ECO Farm ECOD Samsung UV+ IR 640W Dimmable LED Grow Light VS Optic LED Slim 650S Dimmable LED Grow Light 650w
Winter is here. The days are shorter. Depending on where you live, the sun might be setting as early as 4:30 p.m. The early darkness can sometimes make you feel a little down, and the same goes for your plants.
Maybe you moved your plants inside for the winter or you’ve been noticing your plant that was so happy by the window is now showing signs of sadness.
While there are certain changes you should make to your plant care routine in the winter, it might also be a good idea to invest in some grow lights.
But first, which grow light is right for your plant? Here’s a look at the top three grow lights you can find on the market today.
Fluorescent grow lights: Fluorescent grow lights (T5, T8, T12 tubes and CFLs) are less popular than HID and LED grow lights, but they are a good, cheap option. If you’re just growing a couple of plants and looking for supplemental light, a regular ol’ CFL can work. If you have enough plants to warrant getting a tube, a T5 can be a good option. These are also good for starting seeds or growing herbs. The light intensity is not very strong, so the plant likely won’t flower under this kind of light, but it’s better than no light at all.
Fluorescent grow lights and LED lights won’t burn your plants, so you can hang them fairly close to your plants without fear.
LED (light emitting diode) grow lights: An LED Grow Light is the most popular option for many reasons: It consumes very little power and produces very little heat, and it lasts a long time. That means you can provide some supplemental light for your plants while remaining relatively unbothered in your space. Also, you can adjust some LED Grow Lights to show more red or more blue light depending on your plant’s needs (blue light promotes foliage growth, while red light promotes flowering).
HID (high intensity discharge) grow lights: If you start going down the grow light rabbit hole, you’ll find a lot of research on these ultra bright and very effective grow lights. But for the average houseplant owner, you are unlikely to need the HID option — they’re far more intense than is required for your collection.
Grow Light Spectrum
The light spectrum referred to when discussing indoor grow lights isn’t visible to the naked eye. The light spectrum refers to the wavelengths of light produced by the source to promote growth. Different colors, therefore, promote different growth.
Violet/blue light ranges between 400 and 500 photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and is ideal for new growth.
Green light ranges between 500 and 600 PAR, ideal for thick growth.
Red light ranges between 600 and 700 PAR and fosters late-stage growth and flowering.
Far red light is 700 PAR and above and is often used to speed flowering.
Promote growth by rotating your lights based on the age and stage of your plants. Or use an integrated bulb that combines several lights.
For general growth, a balanced red-to-blue light ratio of 3-to-1 is great for leafy greens and herbs, as both produce chlorophyll A and B.
Reproductive plants will thrive in a 6-to-1 red-to-blue light ratio designed specifically for the needs of flowering or fruit-bearing plants
ECO Farm ECOD Samsung UV+ IR 640W Dimmable LED Grow Light
Features:
The ECO Farm LED grow light provides more higher PAR/LUMEN output, it can reduce the amount of electricity needed to grow plants and minimize the heat output, which can keep the grow room in the desired temperature range of 72–88 ℉.The grow light has a power draw of 640W (consumes 0.64 Kw per hour).The average price in the USA is $0.13/kWh,The per hour cost to operate this grow light is $0.08,which can save a lot of money. This LED grow light has high-energy efficiency with 2.8 umol/J,The 1514 μmol/(m2·s) can provides high-intensity full spectrum light for your plants,The 6 bar configuration helps to provide more even coverage accross your tent.640W LED growing lamp will make you get 35% higher yield compare with low power led lights, Max 2.5g yield per wattage (power draw). This grow lights are equipped with 6500K white and 3000K warm light LED beads,That will help your plant to get enough light intensity to actually produce flowers and fruits on your plants.and we have made strict adjustments to RED IR light because red light waves are essential for spurring plants to flower and fruit indoors.
Optic LED Slim 650S Dimmable LED Grow Light 650w
Features:
Optic LED’s Slim650S features Samsung’s all-new LH351H version 2 660nm Deep Red LED Chips at 3.75 umols/j and LH351H 450nm Royal Blue LEDs paired with the Samsung White LM301H LEDs which are above 3.0 umols/J! Pair this with a 3-way dimmable system running 3,096 LEDs and you get ground-breaking efficiency and tuning capabilities. Slim 650S when combined with our touch screen master controller gives growers the power to recreate mother nature with precision control. The Slim 650S is the first grow light of its kind to offer 3-way spectrum control with independent dimmers for Red, Blue and White LEDs. Samsung Deep Reds will help bring out amazing blooming production as well as dense buds that grow into heavy yields. Perfect for any indoor garden enthusiast or professional indoor farmer looking for high quality results every time without compromise.
Why use a grow light?
Plants rely on light to survive! Through the process of photosynthesis, plants harness energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical energy that is used to fuel their growth. In most cases, the amount of light a plant receives directly correlates to how vigorously it will grow. Using grow lights is an easy and excellent way to provide supplemental light and support plants where adequate natural sunlight is lacking.
Have you seen seedlings that are super tall, or even leaning towards a window? They’re stretching in search of more light. In the seedling world, taller doesn’t mean better! Without sufficient light, veggie seedlings get lanky, thin, and weak (also known as getting “leggy”) and are at risk of flopping over or breaking. Other indoor plants may struggle to grow, produce, or otherwise thrive to their fullest potential without enough light.
One of the best ways to prevent leggy seedlings and grow the most healthy, successful plants is by using grow lights inside. I hate to say it, but more often than not, a bright sunny window alone won’t provide enough light for starting seeds indoors. Especially in the winter months when daylight hours are already scarce; the time most gardeners start seeds for the spring and summer season ahead. The ample light provided by grow lights will keep seedlings short, stocky, and strong. However, bright windows and ambient light are typically sufficient for most houseplants.
What is the light spectrum and how does it relate to my garden?
The electromagnetic spectrum is a wide range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. In Layman’s terms, there are invisible waves all around us with different sizes and speeds. These waves are so small that they are measured in nanometers (nm). A nanometer is one billionth the size of a meter. Some more well-known parts of this spectrum include X-rays, microwaves and radio waves.
One part of the spectrum that you may not realize is part of it is the visible light spectrum. This portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is the only part visible to the unaided human eye. These waves range from about 400 nm to 700 nm. The classic acronym “ROYGBIV” that was used to remember the colors of the rainbow can also be used to remember the order of the visible light spectrum. Red is at the upper end of the spectrum (700 nm), violet is at the lower end of the spectrum (400 nm) with yellow/green light in the middle (~550nm). You can use this information to better understand which light produces these wave frequencies in order to provide the correct color of light to your plant.
Conclusion
The sun does a wonderful job nurturing plants with its light, but it can’t always get to plants inside your home. That’s where the best grow lights come in. Just be sure to choose the right kind for your plants, your home, and your budget.
