LED Grow Lights Menards: A Comprehensive Guide - Gardening Inside (2024)

FAQs

Are LED lights good for growing plants indoors? ›

LEDs are not only capable of growing all types of plants, they are one of the best options if you are looking for a light with high output and low operating costs. LEDs have developed in recent years to match and outperform traditional HID grow lights while being more efficient and using less electricity to operate.

Lights that provide a full spectrum are the ideal choice for your growing space. This is where LED lights come in handy. Most LED growing lights offer both types of color spectrum lighting, so you can get all the benefits. TIP: Violet-blue light promotes plant growth and red light promotes plant budding.

For the healthiest plants, use a combination of both blue and red lights—or a full-spectrum bulb, which emits both wavelengths of light. Think about how to position the light(s) over the plants so that you can easily alter the distance between the lights and the plants as they grow.

In conclusion, there are significant differences between regular LED lights and grow LED lights in terms of spectrum, light intensity, efficiency, heat dissipation, and longevity. While regular lights are used for nighttime illumination, grow lights are designed to support plant growth.

Too much LED light can hurt plants, leading to leaf burn and stunted growth. Acclimating plants gradually to the light and monitoring plant growth are key to avoiding these dangers and ensuring healthy indoor plant growth.

Although there's no perfect answer that fits all use cases, experienced growers do provide some insights on how long should a grow light be on. In general, plants under grow lights need at least 8-10 hours of light per day, but no more than 18 hours - make sure your plants have at least 6 hours of rest per day.

Light Color

Just like with the stage of growth, different types of plants can do better with different light colors. Blue or white lights are best for vegetables and red lights are best for flowers, according to Valerie Thrasher, co-owner of Box of Rain Organic Garden Center.

Blue: This is the most important light for plant growth. It is easy for chlorophyll to absorb and convert into energy. Red: As the second most important wavelength, red light is incredibly potent for plants when combined with blue light. Orange: Similar to red light, but less effective.

During the vegetative stage, the LED grow light can be placed further away from the plant, around 18-24 inches. During the flowering stage, the light should be closer, around 12-18 inches.

Do cheap LED grow lamps work? ›

While less powerful overall than high-end horticultural LEDs, cheap grow lights still provide the full spectrum output vital for indoor plant growth. This includes warm red and cool blue light that fuels photosynthesis, plus small amounts of other wavelengths for more complete coverage.

Generally, a range of 25-50 watts per square foot is considered adequate for most plants in the vegetative stage, while flowering plants may require a higher wattage of 40-60 watts per square foot. However, some high-light plants, such as tomatoes and peppers, may require even higher wattage levels.

If you want your plants to thrive, it is not recommended to use a regular LED light in an indoor setting where the natural light is not sufficient. The plants won't deteriorate right away but over time, they will show signs of light depravation and possibly stop to grow.

Plants require light in the 400 to 700 nm range to photosynthesize, known as PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation). It's not the brightness or lumens (how bright it appears to us), but the PAR that matters to our plants.

Blue: This is the most important light for plant growth. It is easy for chlorophyll to absorb and convert into energy. Red: As the second most important wavelength, red light is incredibly potent for plants when combined with blue light. Orange: Similar to red light, but less effective.

Plants can do photosynthesis if the right spectrum of artificial light is provided, such as for indoor plants. This method is used to boost production to meet the demand. LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are useful for this because they can mimic artificial light to ensure proper plant development without burning them.

Impacts of Over-Exposure

Leaving LED grow lights on all night can cost you much as they cause disrupted circadian rhythms, leading to imbalanced photosynthesis and respiration. This imbalance can cause reduced energy reserves, and prolonged exposure to LED grow light can end up causing stress to the plant.

Generally, sunlight is best for plant growth but artificial lighting can improve the quality of light plants receive, improving plant growth. When artificial light is needed to supplement natural light, the spectrum (colors the lamp produces) is important.