A Detailed Portrayal of LED Grow Lights
For better efficiency, artificial lighting systems called grow lights are used to supplement the scarcity of sunlight. These grow lights emit electromagnetic spectrum similar to the sun rays, which enhances the photosynthesis of the plants. Previously, metal halide and high pressure sodium are used as hydroponics lighting systems. Though these grow lights provide an ideal light spectrum for the plant growth, they generate excess heat and consume large amount of electricity. Thus, these traditional grow lights are very expensive to maintain. More energy efficient lighting system is the LED grow lights.
Light emitting diode (LED) grow lights are a form of technology often used to provide plants and flowers with sufficient light to grow in an indoor garden. It is an alternative to high intensity discharge (HID) lighting and metal halide (MH) lighting, which often uses up to 75 percent more power and produce more heat than LED grow lights. Whether for commercial or non-commercial use, LED grow lights usually offer energy savings and are easy to install. They can also be combined with solar and wind technologies to maximize savings on electricity bills.
LED grow lights are used for industrial food production and in hydroponics, the method to grow food plants without a soil-based growing medium. LED grow lights are used by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to grow food plants on the International Space Station for experimental purposes, and to provide astronauts and space scientists with fresh food.
LED grow lights are perfect for small scale, home gardening projects. The lights are small and energy-efficient, and therefore consume little space and electricity. Plants transpire less under LED grow lights, and therefore require less water. LED grow lights are lightweight and easily portable. Moreover, indoor LED grow lights allow gardeners to cultivate plants during winter, or get an early start to the growing season by growing seedlings indoors.
The main benefit to using grow led lights is the ability to deliver high intensity light in indoor spaces. This light can extend the growing season by allowing plants to be grown indoors prior to transplanting outside, or even as an alternative to gardening outdoors. Grow lights are also great for plants that don’t require heat to grow, because the heat output is low.
Sunlight is one of the most essential requirements for plant growth. However, it is not possible to have abundant sunlight around the year. Also, there are places that receive little sunlight throughout the year. Even houseplants do not grow properly in the absence of direct sunlight. To ensure a normal and healthy growth of plants, it is a must that they receive a desired amount of light. Artificial lighting is one way of substituting the natural light. Special grow lights for indoor garden plants can imitate the sunlight in terms of spectrum and intensity, thus ensuring healthy growth of plants. Let us understand the various parameters of grow lights and their types.
Grow lights for plant that are kept in door should aim to produce the most advantageous light for the plant to be exposed to. Naturally, gardening outdoors is the best way to grow, but for people living in a residence that doesn’t have a private yard, indoor gardening is a wonderful alternative. When plants are grown outdoors, they rely on sunlight to provide them with a full light spectrum range. Because there is not enough sunlight available indoors, hydroponics is used to imitate what the sun’s light spectrum can do for plants.
Making indoor garden is also a great option for those living in harsh climates where plants have a hard time growing, such as in the desert during the hot summers. In an eco friendly atmosphere, the best option is to set indoor garden next to a window with plenty of natural light, if the house has such a space. Money can be saved on grow lights and power bill.
The indoor LED grow lights are highly efficient and burn at much lower temperatures. They are more expensive than the rest, but that is paid back with not having to use a cooling system. The lights use only 20%-30% of the electricity the other systems use. That reduces the cost of the electricity bill. Another important point to remember is that as the plants grow, they get closer to the light bulb. So, even if there is light at the proper distance from plants, it has to be moved again.