LED hydroponic lighting systems are efficient, cost-effective solutions for hydroponic gardening, and produce the best results possible. In order to grow and produce leaves, all flowers, fruits, vegetables, and other plants need to go through photosynthesis, a process that converts light energy into chemical energy. The chemicals it produces become nutrients from which the plants are nourished. Incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs do not work for this purpose, but LED lighting offers the full color spectrum of sunshine, and therefore provides what the plants need to grow and thrive.
Occasionally, people who are familiar with lighting terminology will ask about lumens requirements for the LED systems. However, the word lumens refers to a measurement of light that is seen by the human eye, not by the plants. Therefore, the word lumens is not part of the hydroponic gardening language.
Efficient LED systems offer plants both the amount of light and the colors they need the most. Other types of lighting, such as HID lights, produce some light but not the colors. As a result, plants lit with HID absorb only about 20% of the light, and the rest is wasted energy.
With LED hydroponic lighting, there are no ballasts, as found in HID lighting. In addition, light reflectors are not needed because 100% of the LED light emissions are absorbed by the plants. LEDs are not hot, like HID systems, so no air conditioning is needed and less water is used.
This type of lighting consumes less energy. One study of LED lighting efficiency showed that the these systems use between 50% and 90% less energy than HID light systems, after cooling costs are calculated. In addition, the LEDs are good for the environment because they last approximately 6 times longer, which means less product in the landfills.
When choosing an LED hydroponic system, the color spectrum is the one of the most important considerations. LED grow lights transmit a spectrum, or color range of light, that plants absorb for nutrients. It is necessary to include both red and blue LEDs in the system, because each color serves a different purpose. Red LED lights encourage flowering, and also produce the greatest amount of photosynthesis and leaf growth. Blue lights, on the other hand, encourage plant growth.
There are also lighting systems that use LED wavelength lighting panels. In this type of system, the red and blue LEDs are scientifically balanced in a wide angle format. That eliminates the necessity of moving red and blue lights around until the plants are evenly exposed. Another efficient time saver is an automatic timer, although it is certainly possible to turn LED hydroponic systems on and off manually.
It is important to make sure the LED lighting system is purchased from a reputable company. There are a few unscrupulous vendors in the marketplace who sell this type of lighting at a low discount price point. However, those lights do not stimulate plant growth because they are not bright enough. Unfortunately, the unknowing consumers do not find this out until much later, after they have purchased the light bulbs, set up their lighting system, and waited patiently for the plants to grow, which does not happen.
The sizes of LED hydroponic systems vary, as does the recommended area covered and distance from lighting to plants. These details should be discussed with the company who sells the equipment because they are the experts for their own particular system. With a little research, everyone can talk knowingly with a company who sells LED hydroponic lighting systems and find exactly what suits their purpose, budget, needs, and lifestyle.
