lighting... LED?

[Tbwilson33]

Hello this is my first post, I recently got hooked on this hobby. I’m looking for good light recommendations. If you could flood me with links, info and personal experiences I’d love to hear it. LED seems like the route I wanna go but not sold on them just yet. I’m looking for quality and with quality comes big money. I’m just looking to make a smart purchase and make my trees happy. Hoping to hear some great insight! Thanks!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Welcome to the site! What kind of trees are you planning on keeping under artificial light? How many?

 

[Manmountain526]

I have 6500K LED lights I am using for my tropicals for overwintering. They seem to be working well. All of my trees are putting on new growth since coming inside.
These are the lights I use
https://www.gardeners.com/buy/high-intensity-led-grow-light-fixture/8596021.html#start=1

I cleaned out my piggy bank and bought the 3 tier indoor stand

 

[markyscott]

A great light. I use it for supplemental lighting in the greenhouse and I noticed a difference right away.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00XBYHORY?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

 

[Tbwilson33]

I have a Fukien, elm, jade, and a Japanese maple. I’d love to get more just want to make sure I can make them happy. I’ve seen this light that looks tempting https://growershouse.com/agroled-sun-48-led-6500k
Love to hear what you guys think.

 

[coltranem]

I use a solarflare 110W it covers a 3 x 3 area (it might be discontinued). I bought for indoor vegetables but also keep my tropicals under it the last winter. I just moved my tropical inside for the winter three weeks ago and it has been really putting on a lot if new growth.

Do a google search on PAR and PPFD for lighting ratings. Also marijuana growers have great info on indoor lighting.

 

[JudyB]

I use these, have a greenhouse full of them. They don't eat up much electricity, and there are other wattages as well other than these 200's.
https://www.hydrofarm.com/p/FLCO200D

you can get them cheaper at Amazon than at the hydrofarm site linked.

 

[nrgizerrod]

I'm using a 2' T5 light with one 6500k and a 2700k bulb that I picked up at a local hydroponics shop for $40 (used). It's worked great for me so far. I have 3 small trees and a variety of succulents under it, all of them are thriving since coming in for the winter. 2' is a bit small though. I'll probably end up getting something bigger soon.

so my advice is go bigger then you think you need so you can grow in to it. eh oh!

 

[cmeg1]

These quantum boards seem good.I recently got HLG 135 for starting trees early,but cannot really give a review yet except they are nice looking and simple and efficient with low heat.really bright too with Samsung LED’s on the version two’s.Growers lights will put them together for an extra $25
HLG
https://growerslights.com/collections/horticulture-lighting-group

 

[Tbwilson33]

https://growershouse.com/agroled-sun-48-led-6500k

If I bought this would I need a ballast?

 

[anon user]

I use these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072PPCKFF/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I hang them on wire shelves.

Some things to consider: coltranem is right on with research PAR and PPFD. Lux/lumens don't mean much.

My grow lights are blue/red only. That's very useful for photosynthesis since more electrical energy is converted to useful wavelengths for the plants. The same amount of red/blue lumens as white lumens = more plant energy as there's less photon waste...if that makes sense. That's actually why leaves are green...they reflect green and absorb red/blue. If they're reflecting light, they aren't using it. If they're absorbing it, they are. Plants do use some IR and some middle spectrum...I keep my shelves next to a bright window for those wavelengths so didn't buy the LED panels that provide them...some do have a few IR and white light LEDs in the panel.

There are consequences to the only red/blue, however:

1) The room with the lights is an odd pinkish color now
2) The plants under the lights are an ugly brown color! There's no green light to reflect!

 

[anon user]

There are consequences to the only red/blue, however:

1) The room with the lights is an odd pinkish color now
2) The plants under the lights are an ugly brown color! There's no green light to reflect!

I just took a picture of a couple of my baobab seedlings under typical house lights and under the blue/red LED grow lights. Same plants both pics...

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

https://growershouse.com/agroled-sun-48-led-6500k

If I bought this would I need a ballast?

I just read the download pdf with directions. No, ballast is already installed in the fixture.

I personally like the Sun Agro product line. I have not tried their LED, but I love their T5 HO fixtures.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I like the one @milehigh_7 posted not led but pretty sweet

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VG-48-Grow...000K-Bulbs-4-ft-T5-HO-Bloom-Veg-/251627100147

 

[Cable]

I read this interesting article about white LEDs in a trade magazine today.

 

[cmeg1]

white LEDs

I went with white LED’s mainly for the nicer working environment of white light.

 

[Vinnie Charity]

I read this interesting article about white LEDs in a trade magazine today.

So with this article, is it saying you can grow plants/trees using ANY LED light source?

 

[cmeg1]

Another article....Forestry service uses them.
Though I believe this test was done with colors dialed in.
https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_journals/2015/rmrs_2015_apostol_k001.pdf

 

[cmeg1]

using ANY LED light source

No expert here,but I believe it is important for light manufacturer to supply PAR test results and also denote what wavelengths are given by a particular Led light..... like veg or bloom.Seems higher end do supply this info.
I would research PAR and PPFD intensity,as this is all the buzz it seems when choosing a growlight.

 

[Fonz]

I bought this from one of those chinese discount sites to grow carnivorious plants from seed. Now I put my tropicals under it. So far they haven't died, yet...
https://www.lightinthebox.com/en/p/...of-ac85-265-v-1-pcs_p5542245.html?prm=1.3.5.3