Has anyone had luck (good or bad) with LED grow lights? I know they are supposed to be the new "cool" thing to have but I am wondering if I should try replacing some of my CFL lights with a few of these (see picture). I hear they are much more efficient???
The ones I am looking at here are mixed spectrum (blue / red)
Anyone who can help it is most appreciated...
-Jack
I have been looking over LED and some of the 'hype' about them. I think they are an improvement. They are also very expensive.
I would think that for a grow light you might have to grow plants that don't need strong light. Plants like African Violets.
Have you seen this light in person? or just in a catalog?
eye candy>
Well I purchased a couple of the LED mixed spectrum spotlights and have been trying them for the past week...
So far I am quite impressed. I have noted a marked increase in the growth rate of some of my sunlight-hungry plants (Sturt's Desert Pea, etc...) when compared to my flourescent system.
So far so good but will keep updating...
-Jack
by the way, the bulbs run $49.95 a piece.
I have been looking online for LED replacement bulbs for home lighting, especially for my desk lamp. Your price of $50 is right in line with the prices I have seen.
Can you notice a 'difference' in the quality of the light? Does it seem like natural light and when you put your hand under it do you feel any warmth, like sunlight warms the skin?
I am just not ready to spend $30-35 for a light bulb even if they last for a decade.
Yellow Croton>
Not alot of heat coming from the lamps, but the light is quite bright and I am really noticing a difference in the growth of the plants that are under the LED lights as a supplemental light source VS the lights under normal grow lights.
I am very happy. I ordered another bulb today. The fact that this particular bulb will fit in a standard bulb socket is a real plus... I can use cheap clip-on fixtures to move the light wherever I need.
You can find the bulbs at http://www.htgsupply.com .
I checked out the link, sounds interesting. I looked for a guage for spacial distance on the bulb. The light sockets in the green house are fairly high..is there a distance that works best?
Rj
I have mine set at 18" away... I know everyone says they need to be much closer but I am having spectacular results.
Okay...thanks, so putting them in the regular fixtures will probably be needless.
I wonder if we can build our own led lights...I assume the led's are a special type? I need to go back and read!
Yes! Study up on it and share with us!
Thanks!
Nan
mocjack, I followed the link but could not find the mixed spectrum lamp. I found a blue and a red, but not one bulb with both. Don't plants need both color spectrums?
i just checked too... looks like they have the blue ones and red ones but not the mixed spectrum ones like I bought a few weeks ago. I am sure they will have more posted on there soon.
Thanks, but what is the value of an all blue and/or an all red spectrum light? Don't plants need both? So I'm just wondering why they would market those. Am I missing something?
Well someone may want to correct me, but as I understand it BLUE light (sames as in the high-noon sky) is more important when you are sprouting seeds or wanting initial growth...
Anyone want to correct that?
Just so you can get an idea of the results, here is a picture of one of my groups...
The plants and the time under light are all labeled, but you might have to zoom in on the picture to read them...
I think you will agree the results are pretty good!
that last picture the text was too hard to read... here is a better one...
The way I understood it is that you bought the mixed spectrum package. I think the mixed spectrums are not in the same bulbs, but in a series of multiple bulbs...but that was just from a brief perusal.
no, they offer a mixed-spectrum bulb. Look at the picture I posted above... you will see those bulbs contain both the blue and red LED. They do offer these bulbs, but they appear to be out of stock. Good luck!!!
This is great info and thanks so much mocjack for sharing your experience. I was wondering about them. Please keep us posted on how they continue to work for you.
Try this link: http://www.htgsupply.com/growlighttypes.asp?categoryID=1&subcategoryID=168
grow lights --> LED grow lights. THey show the red & blue mix.
They're very star trekish aren' they?
Okay, thanks.
I'm trying to think of a way to light up a whole shelf in my greenhouse with them.
Now seeing as I am in the Houston area, if you do light up a whole greenhouse shelf with them I expect an invite over to see this!!!!!
I will keep you all posted on my luck with these.
Pictures needed for the far north needed please!! Whooo hooo this might be reported as a UFO sighting cuz that will be bright! Merry Christmas.
Heck, you can come and help me put it in if ya like!
Seriously your welcome to visit anytime. I'm just starting to put some pictures of the garden on the web.
http://jungleheights.blogspot.com/
Rj
