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Location

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Date Posted

Tasmania Australia

I am looking at giving grow lights a try this coming season.
I was thinking of maybe looking at the LED lights.
Has anyone tried these or are using these LED versions?
I was hoping some fellow growers might have some input on what brands / versions are worth looking at.
I don't want any big fancy setup, i will only be putting 3 maybe 4 plants under them.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

4/1/2020 4:42:50 AM

South Dakota

https://cobshop.net/
AutoCob 3500 is a great light for a little over $100.00. Don't know about international shipping, but these lights are totally awesome.

4/1/2020 8:35:47 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

They’re a dime a dozen these days. Just pick one with more than 4 stars after more than 100 ratings on amazon and you’ll be fine.

4/1/2020 8:40:29 AM

Springfield, VT

I have several of them, get lights with a broad light spectrum not just the purple light ones. They do work better than the T% fluorescent lights with less heat.

4/1/2020 10:40:06 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Make sure the switch is of before plugging them in. I am still seeing purple spots from 3 days ago.

4/1/2020 1:34:30 PM

Tasmania Australia

Thanks for the replies, i will have a look at them.

4/2/2020 2:09:01 AM

Grittyville, WA

I have had good results under white led which do not seem to harm the eyes.

4/2/2020 12:59:59 PM

Tasmania Australia

Silly question, but do you leave the grow lights on 24 hours a day, or is there a set time you run them?

4/3/2020 5:30:46 AM

Georgia

You will probably get a half a dozen answers to your last question, and whatever works for people works for people. I leave mine on for 24 hrs. until the seed sprouts with the two cot leaves and then I give them about 8 hours a night with the light off. One year I left the LED lights on for 24 hours a day and I personally found that my plants seemed to get leggy. It is almost like they needed the night off to rest and bulk up.

I totally agree with Orangeneck about just picking a highly rated one. I chose the one from Root Farm which runs about $100 and is one of on the highest rated ones on Amazon. Keep in mind, I think the lower end LED ones are perfect for getting to one or two true leaves. But, if you are trying to grow the plant inside for a 4-6 week head start then you might want to look at the pricier models.

Just my two cents which is worth less with inflation.

4/3/2020 7:11:57 PM

Tasmania Australia

Thanks for the reply, I am really only planing to put them under the lights as soon as they sprout and only keep them under there until they are at the size ready to go out.
I forgot to ask also, what height from the plants do you usually have the lights set at?

4/4/2020 2:27:38 AM

Georgia

I don't think you can really screw up the height because the LEDs give off virtually no heat. So you are not creating an easy bake oven for your plants. The root farm LEDs that I use have a built in stand that can be adjusted up. I can put 6 one gallon pots under the unit and get coverage on all the plants. My unit is about 5-6 inches above the plant.

I use the baggie method to germinate the seeds on a heat mat and then transfer them to pots. I hate not knowing if a seed is going to germinate. Others are fearful of transplanting too many times. So you have to kind of pick what is right for you.

4/4/2020 9:55:38 AM

Central NY

My led will burn leaves that close...packaging should have recommendations...just watch closely for injury when you first set it up. Especially If they have the UV bulbs

4/4/2020 11:29:02 AM

Georgia

I should have clarified that I don't think you can screw it up with a $90 LED panel like I have. My LED stand has minimum setting of 10 inches and a maximum setting of 16 inches. The one gallon pots that I use are 7 inches tall. But, if you find an LED panel that can fry a leaf for under a $100 then make sure to read the instructions instead of doing the typical guy thing. And tell me about it so I can upgrade. :-)

4/4/2020 1:58:33 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

depending on your LED, they are have different efficiencies as far as light output. You might not cook you plants from heat with the latest generation of LED's...but there is a question of light toxicity. 3 years ago, this was not an issue for most growers. Now, if you have the lights set for more than 1200 uMols, you are risking things. Grow room lights are evolving faster than the growers.

I have not had the opportunity yet to play with the white light LED's. But if I had to buy a new light now, without a doubt I would go for the natural light of the white(full spectrum including green spectrum) LED's. The purple is too difficult to determine nutrient deficiencies.

I say all this with quite a few years of winter grow experience. My investment today would be much different than it was 5 years ago. Those growers that say for seed starting with HO T'5s do not know what they are talking about. For years...I have listened to the comments....T5 badboys is the ultimate...when I knew that they weren't.

4/4/2020 3:15:12 PM