How To Grow Plants Under LED Lights
Introduction
LED grow lights have become a popular choice for indoor plants. They are energy efficient, easy to use and provide a great light intensity. Growing under LED Grow Lights has many benefits over traditional methods. Your plants will not only get all the nutrients they need but also grow faster! Here’s a guide for those who want to learn more about how plants grow indoors with LED grow lights.
Initial Setup
To get started, you’ll need the following supplies:
- LED Grow Lights
- CO2 Generator (optional but recommended)
- Air Circulation Fan(s)
- High-Quality Water Reservoir (preferably with an air pump and tubes).
Soil Composition
Soil composition is very important. It is responsible for providing the roots with everything they need to grow. Here are some tips for getting it right:
- The soil should be loose, not compacted. This allows water and air to reach your plant’s root system easily.
- The soil should also be moist but not dry. Dry soil can cause root rot. This will ultimately kill your plants if left untreated long enough.
Light Distance & Timer Settings
The light distance and timer settings are important to understand when growing plants under LED lights.
Light Distance
The distance from your plant to the light is critical for its growth. If you’re using a smaller 600W model, place it about three inches away from the top of your plant canopy.
For larger lights like 1000W or 1200W models, make sure that they are about six inches away from the top of your plant’s foliage.
Timer
The majority of people set their timers so that their lights stay on for 18 hours and then turn off for six hours to simulate natural nightfall.
This is a good place to start. But you may need to adjust the amount of time that your lights are on or off. It depends on the type of plant and its growth stage.
Leafy greens like spinach and kale, for example, require less light than fruiting plants, so you can keep the lights off longer.
Watering
Watering is one of the most important parts of growing plants under LED grow lights. Here are some tips –
- Water your plants so that their roots and leaves have enough water.
- If you over-water them, it can kill them.
- If you do not water them enough, they will die as well.
The amount of water your plants need depends on their size and the plant itself. Tomatoes and zucchini, for example, need more frequent watering than lettuce or herbs. Because they consume more nutrients and grow faster.
Temperature
LED lights are much more efficient than traditional grow lights when it comes to producing energy. That means that there will be more heat being produced by the light source itself. In addition, if your grow room’s temperature is not monitored properly, it could rise quickly!
In order to have healthy plants, you’ll need to pay attention to their temperature. Plants grow best when their environment is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (or about 16 to 24 degrees Celsius). If your grow light has a temperature of 99 degrees F (37 Celsius), but it’s right next to a plant that’s supposed to be 60 degrees F (15 Celsius), then you’ll need to move the lights further away from the plant.
Here’s how to check the temperature:
- If your plants are growing correctly, their leaves should feel cooler than room temperature.
- If they feel warmer than room temp., it might mean they’re getting too much light. There may not be enough airflow around them.
- If they feel colder than room temp., try moving them closer toward an LED grow light or adding more insulation underneath/around them.
Reasons For Growing Plants Under LED Grow Lights
LED grow lights are a great option for growing plants indoors. Some people have been using LED Grow Lights successfully for years and they’re easy to use. Energy efficient, they emit a broad spectrum of light that plants can use to grow more efficiently.
However, some plants don’t do well under these lights. Those plants may need other types of lighting systems in order to thrive. But with some experimenting and tips, most plants will grow under LED Grow Lights.
LED grow lights emit a broader spectrum of light than other grow lights. It means that the plants have access to everything they need to grow healthily and properly. LEDs are also more efficient than other types of bulbs. So it’s easy to see why they’re so popular among indoor growers.
Conclusion
We hope you have found this article helpful in understanding LED Grow Lights. LED grow lights are a great option for growing plants in small or large spaces. They provide plenty of light and can be controlled with a computer or phone. So, don’t hesitate to use them for your indoor garden!