Best Indoor Grow Lights (2020 Reviews)

Choosing the best grow light for your situation can seem hard. There are thousands of lighting options on the market. Every other cannabis grower has an opinion about what you should be doing, and getting two suggestions that agree is uncommon.

Choosing the light that’s right for you can be simple, though. If you know the situation for which you’re trying to choose a light, then you can narrow down your options. Instead of looking at every light on the market, try just looking at a subset. For example, narrow down your choices to a single lighting style that’s known to be the brightest and most efficient option: LEDs. From there, you can choose a lighting rig that fits in your budget and is tailored to your operation’s size and style.

Pot Growing Lights vs Regular Lights-What’s the Difference?

First of all, why do you need grow lights at all? Most homes are filled with different lights already, right? Isn’t one light pretty much like another? Well, not quite.

Regular home lights are designed to help humans see, not to help plants grow. Those are two very different requirements. People can see under a wide variety of conditions – from outdoors under full sun to indoors at night by the light of a single lamp. While full sunlight is definitely brighter, it’s hard to understand exactly how much brighter it is.

That’s because the human pupil can change how much light it takes in. In bright daylight, the pupil stays very small, letting in only a fraction of the light available. Meanwhile, indoor lights may appear just as bright under artificial lights because pupils expand to let in more light.

Lightbulb manufacturers take advantage of this biological state. Regular lights are usually nowhere near as bright as daylight, because we just don’t need that much light to see clearly. In fact, producing that much light is a waste, because the pupil will shrink to filter more of it out.

Plants don’t work that way. Plants use light as fuel, not as a method of sensory perception. For most plants, the brighter the light the better. The amount of light that humans can use to see color and navigate a building is nowhere near enough for most plants to grow.

That’s why grow lights exist. They specialize in producing bright light that can fuel plant growth. Many modern grow lights, especially LEDs, even target the specific parts of the light spectrum that plants absorb the best. To people, the light just looks white, but to plants, it’s perfectly designed to achieve maximum photosynthesis.

How to Buy Indoor Grow Lights: Things to Consider

Once you’ve decided you need a grow light, it’s time to figure out your requirements. A cannabis grow can be anything from a single plant kept in a closet to a sprawling greenhouse with hundreds of plants. The light you use depends on the size of your grow, your budget, and how specific you want to get with your light spectrum. To make those decisions, you first need to understand how lights are categorized and why.

Wattage

Electricity usage is generally measured by the number of watts used per hour. A single home incandescent lightbulb is usually 60 watts. That means that over the course of one hour, it uses 60 watts of energy while making light.

Your electricity bill depends on how many watts of electricity you use per month. This is usually charged at the kilowatt hour level – how many thousands of watts you used per hour, for how many hours. The exact price of electricity varies from area to area, but it’s usually about 13 cents per kilowatt hour.

In your home, switching from an inefficient incandescent light to something like a fluorescent or LED bulb might save you a few dollars a year at that price. On the other hand, if you’re lighting a grow room, you might save hundreds of dollars over the course of the year. Knowing the actual wattage used by your grow lights will help you compare them apples-to-apples on cost.

Light Spectrum

Light is an incredibly wide spectrum. At its base level, light is just the movement of electromagnetic waves through space. When the waves are further apart, the light is said to be on the red end of the spectrum. When the waves are closer together, light is on the blue end of the spectrum.

The human eye can only see a tiny fraction of the light in the universe. Just below what people can see lies the infrared spectrum, and even lower than that is the frequency used for radar, then FM radio, then TV. Yes, radio waves are technically part of the light spectrum. On the other end, there’s ultraviolet light, then x-ray frequencies.

Plants can absorb more light than we can see. Many plants, including cannabis, benefit from light in spectrum that are invisible to people, both infrared and ultraviolet. The light that plants need is called “PAR,” or photosynthetic active radiation. This is the range from about 360 nanometers to about 780 nanometers. For comparison, humans can see light from about 380-720nm.

Chlorophyll can make use of any light in that region. There are two parts of the spectrum that chlorophyll can use better than others. The range between 430-500nm is easy for plants to absorb, and so is the range from 620-700. Those correspond with blue and red light, essentially. Meanwhile, green and yellow light, from 500-620, is not as well absorbed. Look for lights that cater to this kind of plant-specific lighting to get the most growth out of the light you provide.

Grow Cycle

Just like animals have different stages of growth – baby, child, adult – so do plants. During different parts of the grow cycle, your plants will need different things. Blue light, that part of the spectrum from 430-500nm, is particularly good for plants working on leaves and stems. That’s the vegetative stage, when plants are developing their foliage and other vegetation.

Meanwhile, flowering plants need much more red light, from 620-700nm. This encourages growth of the buds that you want to harvest, while not distracting the plant with further foliage growth.

Plants also need different amounts of light depending on their growth stage. Most cannabis plants use day-night cycles to decide when to flower. Cannabis is native to parts of the world where the days are longer during the summer and much shorter during the winter. They evolved to grow when days are longer than nights, and flower when days and nights were about the same length. This helps wild plants produce seeds before winter hits.

This means that growers need to understand what cannabis plants want in order to trigger the growth of buds. Cannabis will gladly grow in the vegetative stage with 20 hours of light per day. To trigger the flowering stage, the grower needs to change the light schedule to 12 hours of light out of every 24. Otherwise, buds will simply never really appear. Light rigs that include timers can make this much simpler.

Grow Space Light Coverage

A flashlight doesn’t light up as much area as a floor lamp. Grow lights work the same way. Different grow lamps can provide enough light to fill different amounts of space. Also just like flashlights, the light intensity fades toward the edges of the space it covers.

Most quality grow lights will provide at least one of two measurements – the flowering light footprint and the vegetative light footprint. Cannabis doesn’t need light to be as bright during the vegetative phase. That means that vegetative plants will be perfectly happy growing closer to the edge of the space a grow light covers. Flowering plants need more light, so the area in which the light is appropriately intense will be smaller. For example, a grow light might have a 3’ by 3’ flowering footprint, but a 5’ by 5’ vegetative footprint. That means it covers 9 square feet of flowering plants, but 25 square feet of vegetative plants.

This translates into the number of plants a light can raise. Depending on your plants and your preferred training style, cannabis needs 2-4 square feet per plant. Bushier plants need more space, while narrow plants or Sea of Green plants can be packed closer together. Figure out how much room you have and how many plants you want to grow to figure out the footprint your light should cover.

Grow Space Power/Electrical Requirements & Capabilities

Every grow room is different. That means that the kind of outlets available to you, the grower, are unique to your situation. Some extremely heavy-duty light systems require the same kind of industrial outlet as a clothes dryer, which can be hard to achieve. Others, especially lights like LEDs, can be run off of a standard home outlet. If you’re not sure what kind of outlet you have, you probably have the standard for your country – North America has 120 volt AC outlets in most places, while Europe uses anywhere from 220 to 240 volts DC.

You also need to check the number of amps your circuit can handle. An amp is a measure of exactly how much energy can pass through your electrical system at once. If you’ve ever shorted out a circuit in your home, you probably exceeded the amps it could handle. Plugging too many lights into a single circuit will overload it and short it out, or even cause a fire.

Budget Considerations

Finally, you need to know what you can afford. Starting a cannabis grow costs money. Running the numbers will help you figure out how much you can afford to spend on lights.

First, you need to decide the overall amount you can dedicate to your grow. If you only have $2000 total to spend on your grow, more money won’t appear out of nowhere. However, purchases like your lights can seriously affect your monthly costs. Spending a little more now on lights will help you save money in the long term.

The big variable that lights will affect is your energy cost. A 500 watt light run for 12 hours a day at 13 cents per kilowatt hour costs $23.40 to run for 30 days. The more efficient your lights are, the cheaper your daily upkeep will be. Spending $100 more on a light that saves you $10 a month pays off in ten months.

You have to balance that startup cost with the expenses of purchasing other supplies. A startup grow needs lots of stuff:

• Cannabis seeds or clones
• Fertilizer
• Growing medium – soil and pots, hydroponic systems, etc.
• Trimming and harvesting equipment
• Ventilation
• And more.

Getting lights that generate lots of heat will increase your ventilation costs. Not having enough light can cause your crop to fail and waste time and seeds. Finding the right balance is up to you and your goals.

Spending more on your lights up front can make more sense if you’re legally allowed to sell your cannabis crop. If you’re just growing for your own personal legal use, it might make more sense to by a bare-bones setup and upgrade as you go.

Finally, always check the warranty and return policy on your lights. If something goes wrong with your light, you want the company to guarantee you help. Look for a return policy of at least a few years – if a light manufacturer won’t even back their product for three years, it’s probably not a great light rig.

Why LED Lights Are the Top-Rated Cannabis Grow Lights

Today, LEDs are the best on the market when it comes to grow lights. LED stands for “light-emitting diode.” LEDs have been a focus of serious research for the past two decades, and they’ve become practical for every indoor gardener in recent years. Even the smallest grow can benefit from the prices and options in the LED market today.

An average LED can last upwards of 50,000 hours of use. That’s seven and a half years of daily use, producing light eighteen hours a day. It’s also triple the lifespan of any other grow light. LEDs are energy efficient, using on average 40% less electricity for the same light intensity. Many LEDs are even recyclable.

LED light rigs can produce every color of visible light, and even infrared or ultraviolet. This makes them perfect for use as grow lights. They produce intense, focused light that can help plants grow from seedling to harvest equally well.

How Do LEDs Work?

In order to create light, LEDs put electrons and electron holes together in a specific place: a semiconductor. When electricity flows through the semiconductor, the electrons and the electron holes interact to create light directly. An electron hole sounds fancy, but it’s really just an atom with a positive charge, so it can accept another electron.

The process of connecting electrons and electron holes creates light more efficiently than other types of light generation. Instead of having to follow a multi-step process that puts off heat as a side effect, LEDs make light in one of the most efficient methods found to date.

In general, LEDs can only produce a single color per diode. The color that a diode emits is a result of the distance the electrons have to travel to join an electron hole. Some LEDs are made to produce a single color, while others can be programmed to change colors depending on what’s needed.

While there are dozens of methods to produce LED light, there are two specific types that are most commonly found in grow lights. These styles are called Surface Mounted Device (SMD) and Chip-on-Board (COB) LEDs. In general, SMDs are usually slightly cheaper, because they cannot fit as many diodes in a given space as a result of their connection to the board. On the other hand, SMDs can change color, and each diode can be controlled individually. This lets growers fine-tune their plants’ light intake directly.

On the other hand, COB LEDs cost more, because they can pack in a lot of diodes per square inch. This leads to COB LED lights being brighter than SMD lights with the same dimensions, simply because there are more diodes present. The downside to COBs is that they cannot change color, because tall the lights are on a single chip.

Grow lights often try to mimic daylight. To do this, they use a wide variety of LEDs in their makeup. Some of their diodes are dedicated to UV and IR light, while many more cover the visual spectrum. The brightest LED grow lights often include COB LEDs for the white light and smaller SMD diodes for IR and UV light.

Advantages of LED Lights

• Energy efficient
• Produce minimal heat
• Huge variety of price points
• Options available throughout the light spectrum
• Saves money in the long term

Disadvantages of LED Lights

• Slightly higher startup cost compared to other lights

How do fluorescents compare to LEDs?

One of the light styles most commonly compared to LEDs is fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lights are the curly bulbs made for home lamp use or the long tube lights found in department stores. These lights are also known for producing little heat and for being simple to use, which leads some people to consider them an LED competitor.

The biggest benefit to fluorescent lights is how common they are. You can find fluorescent bulbs in any hardware store. However, they are not as durable or lasting as LEDs. They also are not as bright as LEDs per watt of energy used. Any energy a light doesn’t turn into photons gets turned into heat, so fluorescent bulbs are warmer than LEDs.

LED light bays cost a little more than fluorescent light fixtures up front, because LEDs are not yet as common. Even today, though, when you compare the brightness per watt of fluorescent and LED lights, the LED system usually comes out cheaper. Even better, you don’t have to replace bulbs regularly with LEDs like you do with fluorescents.

If you’re not sure you’re going to grow more than a single plant, fluorescent lights might be the right choice for you. But if you’re planning on growing for a while, then LEDs will help keep costs down in the long run while fostering better plant growth.

LEDs vs HPS

High Pressure Sodium (HPS) are one of the most common grow lights on the market today. They create light through a chemical process that involves energizing xenon gas, mercury vapor, and sodium gas. They produce a lot of light, and they’re often used to light stadiums or as floodlights. The light they produce is orange-yellow, which is great for flowering. To cover the full spectrum, though, some growers find it necessary to supplement HPS lights with other lights that have bluer tones.

For a long time, HPS lights were clearly the strongest grow lights on the market. However, with the advancement of LED technology, the drawbacks of HPS lights are becoming clear. The process HPS lights use to make light also creates a lot of heat. Any grow operation that uses HPS lights is going to have to spend almost as much energy cooling the room as it does on the light itself. HPS lights don’t last as long as LED bays, and they can’t be recycled or disposed of normally. To legally dispose of an HPS light, you need to pay hazardous material fees because of the mercury involved.

In general, HPS lights still work fine as grow lights, but they aren’t the best choice anymore. LEDs are cheaper in the long run, produce more bud per watt of energy, and last longer. LEDs are even better for the environment.

Why don’t all the diodes light up on LED lights sometimes?

If you’re looking at your LED light rig, you might notice that you don’t see light coming from every diode. That’s completely normal. Most LED grow lights have diodes that show light you can’t see. Ultraviolet and infrared light are invisible to people. The diodes that produce this light look like they aren’t really doing anything. However, if the other diodes on your light are working, then the IR and UV lights are too. They’re helping your plant even when you can’t see them.

Best Commercial Cannabis Grow Light Brands

Once you’ve chosen your light style, you can start looking for your lights. Where better to look than at the top manufacturers? There are three big LED cannabis grow light brands that are making great lights at great prices. These brands have a variety of options, so you will definitely find a light that works with your space and budget.

Kind LED Grow Lights

If you’re interested in bar-shaped grow lights or want complete control over your lighting situation, Kind is there for you. Kind produces bar lights that fit narrow spaces and can be flush mounted or hung from the ceiling. They also make lights that offer complete control over the light spectrum. With multiple styles and multiple focuses, Kind has options for you.

What Makes Kind LED Different?

• Worldwide Recognition: The value Kind provides is celebrated by the cannabis community. Kind is the world’s #1 selling LED grow light. The company has won S.T.A.S.H.’s Gear of the Year award four times since 2014. They are one of the most trusted names in LED grow lights worldwide.
• Light Production to Boost Harvests: When it comes to actual results, Kind delivers. They use a full 12-band spectrum of production. This is designed to help boost harvest significantly. By making sure that the full light spectrum is represented, they aim for plants to get all the light they could possibly use. When it comes to actual useful light, Kind lights came in at the top. On average, Kind has the highest PPFD of any LED grow light brand.
• Deep Canopy Penetration: Beyond the light itself, Kind uses the additional aid of secondary optical lenses. These lenses increase the penetration of the light the LEDs produce, helping more light reach more leaves.
• Energy Efficiency: Kind’s LED lights use 40% less electricity than the equivalent HPS light. That’s 40% less money spent monthly on electricity. That kind of savings builds up quickly.
• Certifications: Kind LED lights are also backed up by other organizations: they’re UL listed, and carry CE, ROHS, and FCC certifications.
• A Great Warranty: Kind has a full 90 day warranty, and a three year limited warranty. If you need to return your light for any reason in the first 90 days, you’re covered. If the light fails under normal use in the first three years, Kind will replace it or cover the cost of repairs.

Black Dog LED

Black Dog LED is a light manufacturer that wants to help you understand the lights you’re buying. The lights are rigorously tested to make sure they meet every possible standard of quality. They were the first company to introduce infrared and ultraviolet light to their grow lights. They were the first to produce an LED that could compete with a 1000 watt HPS light. They were even the first to offer a limited lifetime warranty.

What Makes Black Dog LED Different?

• Higher Yields: When it comes to growing, Black Dog LED is prepared to help you increase harvests. They specify that the 840 watt PhytoMAX-2 800 provides 30% higher yields than a 1000 watt HPS light. Watt for watt, that cuts your electricity bill in half while still increasing your harvest.
• Higher Intensity Harvests: Black Dog also prides themselves on the intensity of cannabis grown with their lights. They focus on parts of the light spectrum that they have tested thoroughly. According to their results, Black Dog lights glow in the specific parts of the spectrum that maximize THC, CBD, and terpenoid production. In essence, they are designed to improve your harvest’s quality, not just the quantity.
• Heavy-Duty Quality: The PhytoMAX-2 series, their flagship lights, are some of the most heavy-duty lights on the market. No mater what kind of light you need, their LEDs are some of the best on the market. Since they are built so well, they include fans in the body of the light, to keep the lights running smoothly. These fans minimize the need for extra ventilation in your grow that even other LED lights may create.
• Industrial Discounts: Black Dog LED offers industrial discounts if you’re planning on buying ten or more lights, making them a great choice for commercial growers.
• Certifications: Black Dog is LED is UL listed, and carries CE, ROHS, and FCC certifications.
• A Great Warranty: If you do happen to have an issue with their lights, Black Dog’s warranty is top-notch. The return policy is complete with no questions asked for 90 days. However, the warranty is where they shine. The limited warranty covers normal use failure for as long as they still have parts for the light. Availability is guaranteed for five years.

California Lightworks

Another great option when it comes to customization, California Lightworks has two great series for indoor growers. The SolarSystem series works with a controller that can connect to as many lights as you want. It offers complete customization of the light spectrum and the timing. Meanwhile, the SolarXtreme series is a budget-friendly offering that comes pre-programmed for your preferred part of the spectrum.

What Makes California Lighworks Different?

• Chaining Lights Together: If you expect to expand your garden in the future, California Lightworks can help. All California Lightworks lights within a series can be chained together. This allows for you to start with a single light and get more as you move into bigger spaces. This also allows you to grow seedlings on one side of the room and mature plants on the other.
• Proprietary Controller: This chaining ability also allows both series of lights to run off a single controller. The SolarSystem lights in particular use a specific controller that allows you to choose exactly which parts of the spectrum to use. The built-in timer lets you adjust the light spectrum to the nanometer depending on the time of day, not to mention the phase of the growth cycle. It also comes with a variety of programs included, so you’re not overwhelmed in the beginning.
• A Great Warranty: They offer a five-year limited warranty on the SolarSystem, and a three-year limited warranty for the SolarXtreme series. These cover any problems that occur during normal operation. They also have a 90-day risk-free return period, where lights can be sent back for any reason for a full refund.
• Worldwide Recognition: As a company, California Lightworks has more than 50,000 lights installed worldwide. Their lights are endorsed by everyone from the University of Illinois Urbana to Amsterdam seed companies.
• Energy Efficiency: California Lightwork’s LED lights are 40% more energy efficient than HPS light equivalents. This saves your garden a lot of money when it comes to your electricity bill.

Best of the Best in Indoor Grow Lights

If you’re looking for the best LED lights on the market, the following are the cream of the crop. Whether you want a specific wattage or a specific price, there’s an option here for you.

The 5 Best 600-watt LED Grow Lights

K3 Series2 XL600 LED Grow Light

If you’re interested in a simple, easy-to-use 600 watt LED grow lamp, the XL600 should be your next choice. It has both ultraviolet and infrared diodes, along with multiple other diodes to cover the full spectrum. The 12-band, 15 diode light will help any hobby grower fulfil their crops potential.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 3’ by 4’ footprint. Each light can cover 4-6 plants.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 380-730 nm.
• Grow Cycle: Full spectrum light is good for all stages of growth.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 288w. HID wattage equivalent: 600w.
• Setup: The XL600 is a plug-and-play light. It is a hanging light, so you need to install ceiling hooks or another overhanging support. From there, simply hang the light from the support and plug the cord into the light, then the wall or the timer.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120/240v. Peak PPFD: 663 at 30”.
• Cost: $595.00
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

PhytoMAX-2 LED Grow Lights’

A high-powered light with a low power requirement, PhytoMAX-2 competes with lights at the professional levels. Using 40% less electricity than non-LED lights of comparable brightness, it’s the perfect choice for someone looking to upgrade. Designed for a professional setting, it even comes with a commercial-quality heat sink installed.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 5’ by 5’ footprint. Each light can bring 6-8 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 365-750nm.
• Grow Cycle: Full spectrum light is good for all stages of growth.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 630w. HID wattage equivalent: 1260w.
• Setup: Install eyehooks in ceiling or otherwise install hanging apparatus. Connect the included ratcheting hangers and connect the light to the hangers. Connect cord to lamp, then to outlet or timer.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120/240v. Peak PPFD: 634 at 27”.
• Cost: $1549.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

SolarSystem 550

Whether you want a single light for a grow tent or a hundred lights to fill a whole room, the SolarSystem 550 is there for you. The light works with a controller that allows you to adjust your preferred lighting frequencies exactly. If you want complete control over your plants, the SolarSystem 550 is the way to go.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 4’ flowering footprint. Each light can bring 4-6 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Programmable – requires SolarSystem Controller, sold separately.
• Grow Cycle: Programmable spectrum – can be customized to fit whatever you want.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 400w. HID wattage equivalent: 600w.
• Setup: Install hanging mechanism from ceiling or rack. Connect ratcheting hangers to both ceiling and the light. Install controller by plugging it into the port. Then connect power cord to the light, then to the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120-240v. PPF: 888.
• Cost: $799.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

SolarSystem 550 Veg

If you just want to focus on the vegetative stage, you can look at the SolarSystem 550 Veg. This light includes a heavier focus on the blue end of the spectrum, with more diodes dedicated to UV and blue light.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 6’ by 8’ vegetative footprint. Each light can cover up to 12 plants in vegetative phase.
• Light Spectrum: Programmable – requires SolarSystem Controller, sold separately.
• Grow Cycle: Programmable spectrum – can be customized to fit whatever you want, but has a preference towards vegetative phase lighting.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 400w. HID wattage equivalent: 600w.
• Setup: Install hanging mechanism from ceiling or rack. Connect ratcheting hangers to both ceiling and the light. Install controller by plugging it into the port. Then connect power cord to the light, then to the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120-240v. PPF: 888.
• Cost: $799.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

SolarXtreme 500

If the SolarSystem lights appeal to you, but you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, look at the SolarXtreme 500. It’s built with the same precision and has the same power as the higher-end models. The big difference is that the SolarXtreme comes with a set spectrum. If you just need a great full-spectrum light, it’s a great choice.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 4’ flowering footprint. Can bring four plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 400-760nm.
• Grow Cycle: Full spectrum light is great for all parts of the grow cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 400w. HID wattage equivalent: 600w.
• Setup: Install ceiling or rack hanging mount. Attach light to your preferred ratcheting hangers, then plug in.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. Peak PPFD: 800 at 18”.
• Cost: $449.00
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

Best Cloning and Vegetative Stage Lights

SolarSystem 275 Veg

The SolarSystem ecosystem has something for everyone. If you want to have precise control over the spectrum for your vegetative plants, the SolarSystem 275 can help. It’s great for guiding clones and seedlings into healthy, vigorous plants. It also connects to other SolarSystem lights, so you can keep all your lights on one controller.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 5’ by 5’ vegetative footprint. This light can grow 4-6 plants in the vegetative phase.
• Light Spectrum: Programmable, but with a heavy emphasis on the blue light spectrum. SolarSystem controller required.
• Grow Cycle: Ideal for cloning and the vegetative phase.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 200w. HID wattage equivalent: 400w.
• Setup: Hang light from ceiling or rack hanging mount. Connect controller to the specified port, then plug power cord into light and then the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120/240v. PPF: 439.
• Cost: $489.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

SolarSystem 550 Veg

The next step up from the 275 Veg is the SolarSystem 550 Veg. This light includes a heavier focus on the blue end of the spectrum, with more diodes dedicated to UV and blue light. It’s a higher wattage, so it can cover more plants in the vegetative stage.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 6’ by 8’ vegetative footprint. Each light can cover up to 12 plants in vegetative phase.
• Light Spectrum: Programmable – requires SolarSystem Controller, sold separately.
• Grow Cycle: Programmable spectrum – can be customized to fit whatever you want, but has a preference towards vegetative phase lighting.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 400w. HID wattage equivalent: 600w.
• Setup: Install hanging mechanism from ceiling or rack. Connect ratcheting hangers to both ceiling and the light. Install controller by plugging it into the port. Then connect power cord to the light, then to the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120-240v. PPF: 888.
• Cost: $799.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

KIND LED X40/X80 Bar Light

This light comes in two sizes – two feet and four feet long. Both are low-wattage, with a spectrum perfectly-tuned to give your young plants what they need. Regardless of how many plants you need to cover, they can be linked to cover as much space as you want.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 6’ vegetative footprint. Each light can cover 8-10 plants in the seedling and vegetative phase.
• Light Spectrum: Heavy on blue, with peak at 470 nm and a moderate bump at 680.
• Grow Cycle: Perfect for vegetative phase.
• Wattage: Actual wattage:80w for the 4 ft light. HID wattage equivalent: 320w.
• Setup: Hang lights from ratcheting suspensions. Plug cord into light, then the outlet. Connect lights if you have purchased more than one.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 150 at 15”.
• Cost: $169.95 for the 2 ft. light, $299.95 for the 4 ft. light.
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

KIND LED X Series XD75/XD150 Bar Light

Like the X40/X80, this is a great choice for helping nurture your young plants. It’s a little larger, so it’s helpful for larger grows. It’s still designed to focus on the blue-light end of the spectrum, which can help any leafy growth you want to encourage.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 6’ vegetative footprint. Each light can cover 8-10 plants in the vegetative phase.
• Light Spectrum: Peak at 390 nm, small bump at 650.
• Grow Cycle: Tailored for the vegetative phase.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 75w. HID wattage equivalent: 150w.
• Setup: The light is plug-and-play. Hang it from your preferred suspension setup, then plug the cord into the light, then the wall. The lights can daisy-chain, so you can connect one light to the next directly.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 110 at 9”.
• Cost: $349.95.
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

KIND LED X Series XC150 Bar Light

If you want a light that can hang a little higher off your canopy, the XC150 Bar Light gives you the room you need. It’s bright enough to help your plants grow as tall as you need. Even better, the lights can daisy-chain together, so no matter how many lights you need, you have coverage.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 5’ by 6’ vegetative footprint. Can grow 10-12 plants in the vegetative phase.
• Light Spectrum: Peak at 380nm, with a bump at 600nm.
• Grow Cycle: Designed for the vegetative phase.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 150w. HID equivalent wattage: 300w.
• Setup: These lights are simple to use – simply hang them from your preferred suspension system. Then connect the lights if you have more than one, and plug the cord from the light to the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 360 at 12”.
• Cost: $529.95.
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

Best Full-Cycle LED Grow Lights

KIND LED X40/X80 Bar Light

The X40 and X80 lights from KIND come in both vegetative and flower spectrum. The flowering light is great for use no matter what phase your plant is in. It also comes in two sizes, 2 and 4 feet long. Both sizes are low-wattage, with a broad-spectrum light that can help all your plants grow.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 6’ vegetative footprint. Each light can cover 8-10 plants in the seedling and vegetative phase.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum, peaks at 390nm and 650nm.
• Grow Cycle: Great for any phase of the growth cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage:80w for the 4 ft light. HID wattage equivalent: 320w.
• Setup: Hang lights from ratcheting suspensions. Plug cord into light, then the outlet. Connect lights if you have purchased more than one.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 160 at 15”.
• Cost: $169.95 for the 2 ft. light, $299.95 for the 4 ft. light.
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

KIND LED X Series XD75/XD150 Bar Light

The flowering spectrum variation of the XD75 Bar Light is great for all parts of the growth cycle. The light is has a lower PPFD, so it’s great for a smaller grow. Connecting multiple lights together is a great way for hobby growers to cultivate their personal plants to flower.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 6’ vegetative footprint. Each light can cover 6-8 plants.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum, with twin peaks at 390nm and 650nm.
• Grow Cycle: Tailored for the vegetative phase.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 75w. HID wattage equivalent: 150w.
• Setup: The light is plug-and-play. Hang it from your preferred suspension setup, then plug the cord into the light, then the wall. The lights can daisy-chain, so you can connect one light to the next directly.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 110 at 9”.
• Cost: $349.95.
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

KIND LED X Series XC150 Bar Light

All of the KIND LED X Series lights come in two varieties, both flowering and vegetative styles. The XC150 Bar Light is a high-powered bar light that can be combined with others to grow great flowering plants. No matter what part of the growth cycle you’re focused on, the flowering XC150 Bar Light can help.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 5’ flowering footprint. Can grow 5-6 plants in the flowering phase.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum, with peaks at 450nm and 660nm.
• Grow Cycle: Great for any part of the growth cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 150w. HID equivalent wattage: 300w.
• Setup: These lights are simple to use – simply hang them from your preferred suspension system. Then connect the lights if you have more than one, and plug the cord from the light to the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 360 at 12”.
• Cost: $529.95.
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

PhytoMAX-2 200 LED Grow Lights

When you want to use the same equipment as the pros, but simply don’t need to fill as much room, you can look to the PhytoMAX2 200. This LED light works just like its bigger brothers, but draws less power and focuses more closely. It’s a solidly built full-spectrum light that’s perfect for small grows.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 3’ by 3’ flowering footprint. Can grow 2-4 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 365nm-750nm.
• Grow Cycle: Great for any part of the growth cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 210w. HID wattage equivalent: 420w.
• Setup: Despite the heavy-duty design, the PhytoMAX 2 is a plug and play light. Install the included pair of heavy duty ratcheting light hangers from your ceiling or preferred suspension system. Then hang the light, and plug the cord from the light into the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 330 at 21”.
• Cost: $629.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

PhytoMAX-2 400

If you need a little more oomph, the 400 watt PhytoMAX-2 400 is a little bit bigger than the 200 in the series. It has a slightly larger flowering footprint, and provides the same kind of effective growth as the 200.

• Grow Space Light Coverage:25’ by 4.25’ flowering footprint. Can bring 4-6 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 365nm-750nm.
• Grow Cycle: Great for any part of the growth cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 420w. HID wattage equivalent: 840w.
• Setup: Despite the heavy-duty design, the PhytoMAX 2 series is a plug and play light. Install the included pair of heavy duty ratcheting light hangers from your ceiling or preferred suspension system. Then hang the light, and plug the cord from the light into the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 329 at 30” – 660 at 21”.
• Cost: $1099.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

PhytoMAX-2 600

This is the beginning of the truly professional level of the PhytoMAX-2 series. The PhytoMAX-2 600 can cover up to 25 square feet of flowering space, while keeping electricity and cooling costs low. This is a great way to grow large numbers of plants in a single space.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 5’ by 5’ flowering footprint. Can bring 6-8 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 365nm-750nm.
• Grow Cycle: Great for any part of the growth cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 630w. HID wattage equivalent: 1260w.
• Setup: Despite the heavy-duty design, the PhytoMAX 2 is a plug and play light. Install the included pair of heavy duty ratcheting light hangers from your ceiling or preferred suspension system. Then hang the light, and plug the cord from the light into the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 356 at 36” – 634 at 27”.
• Cost: $1549.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

PhytoMAX-2 800

Another industrial-level PhytoMAX-2 light, the PhytoMAX-2 800 can handle up to 12 plants at a time. It’s built to last, and ready to install with a minimum of fuss. If you’re getting ready to start a fully professional setup, you can also get discounts for buying multiple PhytoMAX lights at a time.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 6’ by 6’ flowering footprint. Can help 10-12 plants flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 365nm-750nm.
• Grow Cycle: Great for any part of the growth cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 840w. HID wattage equivalent: 1680w.
• Setup: Despite the heavy-duty design, the PhytoMAX 2 is a plug and play light. Install the included pair of heavy duty ratcheting light hangers from your ceiling or preferred suspension system. Then hang the light, and plug the cord from the light into the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 330 at 43” – 588 at 32”.
• Cost: $1949.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

PhytoMAX-2 1000

The largest, most intense of the PhytoMAX series is the PhytoMAX-2 1000. Drawing 1000 watts of power and providing a PPFD of 350 to up to 16 plants, this light is the real deal. Any professional cannabis garden can benefit from the power of these lights, especially with the industrial quantity discount.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 3’ by 3’ flowering footprint.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 365nm-750nm.
• Grow Cycle: Great for any part of the growth cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 1050w. HID wattage equivalent: 2100w.
• Setup: Despite the heavy-duty design, the PhytoMAX 2 is a plug and play light. Install the included pair of heavy duty ratcheting light hangers from your ceiling or preferred suspension system. Then hang the light, and plug the cord from the light into the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 352 at 47” – 596 at 36”.
• Cost: $2279.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

Best Full-Spectrum Grow Lights

K5 Series XL750 Indoor Grow Light

If you’re tired of dealing with extra components like timers and monitors, the K5 Series XL750 grow light is an all-in-one solution. With a programmable timer built in and a fully customizable light spectrum, the XL750 is everything that you need. There are even built-in programs for the timer and light spectrum that mimic natural light patterns.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 4’ flowering footprint. Can bring 4-6 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – customizable to your preferred spectrum, from infrared to ultraviolet.
• Grow Cycle: Great for any part of the growth cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 430w. HID wattage equivalent: 750w.
• Setup: There’s no need to work with complicated ballasts or timers with this light. Just hang it with the included supports, then plug it into the wall.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 458 at 36”.
• Cost: $1245.00
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

K5 XL1000 Wifi LED Grow Lights

It’s been possible for a while to connect your home’s lights to the internet and control them with your phone. Now, you can do the same thing with your marijuana grow. The XL1000 WIFI LED grow lights from KIND have a complete online control system. You can adjust your lighting system from anywhere now, while also having world-class PPFD levels for your plants.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 5’ by 5’ flowering footprint. Will help 6-8 plants flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – customizable to your preferred spectrum, ranging from infrared to ultraviolet.
• Grow Cycle: Great for any part of the growth cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 630w. HID wattage equivalent:
• Setup: Simple to install – simply hang from your preferred suspension system with the included supports and plug in. Then connect the light to your WIFI and customize your settings.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 720 at 36”.
• Cost: $1695.00
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

SolarSystem 275

The full-spectrum SolarSystem 275 can help any hobby grower fulfill their plants’ potential. Ideal for a small grow closet or tent, it can cover up to nine square feet of flowering plants. It’s fully customizable, so you can adjust your light as plants grow and change. It even works with other SolarSystem lights, in case you decide to expand in the future.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 5’ by 5’ vegetative footprint. This light can grow 6-8 plants in the vegetative phase.
• Light Spectrum: Programmable, for every part of the growth cycle. SolarSystem controller required.
• Grow Cycle: Ideal for any time of the growth cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 200w. HID wattage equivalent: 400w.
• Setup: Hang light from ceiling or rack hanging mount. Connect controller to the specified port, then plug power cord into light and then the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120/240v. PPF: 439.
• Cost: $489.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

SolarSystem 550

If your grow is a little bigger, the SolarSystem 550 is a full spectrum solution that will work for you. With sixteen square feet of flowering coverage, it can support some monster-sized plants. Working with the SolarSystem controller, you can adjust exactly what light happens when, and even how bright that light is. This light is great for hobby growers and serious farmers alike.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 4’ flowering footprint. Each light can bring 4-6 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Programmable – requires SolarSystem Controller, sold separately.
• Grow Cycle: Programmable spectrum – can be customized to fit whatever you want.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 400w. HID wattage equivalent: 600w.
• Setup: Install hanging mechanism from ceiling or rack. Connect ratcheting hangers to both ceiling and the light. Install controller by plugging it into the port. Then connect power cord to the light, then to the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120-240v. PPF: 888.
• Cost: $799.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

SolarSystem 1100

In the SolarSystem series, this is the top-end model. It’s capable of replacing a 1000 watt HID light, while drawing 40% less power. It can bring 25 square feet of cannabis to bloom, and remains fully programmable. This is the kind of light that both large and small-scale grows can use. The best part is that it can be combined with any other light in the SolarSystem series to light the space you have.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 5’ by 5’ flowering footprint. Each light can bring 7-10 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Programmable – requires SolarSystem Controller, sold separately.
• Grow Cycle: Programmable spectrum – can be customized to fit whatever you want.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 800w. HID wattage equivalent: 1100w.
• Setup: Install hanging mechanism from ceiling or rack. Connect ratcheting hangers to both ceiling and the light. Install controller by plugging it into the port. Then connect power cord to the light, then to the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120-240v. PPF: 1730.
• Cost: $1599.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

SolarXtreme 250

Another California Lightworks series, the SolarXtreme lights are all great options if you don’t need to customize your light spectrum. The SolarXtreme 250 is the introductory option, perfect for people new to growing. It’s a true, full-spectrum, easy to install option for LED light. Best of all, it uses the same amount of electricity as three standard 60 watt bulbs, so it’s cheap to run.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 3’ by 3’ flowering footprint. Can bring 2-4 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 400-760nm.
• Grow Cycle: Full spectrum light is great for all parts of the grow cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 200w. HID wattage equivalent: 300w.
• Setup: Plug and play – suspend the light from your preferred hanging mount, then plug the cord from the light into the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. Peak PPFD: 800 at 12”.
• Cost: $249.00
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

SolarXtreme 500

For a serious home grow, the SolarXtreme 500 might be the perfect option. It’s simple to install, only 11 lbs, and puts out half the heat of the HID equivalent. This makes it cheap to run and minimizes the need for ventilation with interior growing spaces. The full spectrum light will nurture your plants for their entire lives, so you don’t have to worry about changing out your lights.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 4’ flowering footprint. Can bring 4-6 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 400-760nm.
• Grow Cycle: Full spectrum light is great for all parts of the grow cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 400w. HID wattage equivalent: 600w.
• Setup: Install ceiling or rack hanging mount. Attach light to your preferred ratcheting hangers, then plug in.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. Peak PPFD: 800 at 18”.
• Cost: $449.00
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

SolarXtreme 1000

A fully professional model, the SolarXtreme 1000 can replace a 1000 watt HID light. It’s just as simple to install as the other SolarXtreme models, and covers even more square footage. If you have a larger grow operation, this is the most efficient SolarXtreme model. It’s a little more budget friendly if you just want a full spectrum light and don’t need complete control over the light spectrum.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 5’ by 5’ flowering footprint. Can bring 7-10 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 400-760nm.
• Grow Cycle: Full spectrum light is great for all parts of the grow cycle.
• Wattage: (provide definition and speak to why this is an important consideration)
• Setup: Install hanging mechanism from ceiling or rack. Connect ratcheting hangers to both ceiling and the light. Then connect power cord to the light, then to the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. Peak PPFD: 800 at 28”.
• Cost: $899.00
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

Best Indoor LED Lights for Flowering Stage

KIND LED X40/X80 Bar Light

If you want indoor flowering lights on a budget, consider the flowering spectrum X40 and X80 lights from KIND. The flowering style has a specific peak at 650nm, which helps your cannabis plants grow bigger buds. It also comes in two sizes, 2 and 4 feet long. Both sizes are low-wattage, with a broad-spectrum light that can help all your plants grow.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 6’ flowering footprint. Each light can cover 8-10 plants in the seedling and vegetative phase.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum, peaks at 390nm and 650nm.
• Grow Cycle: Great for any phase of the growth cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage:80w for the 4 ft light. HID wattage equivalent: 320w.
• Setup: Hang lights from ratcheting suspensions. Plug cord into light, then the outlet. Connect lights if you have purchased more than one.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 330 at 8”.
• Cost: $169.95 for the 2 ft. light, $299.95 for the 4 ft. light.
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

KIND LED X Series XD75/XD150 Bar Light

If you want a light that can handle whatever you throw at it, look at the XD75. The flowering light, along with being waterproof to IP65, also has a serious peak at 650nm. This can help guide your plants to flower even in the most humid environment. Whatever your watering methods do, you don’t have to worry about shorting out your lights.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 6’ flowering footprint. Each light can cover 8-10 plants in the vegetative phase.
• Light Spectrum: Bump at 390 nm, Intense peak at 650nm.
• Grow Cycle: Tailored for the vegetative phase.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 75w. HID wattage equivalent: 150w.
• Setup: The light is plug-and-play. Either flush-mount the light with included hardware or hang it from your preferred suspension setup. Plug the cord into the light, then the wall.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 110 at 9”.
• Cost: $349.95.
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

KIND LED X Series XC150 Bar Light

The flowering style of the XC150 light can help you get the biggest buds your plants can provide. It’s a stronger bar light that can cover a relatively wide area. Whether you’re looking for professional waterproofing, or simply professional lighting, the XC150 bar light has you covered.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 3’ by 5’ flowering footprint. Can grow 4-6 plants in the flowering phase.
• Light Spectrum: Twin peaks at 450nm and 660nm.
• Grow Cycle: Designed for the flowering phase.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 150w. HID equivalent wattage: 300w.
• Setup: These lights are simple to use – simply flush mount or hang them from your preferred suspension system. Then connect the lights if you have more than one, and plug the cord from the light to the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. PPFD: 360 at 12”.
• Cost: $529.95.
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

 

Budget Lights: Best Grow Lights Under $500

SolarSystem 275

Budgeting is a big part of making sure your indoor garden is sustainable. By choosing an LED light, you’re making an investment to save money on electricity bills. However, that doesn’t mean breaking the bank now. The SolarSystem 275 is a solid all-around light that can help you save money today and in the future.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 3’ by 3’ flowering footprint, 5’ by 5’ vegetative footprint. This light can grow 6-8 plants in the vegetative phase.
• Light Spectrum: Programmable and can cover the full light spectrum. SolarSystem controller required.
• Grow Cycle: Ideal for cloning and the vegetative phase.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 200w. HID wattage equivalent: 400w.
• Setup: Hang light from ceiling or rack hanging mount. Connect controller to the specified port, then plug power cord into light and then the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120/240v. PPF: 439.
• Cost: $489.00
• Guarantee: 5 year warranty.

SolarXtreme 250

Like the SolarSystem series, the SolarXtreme 250 is a budget-friendly option for the beginning grower. When you want a full-spectrum light that’s not going to break the bank, this light is there for you. Best of all, it uses the same amount of electricity as three standard 60 watt bulbs, so it’s cheap to run. You can link the lights together if you decided to expand in the future.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 3’ by 3’ flowering footprint. Can bring 2-4 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 400-760nm.
• Grow Cycle: Full spectrum light is great for all parts of the grow cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 200w. HID wattage equivalent: 300w.
• Setup: Plug and play – suspend the light from your preferred hanging mount, then plug the cord from the light into the outlet.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. Peak PPFD: 800 at 12”.
• Cost: $249.00
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

SolarXtreme 500

For a serious home grow that isn’t being bankrolled, the SolarXtreme 500 is a solid option. You save money in a few ways: first, the light uses 60% of the electricity of a similarly-bright HID light. Second, you spend less money removing heat from your grow. Third, you only need this light, because it’s a full-spectrum option that cuts the need for additional supplementation.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 4’ by 4’ flowering footprint. Can bring 4-6 plants to flower.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 400-760nm.
• Grow Cycle: Full spectrum light is great for all parts of the grow cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 400w. HID wattage equivalent: 600w.
• Setup: Install ceiling or rack hanging mount. Attach light to your preferred ratcheting hangers, then plug in.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. Peak PPFD: 800 at 18”.
• Cost: $449.00
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

XL300 KIND LED Grow Lights

If you have a small grow tent whose production you want to max out, the XL300 can help. It’s a small light with serious light production. Capable of delivering up to 776 PPFD at 18”, you can expect serious buds from plants under this light. Quality doesn’t have to be expensive, as long as you do your research.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 2’ by 2.5’ flowering footprint. Can help 2 plants grow to harvest.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 380nm to 730nm.
• Grow Cycle: Full spectrum light is great for plants all through the grow cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 150w. HID wattage equivalent: 300w.
• Setup: To install, simply hang it from your preferred support with the included hardware. Then plug the cord into the light, then the wall.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. Peak PPFD: 776 at 18”.
• Cost: $395.00
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

XL450 KIND LED Grow Lights

Like the XL300, the XL450 is a great choice for your budget grow. It can help you make the most of your plants’ genetics, while still fitting a small grow tent perfectly. It’s slightly larger than the XL300, so you can fit more plants into its flowering footprint. That makes it great if you want to try cultivating two different varieties at once.

• Grow Space Light Coverage: 2’ by 3’ flowering footprint. Can grow 2-3 plants grow to harvest.
• Light Spectrum: Full spectrum – 380nm to 730nm.
• Grow Cycle: Full spectrum light is great for plants all through the grow cycle.
• Wattage: Actual wattage: 227w. HID wattage equivalent: 450w.
• Setup: Install ceiling or rack hanging mount. Attach light to your preferred ratcheting hangers, then plug in.
• Electrical Requirements & Capabilities: Required volts: 120v. Peak PPFD: 579 at 18”.
• Cost: $495.00
• Guarantee: 3 year warranty.

 

Growing Edible Plants with LEDs

Cannabis isn’t the only thing that you can cultivate with LED grow lights. Whether you’re taking a break from the bud or simply want to expand your horizons, there are plenty of other plants LED lights help. Edible plants in particular have lots of potential for indoor growing.

• Herbs– A great choice for indoor growing (especially during the winter season), herbs provide an excellent space-saving option for new gardeners looking to grow indoors without taking up too much room. Some of the most popular homegrown herbs include thyme, mint, basil, rosemary, and oregano.
• Mint-Commonly grown indoors (and is best kept in separate container as is can take over), mint typically reaches no more than 1-2 feet in height. It’s ready for harvest in 90 days and can be harvested multiple times in one grow. This garden favorite, however, only require a moderate amount of light in order to thrive-and it’s not picky herb to grow.
• Basil-Another common indoor herb, basil is usually 1-2 feet tall. It’s perfect for continuous harvest, starting once the plant reaches about 10 inches tall. At that point, you can begin to pinch leaves from the top for use. This also encourages the plant to branch out. When grown inside, it only needs 10 hours of light a day for successful growth.
• Rosemary-A great addition to savory dishes, rosemary is an interesting plant to grow inside. Outside, it can reach sizes up to 4 feet, but indoors it remains smaller. It thrives when under a bright light inside, especially under indoor grow lights. Once the plant is a foot high, you can start to trim young branches for harvest. Rosemary is a perennial, so one plant should be all you need.
• Oregano-An Italian staple, oregano loves indoor plant lights like LEDs. Adult plants are usually 1-2 feet tall. Once the plant is eight inches tall, you can begin to harvest by pinching off leaves from the top. As a perennial, one oregano plant can last you years at a time. Keeping it under an indoor light will help keep your harvests manageable.
• Thyme-This herb is a great addition to indoor herb gardens. In the winter, LED grow lights for indoor plants will help you harvest year-round. Usually thyme remains about a foot high. Thyme can be harvested as soon as it’s bushy, which is usually about two to three months. Harvest by trimming the edges of the plant for new growth. This also keeps your plant aesthetically pleasing.
• Peppers-To spice up cuisine, many growers cultivate peppers inside. There are many varieties that stay less than two feet tall. Most pepper plants take about 90-100 days from germination to harvest. Depending on the variety, you can harvest anywhere from ten to dozens of peppers per plant. Pepper plants need a moderate amount of light, so an indoor grow light can help them grow even in winter.
• Spinach-Easily grown indoors, spinach is a great option for any indoor gardener. Spinach is a compact plant that stays less than six inches tall. Once a plant has at least six healthy leaves, you can begin harvesting. For continuous harvest, just pick off the outer leaves and let the inner leaves grow. Spinach grows in shady places outside, so indoors all it needs is a small grow light for a great harvest.
• Mushrooms-Mushrooms aren’t the first thought that springs to mind for indoor growth, but they are easy to cultivate. Shiitake, oyster, and button mushrooms are all simple low-light options for indoor gardens. Mushrooms grow quickly but stay less than 6 inches tall. They can be harvested in as few as 40 days in appropriate cool, humid conditions.
• Scallions-A perfect indoor veggie, scallions are great fresh or cooked. They typically grow to about 18 inches high. They like bright light, so keeping a grow light close will help them grow quickly. You can grow scallions from seeds in soil or suspended in water. They are harvestable in 40 days; just make sure you don’t let your plants flower, or the taste will change.
• Garlic-When grown indoors, garlic doesn’t produce bulbs. Instead, you will harvest garlic greens, with a similar flavor but a quicker turnaround. Garlic greens reach about 18 inches high, and are ready in as few as 21 days. Once the green is as long as you want, you can simply snip it off. They appreciate light, so keeping the greens under a bright light will encourage quicker growth.

Choosing Other Indoor Plants to Grow with LED Lights

You can also cultivate flowers or houseplants inside. You can add a splash of color with perennial flowers or greenery. The plants below only need a minimal amount of light, so a small grow light will keep your plants looking lovely for pennies of electricity a month.

• African Violet-If you’re interested in a compact plant, African violets are a great choice. Showy purple flowers remain close to the plant, only rarely reach 6 inches tall. They appreciate filtered, moderate light, so they don’t need large lights to achieve the best growth. They need to be kept moist, so watering with a wick system can help. Just don’t get foliage wet, or it will die.
• Orchids-These beautiful flowers prefer indirect sunlight, so they thrive under vegetative grow lights. They prefer cooler temperatures and stable conditions, so the less you do to them the better. Orchid blooms are about 18 inches tall can last for months at a time. Just water the plants a small amount once a week, and you’ll have beautiful blossoms for seasons at a time.
• Peace Lily-This is a beautiful houseplant for both foliage and blooms. Peace lilies typically remain 16 inches tall when grown inside. They appreciate indirect sunlight or small grow lights for growth. Water plants when the soil is dry and trim any old-looking blooms to encourage new growth. Keep pets away from these plants, because they can be toxic to animals.
• Chinese Evergreen-For a larger houseplant, you can consider the Chinese Evergreen. Its variegated foliage prefers filtered light, so no need for direct sun. A small indoor plant light should be more than enough to keep the leaves shiny, happy, and healthy. It can grow up to three feet tall, so elder plants are a perfect fit for floorplans that leave odd corners open. Just water well once every week or two and your plant will be perfectly happy.