A grow light is an artificial light source, that is designed for stimulating the growth of plant by emittance of electromagnetic spectrum required for photosynthesis. Usually, it is used in indoor plant growing where there is less source of naturally occurring light or there is high need of supplemental light. It provides a spectrum of light similar to sun.
There are different types of grow lights like incandescent fluorescents, high-density discharge lamps and light emitting diodes. Before LED technology, high-pressure sodium and metal halide were largely used for indoor growing but now-a- days, spectrum king full spectrum LEDs are replacing these because of their high efficiency and less economy. They provide more than everyday illumination. The light produced by LEDs is duplicate sunlight. HPS and fluorescent lights are less efficient and they were not matching the growing needs of plants. Today’s growers have realized that LED grow lights are extremely useful in growing healthy and fresh plants in all season. LEDs full spectrum usually produce wavelength in the range 380 to 779nm, that includes wavelengths visible to human eye and ultraviolet and infrared light.
Some of the factors that shows the efficacy of LEDs are:
Excellent light quality with high yields
LEDs helps in supplying varied range of light inputs according to the need of the plants. With LEDs, grower can easily use spectrums of light to match the requirement of their plants. These helps in stopping production of unwanted light that is ineffective.
Stimulates plant growth that is uniform
LEDs grow light produce narrow spectrum wavelengths that is easily absorbed by plants. During the vegetative stage, which is one of the important phase of plant development, plant needs a right light intensity for stimulating their growth. Almost all traditional grow light cannot produce uniform light and produce from a single point on the bulb, that becomes too intense on plants closer to the bulb. On the other hand, plants which are farther distance receives less light. But in the other hand LEDs produce same amount of light from all its point, which ensures uniform distribution of lights to all the plants of indoor set up.
LEDs are eco-friendly
Grow lights like HPS and metal halide emit large amount of heat, if it is used for long hours, thereby increasing the indoor temperature and humidity. This in turn requires an additional set up for ventilation for cooling the environment. But in contrast full spectrum LEDs have very less thermal outputs, thus not increasing the temperature and humidity of indoor atmosphere. Most of the LEDs have fans for cooling and capturing the bugs and moisture from humidifiers.
Saving energy and total lifespan
As we all know during indoor growing, there is constant requirement of lighting for plant
growth. Therefore, energy consumption and lifetime of bulb plays a vital role. LEDs consumes very less energy and are highly efficient. HPS light requires 100 watts to produce the intensity required for growth, while in other hand LED produce same intensity with 450 watts. They also last very long and can function for a long time without replacement or upgradation. Though it is little costlier than other traditional grow lights, but in return you will get less energy consumption and a long-lasting bulb.
Design flexibility and placement
Another major problem that indoor grower face while setting up their garden, is installation of these grow lights. LED lights are comparatively very smaller and can be easily placed. Cultivators can easily install different LED lights according to their own requirements.
As you can see all the above mentioned benefits are quite subjective and it is full guaranteed that your productivity of indoor growing will improve a lot by using full-spectrum.