UFO LED Grow Light – Read Before You Buy
Posted by Irish | Posted in LED Grow Light Reviews | Posted on 15-09-2011
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The biggest problem that hydroponic growing facilities face is the problem of proper lighting. Growing plants such as fruits, herbs, and vegetables requires that the grower provide not only the right intensity of light but also the correct wavelengths of light that the plants can utilize for proper growth. LED grow lights have proven advantageous in every aspect. Growers interested in moving towards LED technology for their lighting needs should consider researching a LED grow light review before making any sort of purchase.
The biggest advantage that LED grow lights have over traditional lights is their ability to produce more light that is usable by the plants for growth per watt of energy when compared to MH and HPS lights. In addition, LED lights have lifespans that far surpass those of traditional grow lights. A good example is that of a 90W LED grow light that actually has the same light output as that of a 400 watt HID light. An added benefit is that the LED light produces almost no heat as compared to the HID bulb and will use 30 to 40 % less electricity. No special cooling fans are needed and the LED bulbs are self contained and require no ballasts or regular maintenance.
There are many types of LED grow lights available on the market today. The hydroponic grower must be careful in selecting the correct LED grow light for their operation. UFO grow lights have proven to be popular with many growers in numerous setups. Growers legally growing medicinal cannabis have found that the LED grow lights are ideal. LED lights give growers the ability to select specific light levels and color temperatures to produce the best buds.
UFO Grow Light Benefits
- uses only 90 watts of electricity
- no production of excess heat to burn or dry out plant leaves
- the light produce is directed at the plants and not scattered around the room where plants can not use it
- grower can match light intensity and color temperature to the plants being grown
- good light results in better growth, blossoming, and yields
- growers can customize the light to species being cultivated
Determining the requirements of the plants to be grown is the first step in selecting the best grow light. Each plant species has it’s own needs and those must be considered. Lighting factors control everything from growth rates to flowering frequency to flowering quantity. The right light is key to any growers bottom line.
There are many standard UFO lights that have blue and red light combinations but now there are also grow lights that provide five wavelengths of light. These newer generation of grow lights provide red, orange, and blue light wavelengths. Always make sure and determine the needs of the plants that you will be growing. We all know that different species have differing needs but even different varieties of plants within the same species can have different light requirements. Some installations may dictate the use of several lights to cover all the required wavelengths of light for the specific species of plant being grown while other areas may need just one light.
Designing a grow light installation can be a difficult task and should be left up to a professional. I can provide free consultation for those needing help with the design of a grow light system that fits your needs.
Not all lights are created equal
There have been some situations where people have used LED grow lights and had less than spectacular results. After studying these cases, it was determined that the LED’s in use were not adequately powered and were bought from a discount manufacturer.
LED lights will cost the grower a little more money on the initial purchase but the long term savings from reduced operational costs and the added yield and growth from the plants will make up for this extra cost almost immediately after the purchase. In addition, the expensive heating removal systems required with the old lights is no longer needed so the grower can save even more money.
Just remember that the cheap LED grow lights are cheap for a reason. They are usually underpowered resulting in inefficient light production and of a lesser quality. The cheaper LED units are often comprised of banks of smaller 0.6 watt LED diodes. These smaller diodes are less effective and require a very short distance between the plant and the LED. In some cases six inches. This is obviously not something that would be practical in a greenhouse. Because of this, more units will be needed to light the same area as a high quality LED unit.
Take for example an area of 25 square feet that needs to be lighted. It would take almost a dozen of the inexpensive LED grow lights to cover this area while one of the quality LED lights could cover the same area.
The difference between the quality LED’s and the cheaper ones are in the LED diode itself. The quality units use diodes that are much larger and have an output of around 1 watt. A bank of 1 watt LED grow lights would be all that is required to light the same 25 square foot area.
Natural sunlight is always an excellent source of lights but some growers, especially those that are involved in hydroponics, feel that the LED grow lights are better suited to their needs. LED lights, hands down, save more money, allow more customization, and are better for growth than the HID lights. Growers that are interested in taking their growing operations to the next level should research an LED grow light review to determine the appropriateness of LED’s for their operation.
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