FAQs
What is a full-spectrum LED grow light?
A full-spectrum LED grow light is simply a marketing term that implies that your grow light closely resembles light from the sun. This marketing term comes from the concept of “full-spectrum light,” which in recent years has been used to refer to electromagnetic radiation from the UV to infrared wavebands.
Can I leave my grow light on 24 hours a day?
In general, it’s advised that you don’t leave your grow lights on 24/7. This isn’t just a cost-saving measure either. Your goal is to simulate and optimize the growing environment for your plant, not to maximize inputs.
Plants are designed to operate with a day-night cycle, and as such leaving the lights on all of the time can cause many plants to grow too quickly, meaning that they can fall over, break or otherwise die. You should consider the use of a timer to reduce the amount of involvement you need in turning your rig on and off.
How Many LED Watts for Seedlings?
When you’re starting to grow anything, you’re going to be growing from seedlings, whether it’s watercress or an oak tree. While there are more factors than wattage at play, you’re going to want to use a light of around 10w-30w to start with and keep it relatively close to the soil.
We would advise a minimum of 8 inches and a maximum of 30 inches. As the plants start to sprout, try to gauge by eye if they look spindly or stretched; if so move your light closer. Keep adjusting based on your own judgment of how the seedlings grow. Remember; growing plants is an art as well as a science!
How High Should Your Grow Lights Be Above Your Plants
As a rule, you will want to keep your grow lights at a sweet spot, where they are getting sufficient light and energy for your growth goals while maintaining a safe distance that doesn’t overpower them. This means that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question.
This distance your lights will hang at has to be calculated by you and will depend on what breed of plants you are growing, the strength of your lights, the size of your space, and so on.
What is the Lumen Output Of Your Grow Light?
Plants do not use lumens, plants use photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD). When investing in a grow-light, the only metrics you need to understand to make an informed purchase is PPF, PPFD, and Photon Efficacy. The accuracy of these variables is heavily relied on by scientists, researchers, and industry leaders alike.
