We write about LED grow lights quite a bit here, but in doing so we kind of assume everyone knows their benefits and how they work.
But one thing we’ve never actually answered – do they work? Do LED grow lights work, and do they work better than simply growing your plants outside in the garden?
Let’s take a look.
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Do LED grow lights work?
Yes, LED grow lights are effective for growing plants indoors, and they have become increasingly popular among indoor gardeners and commercial growers.
By allowing you to control exactly how much light is provided to your plants, LED grow lights (either hanging or standing) allow you to create the ideal conditions for plant growth, instead of having to try your best and hope the weather plays ball.
As well, LED grow lights offer energy efficiency, spectrum control, year-round growing, and tailored lighting, resulting in healthy plant growth and increased yields.
We look at some of these in more detail below.
Benefits of LED grow lights over growing plants outdoors
LED grow lights have several advantages over growing plants outdoors, and not only in situations where outdoor gardening is not really feasible.
Here are some of the key advantages of using LED grow lights for indoor or controlled environment gardening compared to growing plants outdoors:
Year-round growing
LED grow lights enable year-round plant growing, unaffected by seasonal changes or adverse weather conditions.
This is a huge advantage for growers, who don’t have to wait for a certain season in order to start their growing.
As well, you can grow your plants far more often than you can if you were reliant on the weather outdoors. Instead of waiting for spring to start planting, you can simply use your LED grow lights and an indoor garden to simulate the spring weather!
Controlled environment
Indoor growing environments with LED grow lights allow precise control over temperature, humidity, and light intensity. This control helps to optimize plant growth and productivity, much more so than taking a chance on the weather outside.
Another advantage of this control over the environment is that you can simulate environments unlike the environment in the country you live in.
For example, growing coffee plants requires a very specific environment, which is why if you’re growing them outdoors they can only grow them in a region of the world known as the coffee belt.
However, these conditions (hot and humid) can easily be simulated using LED grow lights and an indoor garden.
Pest and disease control
Indoor gardening reduces exposure to pests and diseases that can affect outdoor plants. You don’t have to worry about worms eating the fruits flowering on your plants, nor do you need to worry about insects crawling all over them.
This alone will result in healthier plants, lower pesticide usage, and less fruits having to be thrown away.
Additional benefits of LED grow lights
Customized light spectrum: LED grow lights can provide a tailored light spectrum optimized for plant growth. You can adjust the light spectrum to match specific plant species’ needs or to promote different growth stages, such as vegetative growth or flowering.
Space efficient: LED grow lights can be used in smaller spaces, such as closets or spare rooms, making them suitable for urban or limited-space gardening. Vertical farming and container gardening are also made easier with LED grow lights.
Reduced water usage: Indoor gardening with LED grow lights typically requires less water than outdoor gardening due to reduced evaporation and the ability to implement efficient irrigation systems.
Drawbacks of LED grow lights over growing plants outdoors
While LED grow lights offer numerous advantages for indoor gardening, they also come with some drawbacks and considerations that growers should be aware of:
Initial cost
While high-quality LED grow lights are not that expensive, buying a few of these as well as an indoor garden setup is obviously a lot more expensive than simply planting your seeds in the garden.
Remember however that grow lights will often provide a nice return on investment over time through the energy savings and improved plant yields they create.
Electricity costs
Although LED grow lights are pretty energy-efficient (as are LED lights in general – see our article here for more details) they still require electricity every day of the week.
Depending on the size of your setup, those small electricity costs can quickly add up, more so if you’re running all those lights for the vast majority of each day.
Read our article about LED grow light electricity usage here for more details.
Heat management
While LED grow lights produce less heat than other types of grow light, they still generate heat that you’ll need to be aware of when creating the ideal environment for your plants.
Depending on how much heat is produced by your lights, you may need to manage that heat dispersal using fans, ventilation systems, or even air conditioning if it’s quite a large space.
Closing thoughts
In closing, LED grow lights have undoubtedly reshaped the way people approach indoor gardening. Their energy efficiency, spectrum control, and ability to create year-round growing conditions are clear advantages.
While there are challenges like the initial cost and complexity, these are more often than not heavily outweighed by the benefits.
For anyone passionate about indoor gardening or facing limitations with outdoor growing, LED grow lights are a game-changer. So, if you’re ready to start your indoor gardening journey, don’t hesitate to give LED grow lights a try.
With the right knowledge and care, they can help you cultivate thriving plants and enjoy the rewards of your indoor garden.
Happy growing!
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