact spectrum of sunlight ensures that plants receive the optimal conditions for growth all year round when they're grown indoors. LEDs not only help maximize yields, but also offer a range of benefits with minimal drawbacks, making them an excellent choice for both commercial and home growers.

Pros and Cons of Using LED Grow Lights

PROS

Are LED lights good for your plants? The answer is obvious. Here're some benefits they offer:

Electrical Usage: By consuming much less electricity compared to HID or other types of lights, they're deemed as a highly cost-effective choice.
Growing Conditions: LED lights operate at a much cooler temperature than other lighting solutions available. This creates better growing conditions, helping plants grow faster and healthier, and reducing the need for expensive cooling systems.
Versatility: One major benefit of LED lights is their versatility in light spectrum. They can be customized to provide specific wavelengths of light suitable for specific stages of growth, which in turn promotes optimal photosynthesis.
Longevity: LED lights and their components last much longer. There is no longer any need for regular bulb replacement.
Maintenence: LEDs require minimal upkeep—simply keeping them clean is often the only maintenance needed.

CONS

In the meantime, while using LED lights for growing your plants, here are a few important considerations to keep in mind:

Higher Upfront Cost: While LEDs save money in the long run due to their energy efficiency and longevity, the initial investment can be higher compared to traditional lighting systems.
Light Penetration: Lower-powered LED lights may have reduced light penetration compared to HPS lights. This can make it difficult to reach the lower parts of plants in dense canopies unless you invest in higher-quality, more powerful LEDs.
Learning Curve: For growers accustomed to traditional lighting systems, switching to LEDs might require adjustments in terms of distance, light cycles, and intensity settings, and environmental conditions. Improper use can hinder plant growth if not carefully managed.

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How to Choose the Ideal Grow Light for Cannabis Plants?

LED lights can really help your plants grow when you get the right one. There are 4 MAJOR considerations when choosing a LED grow light:

1. Growth Stages of Your Plants & Light Intensity They Need

First things first, you should consider what type/stage of cannabis plants you're growing under your chosen light. Are we talking about cannabis grow lights for veg-stage plants? Or Flowering plants? Maybe both?

During the veg stage, your plants need low to mid intensity light, with more blue in the spectrum. Why? Plants have evolved to grow towards the blue of the sky, which houses natural light - the sun! This phenomenon is known as positive phototropism: the plant's natural tendency to grow toward light by transporting hormones to its shaded areas, promoting cell elongation and causing the plant to bend toward the light source.

When it's time for flowering, things change a bit. Your cannabis plants crave intense light and a spectrum that leans towards the red side. The red light helps them form those beautiful flowers, while telling them: "Hey, stop growing stems and leaves, it's time to get busy with the bloom!"

If you need a grow light for both stages, you better go for a full spectrum light that lets you adjust the intensity.

2. Size of Your Grow Area

Hey abby Samsung LED lights help cannabis plants grow

Image via Hey abby grower @Wiccn

Now, let's "shed some light" on another critical factor: the size of your grow area.

If you're working with a confined or smaller space, you need a grow light that can deliver the right intensity and spectrum without turning your grow area into a sauna, or having to add in active ventilation and cooling systems.

LED fixtures is the go-to choice for many of these scenarios. That's because they feature high-intensity output while keeping heat generation to a minimum. This is especially important for micro-growers; who often struggle to control temperature in spaces lacking A/C, air exchange, and comprehensive HVACcontrols.

LED lights have a direct beam of light with minimal spread. This might not be a concern for growers with small spaces, but it's something worth noticing when building grow rooms. In fact, even many commercial grow facilities and greenhouses have made the switch to LED lights thanks to their low energy consumption, high-intensity output, and ease of environmental control.

3. Energy Efficiency

Speaking of energy consumption, it's also a factor you should take into account. LED lights take the crown in terms of efficiency. They boast an incredible ability to convert electricity into light with minimal waste. Unlike double-ended (DE) or traditional high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting, you don't need to worry about LED lights wasting energy or expelling energy as heat.

Most HPS and DE fixtures operate at 1000 watts, while LED lights with similar or even higher PPFD output typically run at 500-600 watts. That allows growers to position LED lights much closer to the canopy, and brings better light utilization and more balanced canopy development. However, placing DE-HPS lights less than 2 feet away from the canopy would leave your plants scorched and damaged.

LED lights for growing cannabis prove to be the most cost-effective option. Their efficient performance minimizes the need for HVAC systems and extensive environmental interventions. By requiring less equipment and resources, LED lights also contribute to lower energy bills.

4. Budget

A cannabis grow light is a long-term investment. While it can be tempting to opt for the cheapest option, investing in a higher-quality one within your budget often provides a more reliable and durable lighting solution for your cannabis plants.

CFL lights are the most budget-friendly option, which typically range from $10 to $50 per bulb or fixture. HID lights are also relatively affordable; with a price anywhere between $50 and $300. As we said before, LED lights always come with a higher initial cost. Entry-level LED designed for small-scale setups might cost $50 to $200. If you need higher-end LED lights, the range can go from $200 to over $1000.