Ultimate LED Grow Lights Reviews from the Leading LED Grow Light Professionals

Do you want to grow weed at home? Are you looking to save cash when growing crops indoor?

When it comes to growing weed indoors, cultivators have always found it difficult to find a reliable lighting source that’s identical to sunlight. Gardeners attempted to grow plants using traditional lighting, like high pressure sodium lamps and compact fluorescent lights.

The problem…

However, with these lighting sources is that they were not satisfactory. This is because they did not provide enough lighting that matches the growing needs of plants. Other available options were also very expensive.

The Solution…

The great news that advanced LED technology is now available, and it has become the best alternative to compact fluorescent lighting bulbs and incandescent bulbs. LED grow lights have been found to be an extremely beneficial light source for growing weeds and other plants indoors. They are known to grow fresh and healthy crops all year long, no matter what season.

About Grow Lights

For years, indoor growers have since on using artificial light sources for growing their weeds. They used light sources such as HID (High Intensity Discharge), fluorescent, and High Pressure Sodium in order to mimic sunlight for indoor growing. Growers can use Aquaponics Systems or Hydroponics Systems and whichever between these two is your choice, the light source offers varying degree of effectiveness.

Before, the choice only include HID, High Pressure Sodium and HID. Today, however, a new player is in town – the LEDs. LED or Light Emitting Diode is not a new technology as it’s actually been around for decades.  Mostly used as instrument panel indicator lights but few years back, LEDs apply to higher intensity light uses as well, just like in indoor growing.

What is a LED Grow Light?

LED or light emitting diode is known to help reduce heat and power consumption significantly versus fluorescent lighting, HID and High Pressure Sodium. LED grow lights provide light energy that mimics the way sunlight would’ve affected plants when grown outdoors. They are used to help plants grow best even when they are planted indoors. They provide different wavelengths of invisible and visible light, which include IR and UV rays that can increase the growth of pants.

How can LED Grow Lights Help?

Plants are capable of absorbing more blue light than other colors, such as green or white. Thus, the UV rays are vital to stimulate plant growth and the infrared are essential to improve blooming and germination.

You can adjust the wavelengths based on the needs of plants you grow in your grow room. When you need to treat the plant during the flowering phase, LED lights infrared rays are the most effective. The apex and buds of plants are able to readily absorb these rays, which causes them to bloom heavily and quickly.

If you are looking for the best LED grow lights for cannabis, or other plants you want to grow indoors, we recommend that you use the product with variety of wavelength options available. This will allow you to adjust it based on the effects you need.

Best LED Grow Light Reviews you Must Read

Now, with the growing popularity of LED grow lights, different manufacturers have made a variety of products to cater to the needs of cultivators and farmers. Also, with the rising popularity of cannabis growing and other hydroponics applications, LED grow lights are continuously hitting the market.

With all the different options available in the market, how do you select which LED grow light is the best for your growing needs and indoor environment? We are here to help!

We are your one-stop destination for comprehensive and well-researched information on a variety of LED Grow lights you can find in the market today. Our LED Grow light reviews are made after a thorough and detailed evaluation of different LED lights available.

When looking for a new LED grow light to match your requirements and that will suit your grow room, allow us to help you choose. Buying a LED grow light can be a massive investment, so we have selected the best LED grow lights that will cater to your needs.

In this site, you can learn everything related to LED Grow Lights, from their benefits to what are the best LED grow lights available in the market. Scroll below and you will be aware of vital information from our site’s buying guides and reviews.

Best LED Plant Lights in the Market

In this section, we will introduce you to the market’s best LED grow lights. Out of the many LED plant lights available in the market, these are what indoor growers always consider their top choices. What are the top LED plant lights in the market? Here they are:

Kind K5 XL 1000 LED Grow Light

In addition to the powerful LED plant lights mentioned above, you also have the Kind K5 XL 1000 LED Grow Light. Along with the grow light, this one also includes rope ratchets as well as protective eyeglasses. This is one of the best in the market for being extra large and powerful. It is ideal for growers that need a grow light to cover large areas.

Ideal Replacement for 750-watt or 100-watt HPS Systems

This is best for experienced growers, as it lets them take advantage of advanced features. Kind K5 XL 1000 can effectively replace a 750-watt or 1000-watt HPS system but with only 650w electricity consumption. This particular grow light can handle a covering an area of about 5 by 5 feet for vegetative growing. For blooming stage, it can handle 4 by 4 feet area. These specs mean the grow light is enough for 12 to 16 plants.

Amazing Precision Control and Remote Control Feature

A great advantage of Kind K5 grow light is its amazing precision control. It can control both light cycles as well as a whole 12-band spectrum. In addition, growers will enjoy its remote control feature, which lets them digitally control the color of the light needed for specific stage of plant growth.  Compared to other LED grow lights, this is a more advanced feature than the Veg/Bloom switch.

Eight Stages of Light Intensity

Kind K5 grow light panel also features an integrated timer. This timer allows eight different light intensity stages for growers to take advantage of. This is one of its advanced features, which is a lot better than the simple on/off switch of other LED grow lights. More than that, this feature allows you to program it, so that it mimics natural sunshine efficientlu. With this feature, you can have gentle light increase in the morning that gradually decreases in the evening.

• 3”tall x 26”long x 20” wide
• Weighs 36 pounds with 320 LED bulbs
• Comes with 3w and 5w LEDs with intensity capable of penetrating through a canopy
• Includes a pair of Method Seven eyeglasses for protection

Advanced Platinum Series P450

A bit heavier and larger than the Series P300, the P400 is an ideal LED grow light when covering core bloom area of about 3” by 2.5”. With Advanced Platinum Series P450, you can have more than enough space for working in an area that’s enough for up to four plants. Its features, intensity and coverage make it ideal for new indoor growers.

The P450 LED Lights are effective replacement for conventional 600w HPS plant lights. Using this particular grow light, you can take advantage of only consuming 255 watts of power. With only that power, you can still give your plants 100% usable light. It features the highest Par per watt than other LED grow lights along with having 12-band spectrum.

P400 grow lights ensure you can have maximum yield even when using minimum power and heat. It can effectively create a maximum photosynthetic response. This is all thanks to its optimal blend of 12-bands of light spectrum, from UV to IR. With this, you can effectively give your plants the perfectly tuned spectrum it needs to grow healthy and fast.

Advanced Platinum Series P600

Just like the P300 and P450 series, P600 is a great choice as well for new comers in indoor growing. With using this LED panel, you can take advantage of advanced features for ensuring maximum yield for your plants. Created by PlatinumLED, the P600 series to encouraging flowering in plants in the area of 2”x5”, thus allowing you to easily switch “Bloom” switch for plants ranging from 5 to 10.

The advanced P600 series can replace your 800w HPS grow light, effectively letting you enjoy less power by only consuming 345 watts. Though with less power to consumption, it still allows your plants to enjoy 100% usable light. With Advanced Platinum Series P600, you get to take advantage of dual light spectrums for both vegetable growth and flowering stage.

• 5”x2” core coverage at 18” height
• 200x3w LED quantity
• 50, 000 to 100, 000 hours of lifespan
• 12-band LED Spectrum
• 345 watts Bloom Power
• 184 watts Veg Power
• AC85-260V voltage

Advanced Platinum Series P900

If you are a serious and experienced grower who grows up to 24 plants, the Advanced Platinum Series P900 is the market’s most ideal grow light for you. Out of the best LED plant lights in this site, the Advanced Platinum Series P900 is what experienced growers consider the best for large operations. P900 can effectively replace 1000-watt HPS grow light.

Even in full intensity, P900 uses only 515 watts of power. Along with that, it features core coverage of 10 inches for plants reaching up to 3×5 feet for bloom. As for veg coverage, it has core coverage of 4×6 feet. Adult cannabis takes about at least 1 square foot of area and that’s in 3-gallon spot. Keeping that in mind, a P900 grow light is capable of encouraging flowering at least 12 to a maximum of 14.

Just like with P600, P900 features dual light spectrums that provide you the advantage of a grow light for both vegetative and flowering stage. In addition, there is the advantage of using only 279 watts for excellent vegetative growth in an area sized 6’x4’. Along with that, there is the full 515-watt capacity if you turn on the second switch for boosting and modifying spectral output.

AdvancedLED LIGHTS SERIES XML350

The AdvancedLED Light Series XML350 is the market’s top choice for the newcomers in indoor growers. This specific LED panels is a great choice, especially for growers in need of quality lighting in area the same as small to medium size tents. Brought by AdvancedLED, the company boasts of one of the top selling light panels that are not only high quality but at competitive prices, not to mention their products come with lifetime limited-warranty.

AdvancedLED Light Series XML350 is one of the top LED grow lights thanks to its high specs:

• 4.5” x 4.5” coverage at 18” height
• Core bloom at 4×4”
• 600w – 800w HPS/MH light at 300 watts power only
• 11+ spectrums offering nutritional value from UV to IR.
• 2 switches (“Veg” and “Bloom”) for controlling intensity.
• 3W replaceable LED light chips
• Superior quality USA-made CREE XML, White LEDs and Bridgelux Blue
• 90-degree collimator lens
• Uses input voltage of 85-264V
• 18lbs and measures 19.5”x19.5”x3”
• Lasts up to 100, 000 hours and over 20-years of 12-hour days

LED Lights VS HID Lamps

There are great benefits to LED lights being substitute to common indoor growing light sources. For one, LEDs significantly reduces heart and power consumption. Compared to more established light sources like HIDs, LEDs produce significantly less heat. With that, they are more energy efficient and do not take a lot of expense for ventilation and coolness.

Compared to HIDs, LED bulbs use electricity much better and more efficiently. These light sources run cooler and do not need ballast. Furthermore, LED bulbs do not wear out after 50, 000 hours of use or even longer. LEDs are superior lighting choice for indoor growing, especially for growing cannabis, for these are capable of mimicking real sunlight with a price equal to a fraction of the cost when running HID lamps.

Light for Your Plants – Important Things to Consider

If you have decided to install LED lamps for your indoor plants, you have two most important things to consider in choosing the LED grow light to purchase. First, you need to keep in mind the size of the area you need the LED grow light to cover. Is it only a closet, an entire room or your whole basement? Considering the area, you need to ensure the grow light can cover all.

Second and last, you need to think about the intensity of the light you need. The intensity depends on the stage your plants are in. Are they are sprouting seeds just yet or you want to maximize the flowering? Think about the planting stage your plants are and the intensity of the light it will need to grow healthy and fast.

Choosing the Right Light Intensity and Coverage for Your Plants

In terms of intensity, you need something to know. That is, in choosing a grow light you should just ignore the lumens specifications. This is because lumens apply only to humans. This rating is for measuring light’s brightness for human eyes. Instead, you should pay more attention to PAR and wattage specifications. Along with that, look at the manufacturer guidelines for light coverage.

PAR

PAR refers to photosynthetically active radiation. It indicated the intensity of the LED’s light along with the color it emits. For cannabis to thrive, you need broad-spectrum bright light. With PAR, the light emitted is within 400nm to 700nm spectrum range. In color, it ranges from blue all the way to red and infrared.

How does PAR help you in choosing LED with right intensity and coverage? You see, the higher that the PAR number, the more it says that light is good for growing. With LED, you can manufacturers that offer panels and bulbs capable of providing up to 100% usable light. It means that you will never waste light by going into heat with LED, unlike with high-pressure sodium lamps or with metal halides.

When shopping for grow lights, consider what stage of growing your plant is. For instance, if yours is sprouting seeds, you don’t really need intense lighting. On the other hand, if you are flowering then that means that you certainly will need intense lighting. If you do not want your lighting to not be enough to cause blooming, you should pay close attention to the light’s specs and the covered area.

To sum up, you need to look at the areas covered, wattage and PAR when shopping the right LED grow lights. Always remember these three and you will be able to narrow down your choices for LED grow lights. Following choosing light intensity and coverage, the next section introduces you to some of the top LED plant lights available in the market.

Why Do You Need LED Grow Lights?

As mentioned, there were other lighting methods used before the popularity of LED grow lights, such as fluorescent bulbs and pressure sodium lamps. However, these methods weren’t favorable for many cultivators, especially for owners of small grow rooms that need a small, compact structure. These types of lights required a lot of space in order to set the entire equipment. This is because a huge amount of heat is produced and there’s a need for a good ventilation system to avoid the likelihood of heat buildup. Heat is also a very serious concern that can affect the development and health of weeds or cannabis plants.

LED grow lights, on the other hand, take up only a minimal amount of space, do not need new bulb replacements, use half the electricity to function and do not contribute extra heat. They are also significantly cooler than any conventional grow lights. Some other remarkable benefits of LED lights include:

• Light Quality to Generate Higher Yields. Grow room owners have better control of the greenhouse environment. They can supply different light inputs in order to steer their crops’ yields. They can also tailor the light spectrum specifically to their crop requirement rather than producing unwanted and ineffective light.
• Eco-friendly due to Less Humidity and Heat. LEDs generate lower heat than the heat given our by hot filaments used in traditional bulbs. If high metal halide lights or high pressure sodium are used for a long time in a day, they emit a lot of heat. This increases humidity and environmental temperature within the greenhouse structure. It needs additional ventilation to cool the environment to avoid damage to the crop or excess heat.
• Easy to Install and Compact. LED grow lights are available in an extremely compact structure that’s easy to manage. No technical know-how or expertise is needed to get the lights installed. You just need to locate an appropriate place to hand the lights above the plants at the appropriate distance.
• Adjustable Wavelengths. You can easily adjust the wavelengths, and choose the blooming phase and modes for vegetative. This allows you to have a better control over your growing. You can also employ a variety of LED lights specific to your farming requirements.
• Stimulate Uniform or Early Growth of Plants. In contrast to the traditional sources of lighting, LED lights produce narrow spectrum wavelengths absorbed by the plants. They can also be easily tailored for different growth requirements of plants at different stages. The early vegetative stage is an important phase to the development of the plant. This is because this stage is where the plant requires the right light intensity in order to stimulate efficient growth.Majority of traditional lights aren’t suitable for this stage because they don’t have the ability to produce uniform light. This means that some plants might receive intense light while others don’t. This can be very damaging to plants. LED lights, on the other hand produce even lights through every point of its surface. The use of these lights can ensure growers a uniform light distribution regardless of the plant location in the indoor environment.
• Energy savings. Another notable benefit of LED lights is its energy efficiency. It has been found that the use of LED grow lights instead of other conventional lighting methods in greenhouse environments can decrease energy consumption significantly. Hence, LED grow lights are the ideal Eco-friendly indoor growing solutions for those who want to save energy and money.

These are actually some of the reasons why we love LED grow lights. These lights are designed not only to improve the health of your plants and increase your yield, but also to save you money without too much hassle.

LED Grow Lights Safety

What are protective eyeglasses? Why you need to wear them? The reason is the same as why you cannot or should not look directly at the sun. If you tried looking at the sun for more than a few seconds, surely you have experienced seeing spots before. If you look directly to the sun, the result is you may have burned retinas, cataracts and may even become blind.

The sunlight can have serious harm to your sight and that is why you need protective eyewear when working with grow lights too. LED grow lights mimic the sun’s light, which mean they can be as damaging as the sun. You must always protect your eyes whenever you tend to your plants and use your LED grow light.

Although the effects may not manifest right away, working without protective wear will fry your eyes in weeks, months or years after. On that note, make sure to protect yourself by wearing goggles or glasses such as the following protective eyewear:

Method Seven LED Grow Room Protective Glasses

When it comes to grow room protective glasses, Method Seven is at the top of the choices. Categorized by light types, Method Seven features some of the best protection from LED grow lights. Besides protective eyewear for LED lights, they also have protective eyeglasses against HPS lamps and Metal Hallide. Using Method Seven eyeglasses, you can see in true color when testing your plants but with your eyes safe and protected from UV and IR.

Apollo Horticulture AHFR-Cultivator-1 Indoor Hydroponics Grow Room Glasses

This one is great protective eyeglasses too but it comes at a lesser price tag than with Method Seven. Just like Method Seven, Apollo Horticulture is still rated high for being able to protect you from UV and IR rays as well as glares from LED, MH and HPs lights. With using Apollo Horticulture, you can enjoy reduced eyestrain whenever you work under different grow lights. Affordable, it gives optimum protection and clarity whenever you work.

Why Choose LED Lights for Growing Cannabis

Considering all the benefits of LED grow lights, it goes to say it is the best choice for when growing cannabis. Compared to other grow lights, it reduces your electricity consumption and runs cooler too. As such, it definitely shows better results than with HIPs, high-pressure sodium and even metal halide lamps. It can lasts for years without replacing even if you have it running for 24 hours every day.

What Kind or How Many Grow Lamps to Get

For a newbie or someone just experimenting, you can start with small 100w grow lamp. If it is not enough, you can always add supplemental lamps like a red lamp for added IR during the flowering time. On the other hand, if you have a tent big enough to carry two to four cannabis plants, you probably need at least 200w grow light.

For plants ranging from four to six, grow lights under the 300w to 450w range are great choices. If you have 6 or more plants, you need to stop for a bit to consider two things. First, are sure your locality allows growing more than 6 cannabis plants? Second, if allows you should probably get two grow light panels and have them daisy-chained.

By daisy chaining, you have the panels connected to each other by their power cords. This way, you can easily control the panels using a single timer. Another consideration for what kind or how many grow lamps you should get is the cannabis strain that you are growing. The fact is some strains grow larger, some need a lot of space and some need more light.

Can LED Lights Burn Your Weeds?

It is very unlikely that LED lights will ever burn your cannabis. As mentioned before, LED grow lights run cooler than with other grow lights. As such, it offers not danger if your plants ever get too close to the lights. LED lights are cool that you can ever touch it with your hand without ever burning yourself. If you are worried about the health of your weeds, burns are signs you should look out.

However, since LED grow lights cannot burn your cannabis, the burns might be a result of something else. Yellow or brown spots on the leaves as well as serrated edges curling upward means your weeds are getting too much heat. Besides these, there are other important signs to look out for in ensuring your weeds grow healthy.

Other Signs to Look Out to Determine Plant Health

• OverwateringYou should look out for overwatering. This is common mistake to new growers. To prevent, it would help if you have hygrometer with you. This tool will help you determine if the soil is dry or moist enough. Overwatering is not good for if there is too much water, the leaves will begin to droop and curl towards the stem. If overwatering continues to be problem, you can try creating drainage. You can do it by poking holes into the soil, which will help aerate the plants.
• Overfeeding

  Make sure you do not over feed your cannabis, especially if you are utilizing pre-made nutrients. If you feed them too much, the weeds will have random spots with edges curling downward. To cure this, you can water the plants using pure water so you can cut back a bit on nutrients. This way, the plants will have more room to grow within just the right time.

• Right Alkalinity

  To ensure the health of your weeds, it is important to test the soil and water for pH levels. More than that, you need to ensure your weed has right amount of alkalinity to flourish. The ideal level of alkalinity ranges between 6 to 7 pH. To achieve the right alkalinity, you can try the trick of not watering with tap water. You can also leave a container of tap water overnight to de-chlorinate. Use pH tester to check if the alkalinity is just right.

What are the Wattage Requirements to Grow your Plants?

As a rule of thumb, it is best to use a minimum of thirty-two watts for every square foot of growing area. When possible, it is also recommended to use between fifty and eighty watts for every square foot when using LED lights.

Commons Misconceptions about LED Watt

If you have been looking for the best LED grow lights for your indoor plants, then you have probably found that many manufacturers give a wattage rating for each of their models. You probably think that you will save a lot when you get a model with more watts in just a few dollars.

Unfortunately, such numbers are not always accurate for most of the LED lights you can find on the market. Usually, they represent the maximum output of the LED in the light. However, these lights are rarely able to output anywhere near such numbers. It is also important to note that theoretically, wattage numbers are just a measure of the energy that goes into the light, and not the measurement of light emitted.

Vital Factors to Consider when Choosing the Best LED Grow Lights

When looking for the best LED grow light, whether for the first time or as upgrade for the light you already have, there are two most important things to consider. When you go shopping, consider these two factors:

1. The Light Spectrum
   This refers to the variety of colors present in the emitted light. Many of the LED grow lights available today consist of several different colors light emitting diodes that provide a huge spectrum of colors.
   According to Science, plants generally need more blue light during their vegetative stage and more red light during its flowering stage. This is one of the reasons why you probably see LED lights that emit a purplish light, a combination of blue and red LEDS. However, it is believed that more colors, which include those that are invisible to the naked-eye and UV light, have remarkable effects on the development and growth of plants. But, most LED grow lights do not offer UV light because UV emitting LEDs are costly.
   As what we have been taught in grade school, while light consists of a huge spectrum of colors, so the use of white LEDs is beneficial to provide the best range of colors for plants. Infrared light is also a valuable component of many of the light that can be found in the market today. In addition, it is considered to be essential for plant growth.
   Don’t worry, most LED lights available these days will grow your plants, once you have enough of them for the space you are trying to light. However, if you are looking to maximize the growth of your plants, it is a great idea to choose LED grow lights that provide a huge spectrum of colors.
2. The Plant Growing Space
   The availability of the space is an important factor to consider before you buy a new LED grow light. This will determine the size and amount of lamps you will need for your indoor plants. Measure the size of your garden to know how many LED grow lights you’ll need. You need to make sure that the lights will provide the best coverage when installed.
3. The Plants you are Growing
   The Right LED grow lights that best suit your needs will also depend on what plants you are growing. All LED grow lights will do their job, but particular models are specifically made to address the needs of certain plants. This is because plant requires different kinds of wavelengths during every growth stage.
4. Electricity Consumption and Output
   In general, LED lights are outstanding power and energy savers. However, they also come in a variety of wattages, so choose the right one that matches your needs. Your LED light will need to operate for at least ten to eleven hours every day. This can significantly increase your electricity bills. In order to save more on your LED grow lights, make an informed choice and read the product description carefully before making a purchase.
5. Flexibility and Ease of Use
   When it comes to buying quality LED grow lights, you will want to invest in the product that will give you enough flexibility and convenience while using it. Therefore, make sure that the lights are easy to use and flexible. There are times when you need to adjust or reposition your lamps according to the growth stage and the type of plants. So, choose quality lamps that are efficient, easy to use and will allow you to set them up with less effort. You also need to ensure that the light intensity and wavelength are adjustable.
6. Budget for Purchasing LED Grow Lights
   Besides how much light you need to consider, your budget is of course one of the factors you need to consider. Do you have the funds to upgrade from your current HID setup to LED system? The cost of LED grow lights is a bit high at first but if considering the amount of money you can save, it is worth it. If you have funds for upgrade, LED grow lights are considerable choice.

These are some of the most important things you need to take into consideration when looking for the best LED grow lights for your plants. When growing weeds, it is important to be equipped with a quality lighting source that will give you all the benefits you need to generate great results.

How Much Light Do you Need?

In general, you will want about 25W per low light plant like herbs and lettuce and about 50W per high light plant, such as cannabis, tomatoes, peppers and more. Most manufacturers will usually give a coverage area, but it is a smart idea to account for the type and number of plants you grow in order to determine the best grow light suited for you.

Tips to Grow your Indoor Plant with the right LED Grow Lights

By now, you probably have an idea of which LED grow light would be best for your crops and the right amount of watts needed for your grow space. Now that you finally know which LED grow light to purchase, you have to use it appropriately for optimum yield and growth.

One of the biggest mistakes that cultivators make with LED lights is not having sufficient light and not placing the grow light at the right distance. Without providing your growing space enough light coverage means less than robust plant growth. Proper placement of light will also affect its development.

Keeping appropriate distance between your plants and LED grow lights is essential to growth and robust photosynthesis of the plants. LED grow lights provide the wavelengths of light needed by plants for flowering and growth. It is recommended to increase the distance between the light source and the top of the canopy of the plants as the light become intense. This just means that LED grow lights of various power ratings will perform best at varying distances.

You do not want to install your grow lights too high, as this can lessen the intensity. But, distancing the grow lights from your plants can provide greater coverage. On the other hand, installing your LED lights too low can cause damage to your crops over time, so it is important to have proper balance. Make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s recommendation and make adjustments as necessary.

Switching to LED technology from HID fixture can lead to overwatering. LED grow lights do not generate similar kind of infrared light or heat, so they do not dry out the plants and soil as much. Thus, you need to be very observant and ensure that you are not putting too much water on your plants.

Growing plants indoor is not easy, and it can be a massive investment. Thanks to innovative LED grow lights available in the market, you can now have a wonderful option to grow cannabis and other plants indoors. We hope that you have enjoyed this buyer’s guide and found something that will guide you as you search the market for the best LED grow lights that will match your needs. If you feel overwhelmed with the different product options, read this guide to make an informed decision in the end.