Your Precious Indoor Plants Need Food, Water, and Light…
It takes a balance of all 3 elements for indoor plants to thrive, become full-grown, and be happy.
The water and soil part of the equation is pretty straightforward as long as you follow the recommended care instructions.
But how do you ensure your indoor plants are getting enough light?
An easy way to solve this problem is with indoor grow lights like the ones shown below…
Healthy Plants Need Light
Finding the right location in your home may require trial and error before finding the perfect spot.
Also, before deciding what type of plants or vegetables you’ll grow in your home, you’ll want to research light requirements.
A quick rule of thumb for plant growing light requirements is: low, medium, high, and very high.
If you already have a sunny room or skylights in your home, you can position your garden there.
Now:
What if you don’t have any windows to allow sunlight into your home?
In this Inside Garden Shop DIY, we will go over 5 LED Grow Lights specially designed for indoor gardens…
How to Choose the Right LED Grow Light for Your Garden
Learn How to Avoid Common Mistakes and Optimize Your Garden
Are you a beginner gardener looking to improve your garden’s growth and yield? Choosing the right LED grow light can make all the difference. With so many options on the market, deciding which one is right for you can be overwhelming. In this step-by-step how-to guide, we will teach you everything you need to know to pick the perfect LED grow light for your garden.
This guide will provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to choose the right LED grow light for your garden. We will cover topics such as wattage, watt per foot ratio, and secondary optics to ensure you make an informed decision.
What is a LED Grow Light:
LED grow lights are a type of artificial lighting used to stimulate plant growth. They are energy-efficient and provide a full spectrum of light that mimics natural sunlight.
Safety Precautions:
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing and using LED grow lights. Wear protective eyewear when working with LED lights to protect your eyes from potential damage.
Helpful Tips:
Look for LED grow lights with a high PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) output and low heat output. This will ensure that your plants receive the necessary light without overheating.
How to Choose the Right LED Grow Light
Wattage
Explanation: Wattage is the amount of power consumed by the LED grow light. It is important to choose a grow light with the appropriate wattage for your garden size. Calculate the total wattage needed by multiplying the watt per foot ratio by the square footage of your garden.
Instructions:
1. Determine the size of your garden in square feet
2. Calculate the watt-per-foot ratio needed (30-35 watts per foot for LED)
3. Multiply the watt-per-foot ratio by the square footage of your garden to get the total wattage needed
4. Choose an LED grow light with the appropriate wattage for your garden size
Watt per Foot Ratio
Explanation: The watt-per-foot ratio is the wattage needed per square foot of garden space. This ratio is lower for LED grow lights compared to HID grow lights.
Instructions:
1. Determine the size of your garden in square feet
2. Calculate the watt-per-foot ratio needed (30-35 watts per foot for LED)
3. Use this ratio to determine the total wattage needed for your garden space
4. Choose an LED grow light with the appropriate watt-per-foot ratio for your garden size
Secondary Optics
Explanation: Some LED grow lights come with secondary optics, which can either enhance or reduce the light output. It is important to understand the impact of secondary optics and choose a grow light that meets your specific needs.
Instructions:
1. Research the impact of secondary optics on LED grow lights
2. Determine whether a grow light with or without secondary optics is best for your garden
3. Choose an LED grow light that meets your specific needs
PAR Output
Explanation: PAR output is the amount of light plants can use for photosynthesis. Look for LED grow lights with high PAR output to ensure your plants receive the necessary light for growth.
Instructions:
1. Research LED grow lights with high PAR output
2. Choose an LED grow light with a high PAR output for optimal plant growth
Heat Output
Explanation: LED grow lights produce less heat compared to HID grow lights. However, it is still important to choose a grow light with a low heat output to prevent overheating and damage to your plants.
Instructions:
1. Research LED grow lights with a low heat output
2. Choose an LED grow light with a low heat output to protect your plants
Conclusion: Choosing the right LED grow light can be overwhelming, but with the information provided in this guide, you can make an informed decision. Consider factors such as wattage, watt-per-foot ratio, secondary optics, PAR output, and heat output when choosing an LED grow light.
FAQs:
1. What is the watt-per-foot ratio for LED grow lights?
A: The watt-per-foot ratio for LED grow lights is typically 30-35 watts per foot.
2. Do LED grow lights produce less heat than HID grow lights?
A: Yes, LED grow lights produce less heat than HID grow lights, but it is still important to choose a grow light with low heat output.
3. What is PAR output?
A: PAR output is the amount of light plants can use for photosynthesis.
4. Should I choose an LED grow light with or without secondary optics?
A: It depends on your specific needs. Research the impact of secondary optics and choose a grow light that meets your needs.
5. How do I calculate the total wattage needed for my garden space?
A: Multiply the watt-per-foot ratio by the square footage of your garden to get the total wattage needed.
Warning! Be aware some plants will die from too much light… Read the instructions carefully when choosing your plants or lighting.
Best Grow Light for Indoor Plants on Amazon
A quality light source is crucial for growing fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs indoors.
But if your home doesn’t have a window to allow sunlight, you need an alternative light source for your indoor garden.
Your plants need food!
Plants use chlorophyll, carotene, and photosynthesis to transform light, water, and nutrients into the energy they need to grow…
But different plants require various particle wavelengths or spectrums of red, blue, ultraviolet (UV), and infrared (IR) light.
How specific wavelength works:
- red 620mm -720nm (red-light LED boosts the growth of buds, flowers, and fruits)
- blue 400nm – 520nm (blue-light LED renders fuller, taller vegetative growth)
- white 2500k – 10,000k (white LED is used to adjust temperature)
- UV (Harmful to humans) Skip!
- IR (Harmful to humans) Skip!
- Spectrum/Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR)
This overview will look at 15 LED light kits and bulbs that are best sellers on Amazon.
Don’t worry. I’ll make it easy for you and break down the LED light units into small, medium, and large, as well as provide a seller rating, number of reviews, and popularity so you can make an informed purchase when joining the many gardeners who are growing produce indoors, year-long, right in the privacy of their home…
Grow Lamp for Succulents
Pick from the best LED, Clip On, Small, and Large Grow Lights that your garden will love…
Clip-On Grow Lights
- 6000K White Light - equipped with 10 Red + 74 White LEDs, this growing Lamp is similar to the full-spectrum sunlight at noon,that is professionally designed for indoor garden plants.Moreover, its color rendering index is as high as 95, the light is soft and flicker-free, which is very suitable for reading lamp
- Timer Function & Multiple Settings - this growing light offer the timer function with 3 options that is 4Hrs or 8Hrs or 12Hrs, it is based on a 24 hour cycle from the time you set the timer.For example,when keeping power ON, if you select 8 Hrs,it will turns ON for 8 hours per 24 hours.The other two timer settings are the same.
- Easy to Install - with flexible Gooseneck & strong clamp,it allows you to place the growth light in any direction to provide the best lighting angle for your plants，meet the cover around the plant.Powered by USB or AC Power Plug
- High Efficiency LED Lamp - as for LED power draw this seedling lights just comsume about 10watt and is equivalent to a 50W Halogen Bulb.Estimately monthly cost roughly $2 in electricity (12 hours a day). It is a great gift if you growing some small house plants.
- 【365 Days Worry-free Warranty】GooingTop service team offer 365 days warranty and 24h friendly customer service. If there are ever any issues about the product, please feel free to contact us and we will send you a new replacement or full refund.
- Bseah Full Spectrume grow light is professionally designed for indoor garden plants. This sunlight grow light can promote photosynthesis in plants.
- 10 Dimmable Modes & 3 Switch Modes meet photosynthesis needs of plant germination, bloom, and fruit-bearing at different stages and seasons.
- This clip grow light offer the circular memory timer function with 3 options-3h/9h/12h. Set up once, the plant grow light will turn on and turn off automatically at the same time every day.
- Flexible goosenecks with clip can be rotated 360 degrees make it easier for you to adjust the angle between the plant lamp and indoor plant.
- We provide up to 24 months warranty service for free, you can contact us anytime with any questions about the grow light.
- SMALLER & STRONGER: SANSI LED pot clip plant light equipped with SANSI unique ceramic technology, provides more efficient power conversion. The indoor plant light provides 5W output power with 35.78 μmol/s/㎡ @6 inches growing power. Compared with the similar 10W plant light, the output power is saved by 50% and the plant growing effect increased by 25%. The LED grow light is suitable for various indoor potted plants, such as succulents, aloe vera, devil's Ivy, calibrachoa, African violet, etc.
- PROFESSIONAL PLANT SOLUTION FOR HOME GARDEN: SANSI offers a number of core patented technologies that provide more SANSI Grow Lights efficient and stable lighting, effectively helping your beloved plants thrive. 4000K natural light is more suitable for the indoor plant and not an eye sore, the grow light isn’t overly strong as it's clipped onto the pot and supports a variety of usage scenarios: desktop, plant stand, desk, and hanging, which can be flexible placement anywhere your home or office.
- 360° GOOSENECK & EASY TO INSTALL: SANSI pot plant light for indoor plants is equipped with a flexible gooseneck & clamp, it's very easy to install it on a pot and allows you flexibly adjust the light to the required plant. Furthermore, there’s no additional part to hurt your plants.
- 3/6/12 HRS AUTO ON/OFF TIMER & 4 DIMMING LEVELS: The LED flower lamp operates from a built-in timer with 3 modes cycle timing function which stays on for 3/6/12 hours and off for 21/18/12 hours. The indoor plant lights for indoor plants full spectrum offer 4 level brightness settings to different plants requirements ranging from 25%, 50%, 75% to 100%.
- QUALITY GUARANTEES & 2 -YEAR WARRANTY: The input of the led grow lights is 5V low safe voltage, which is energy-saving and can be powered easily via a power bank, laptop, computer, etc. The plant lights for indoor growing is quality and safety verified and SANSI offers a 2-Year warranty for this grow light. We have a professional service team that provides 7x24 online help. Please contact our team on Amazon Message if you met any Problems.
- 5 Dimmable Modes & Auto On/Off: The indoor Grow Lights adjust to levels of 20%/40%/60%/80%/100% light intensity, you can set different brightness according to your plant different growth stages. These LED plant lights have three timing function mode: 4/8/12 hours, you can set it up once and it will turn on and off automatically every day. Note: AC Adapter Not included in package, The end usb port of power cord work with AC adapter, phone adapter, power bank, usb charger, outlet with usb port.
- Sunlike Full Spectrum & WIdely Use: The plant grow lamp is made of 78 high intensity, energy saving and long service life LED beads.And this Full spectrum grow light can provide plants all wavelengths of light, Just like natural sunlight, perfect for winter or rainy season. The is ideal for plant factory,basement,flower farming, indoor gardens, water soluble breeding, pipeline cultivation, vegetable growth, gardening , family growing /seeding ,greenhouse succulents etc.
- 3 Lighting Modes & Heat Dissipation: The indoor led grow light has 3 switch modes, you can press the switch button to choose one, two, three or all lamps on to meet the needs of the plants at different stages. Improved heat sink efficiently dissipates the heat generated by the lamp to the atmosphere.
- Waterproof & Adjustable: The growing lamp is waterproof, not afraid of rain, but can not be soaked, waterproof rating IP65. this led grow light is with flexible arm which is easy to adjust the light in any direction, allows you to light your plants in 360-degree,which can enlarge the area of the effective lighting.
- Non-Slip Clip: the non-slip clip allows the LED growth lamp to be placed anywhere in your greenhouse, home, indoor garden, office and so on.
- Snake plants Styling - This plant is a metaphor for perseverance and tenacity, Diivoo has always adhered to the concept of living in harmony with nature, we use the Snake plants leaf shape in this plant grow light, as it is representative of nature's resilience and vitality, the intention is to provide indoor greenery with a constant source of nourishment and vitality at the same time to add a touch of natural beauty to your home.
- Brighten Up Your Plant: Sunlight mode with a CRI of 90 and a 6000K color temperature, our lights authentically showcase plant colors, enhancing their natural beauty, enjoy the view of plants with vivid colors in your home. PPFD was 72.6 at 15 cm light distance for sunlight mode.
- Effective Full Spectrum: Diivoo plant light emits a real full spectrum, optimized red, blue, and green light quality ratio with 350-780nm wavelength. Growth mode accelerates photosynthesis and nutrient synthesis for foliage plants to thrive and keep plants ornamental.
- 10 Dimming Level & 4 Level Timing Function: Indoor plant lamp with 10-level dimming function adapts to different plant growth stages, effectively supplementing the lack of sunlight and promoting growth during sexual or flowering stages. Supports timer function with options for 4/8/12/18-hour settings, automatically turns on and off, and can be repeated continuously to reduce repeated-setting hassle. It can take care of your plants when you are working or on vacation, simple and convenient.
- Widely Illumination Area & Sturdy Clip Base: The indoor 2-Head plant light for indoor plants uses a 360° rotatable gooseneck, which you can manually adjust to extend the lighting range and easily adjust the angular distance between the light and the plants as needed. The non-slip mat design allows the light can be fixed in dark rooms, plant stands, office desks, and more.
Grow Light Tip:
How much light should I give my Plants\Vegs?
For best results when using LED grow lights, a good rule of thumb is to adjust the light time between 10 – 14 hours with 8 – 10 hours of darkness…
Other recommended reading: Powerful DIY Mosquito Control Strategy that Really Works Good
* Updated on 2024-02-29 at 09:30.
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How is IR harmful to humans?
We read your blog site, share most helpful details in blog.
Do happen to have light for parrots that need sunlight in the winter???
Your blog just pop out,,, I was reading it all… and very helpful as I am looking for an advice of what to use for my succulents plants and seeds…Thank you very much..