Grow Light vs Regular Light: Can Any LED Light be Used as a Grow Light?

Many indoor growers wonder if they can use any old LED light as a grow light. They thought these two types of LED lights had no difference as they can both emit human visible light.

However, we cannot use a regular LED light as a grow light, because they are not created equally.

Regular lights only provide illumination; that is to say, they are engineered as an artificial light source in order to lighten your dark spaces. They are comprised of narrow spectral wavelengths and usually do not have the proper spectrum of light to support photosynthesis.

On the other hand, grow lights are specifically designed to generate the right amount of light so plants can photosynthesize.

We've listed several areas where you can differentiate normal bulbs from grow lights:

Spectrum

Many LED grow light manufacturers perform numerous experiments and study thousands of scientific reports about the specific light color wavelengths so that they can produce perfect grow lights with several wavelength colors that plants need. They are: red and infrared, blue and ultraviolet, and green.

Among these colors, blue and red wavelengths are the most important to plants. Blue is responsible for leafy growth and the red for flowering and budding. To start the seeds, grow lights should produce a lot of blue light which is the most important factor during the early growth stages. And when it's time to bloom, LED lights begin to emit red spectrum to promote plant growth.

Ultraviolet light guides the plants to flower and it helps sterilization. Green is less liked by plants, so grow lights have less of a green element, but it could improve the rate of leaf expansion and stem elongation, which in turn results in higher biomass accumulation (yield).

Infrared is not visible to the eyes. It is less effective than red and blue, but it will penetrate deeper and through the leaf, which increases cell expansion so you will get numbers of leaves and increase branch sizes in the end.

Efficiency

Regular LED bulbs have a low light output per watt, which means that it takes more energy to produce the same light. Standard fluorescent lights are twice as efficient as normal bulbs, while LED grow lights are about five times more efficient than similar regular bulbs.

Heat Dissipation

Many regular lights produced much heat and should be hung no closer than 24 inches to avoid burning the plant. They also require a ventilation system to remove the heat from the room. Grow lights stay much cooler and can be placed about four inches above plants for maximum effectiveness. Moreover, modern LED lights are now engineered to give off heat passively, either by use of a heat sink or by diverting heat away from the diodes.

Life Expectancy

Regular lamps only have an average lifespan of 750 hours, but many good-quality LED grow lights last approximately 50,000 hours, depending on wattage. That's a big difference!

How Many Hours a Day Should Grow Lights be on?

Every plant will require different types and amounts of light. Some do better in colder and less sunny areas than others. Plants that will produce fruits and vegetables will likely need more light. Plan on keeping your LED light on for at least 14-16 hours per day. Keep them on a timer if possible to ensure they operate on a 14-16 cycle.

Should I Turn off the Light at the Night?

Yes you should, plants need to rest too. Night gives plants time to eat, rest, and store enough energy. While photosynthesis ceases, plants begin to respire.

During the day time, plants absorb enough light and nutrients to supply plant cells. At night, this process continues but slowly turns the energy into carbohydrates which plants store for later use.

So basically, the lack of light allows plants to reset themselves and move the nutrients to where they'll be used when light arrives the next day.

Can Too Much Light Kill a Plant?

Well, if your plants are in the vegetative stage, it’s okay to keep your grow light on for 24 hours. Even though 24 hours of light is not recommended, it won’t kill your plants.

However, when it comes to flowering phase, too much light will prevent them entering the blooming stage even if it has started budding.

What LED Grow Light Should I Buy?

Although LED grow lights perform better than traditional lights, you should buy a grow light equipped with a perfect wavelength combination for your plants.

As discussed earlier, wavelengths facilitate various phases of plant growth, such as germination, vegetation, or flowering. For example, LEDs that are perfect for growing tomatoes may not be as effective with cannabis.

Many LED grow light manufacturers bring out an adjustable full spectrum LED grow light which produces different wavelengths to stimulate plants at different stages.

So if the LEDs are needed to take care of your indoor plant at different stages, there is a good option of purchasing a full spectrum LED grow light or an adjustable one.

Related Posts 

Pesticides for Indoor Plants: Beginner’s Guide

How to Get Rid of Aphids on Plants?

How to Select the Best Greenhouse LED Grow Light?

Should Growers Move Outdoor Plants Inside For Winter?

What Can Growers Do to Grow Healthy Plants?

How to Choose the Best Grow Pot for Your Plants?