How Wavelengths Affect Plant Growth

      Below 390nm we find UV which is harmful to plants at close distances. The peak for chlorophyll absorption falls within 390nm to 510nm- promoting strong, compact vegetative growth.   From 520nm to 600nm is mainly white light pollution with little chlorophyll production.  (These are the wavelengths the human eye is sensitive to, we perceive them as light.)  The primary wavelengths used for photosynthesis fall between 600nm to 720nm.  From 710 to 730 is the far red spectrum which promotes flowering.  Beyond 730 is infrared heat; this is what makes HPS heat up to sometimes 1500 degrees at the bulbs surface.  Adding IR to LEDs makes for a very short bulb life (heat is the enemy of LEDs).

            A typical white light product produces light wavelengths from 380 nm (UV) up to and beyond 880 nm (IR). Plants, on the other hand, primarily use light wavelengths from 400 nm (blue) to 700 nm (red). This range of light wavelengths has been labeled PAR or photosynthetically active radiation. On average, nearly 82% of the light emitted from a traditional white light product is of little benefit to plant growth, and in some cases is harmful to plant health. In a typical HID, HPS, or MH light bulb this harmful energy is in the form of intense heat (IR) and ultraviolet radiation (UV) that you cannot see but can certainly feel.

        

High Watt LEDs are Inefficient

High Watt LEDs are Inefficient

When many growers hear the words “high watt” it implies high light output.  This is because when it comes to traditional plant lighting like HID and fluorescent- the more watts the more light.  This does not carry over into LED grow lighting simply because of the large range of efficiency from one product to another.  LGM LED grow lighting produces more light per watt than any other light source.  Shown here- we are able to power nine LGM550 LED light bars using less electricity than it takes to power one UFO.  In LED grow lighting, high watt means low efficiency.  –AL  http://www.led-grow-master.com

A Solar LED Light

Solar Powered Lighting

There are few things we can count on in the world today, but one of them is that the sun will come up every morning providing a source of energy.  The sun is about 93 million miles away but it creates enough energy every minute to meet all of our energy needs.   While it is not necessary to power your LED light with solar power- it is easy.  You don’t even need to understand it.  Here is the information you need to relay to the local solar supply store as it relates to a LGM LED light:

The numbers per bar are: 400 mA if powered by 24VDC direct, drawing 9.6 watts.  When working with photovoltaic/battery setups, it is infinitely desirable to not use a power converter.  Typical PV/battery setups are for homes which need 120 vac power. They design the setup to have PV panels, batteries, and a power inverter to change the 12-24VDC panel voltage to 120VAC house voltage.  The inverter has at best a 60-70% efficiency meaning that you lose up to 40% of the power from your PV panels.   An LED light from LED Grow Master runs on 24VDC.  A power regulator is needed, because PV panels output from 22 volts in the shade, up to 70 volts in full sun.  The voltage coming into the LED light must be regulated to no higher than 24.7VDC.

Characteristics of Plants Grown Under LEDs

 

LED Grow Master Lighting

LEDs are an entirely new light source.  The light emitted from an LED grow light has very little in common with the light emitted from a HPS or fluorescent.  Because of these inherent differences, plants grown under LEDs will have different growth characteristics.  LED plants will exhibit compact growth.  The quality wavelengths emitted from properly made LED grow lights are able to satisfy the plant’s light requirements and eliminate the need to “stretch” toward the lights.

 

LED plants will show no signs of heat stress.  Too much heat in your environment causes the roots to stop growing, flowers to wilt prematurely, “sun spots” occur, leaves droop, and reduction in chlorophyl may leave white or brown foliage.  Plants may survive for years in this stunted state but ultimately they will die.  This issue becomes extremely problematic when growing in small areas under light sources that are sometimes 1500 degrees F.  Take the rose for example.  Spotting and edge burning are commonplace under the sun and traditional white light sources.  Miniature roses have been grown under LEDs with blooms that were picture perfect and unblemished with some varieties having flowers that lasted for months without change.

There are other positive differences that you may notice such as increased symmetry and deeper colors in your foliage.  All of these changes are brought about by the unique blend of wavelengths incorporated into a well made LED grow light.  These are growth characteristics that were previously not possible.  LEDs not only grow plants- they grow them better.

Thank You LEDers

LED Peppers Blooming

If you are using or distributing the LED Grow Master line of plant lights, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you.  Everyone should be as proud of themselves as I am.   The best way I can think of to convince you that you should be proud is to explain what it is your lighting choice can do for the world.

The most obvious issue is energy consumption.  The Department of Energy has estimated that LED lighting could cut national energy consumption for lighting by 29% by 2025.  If you consider that lighting accounts for over 22% of all the electricity used in the US it is apparent that this transition can go a long way towards saving our dwindling natural resources as well as significantly reducing the pollution created by supplying this energy.  LED Grow Master lighting is the most efficient plant light on the planet, using significantly less energy even when compared to other LED grow lights on the market.  Saving energy is not the only way that you are contributing by using and promoting LEDs in the world of horticulture.

Water shortages are becoming more prevalent throughout the world.  It is hard to imagine the desperation that is felt in many parts of the world for this precious resource.  Since 1950 the world’s population has doubled and the water usage has tripled.  As our population increases our freshwater does not.  Because LEDs emit very little heat, we can dramatically reduce the amount of water required to produce food.  This concept is becoming increasingly important when planning a future in the many areas that do not have the luxury of a faucet.

The previous issues are of primary concern among much of society but they are not the only two issues effected by using LEDs in place of other light sources.  By using LED grow lights in your garden you require less nutrients and thus less waste is transported back into our water supply.  LEDs do not contain lead or mercury which is present in other light sources.  LED grow lights also have a much longer lifespan which greatly reduces the amount of material that will end up in our landfills.  The LED Grow Master line in particular is 100% recyclable at the end of the useful lifetime.  Thanks again LEDers.  –AL

Calling All Pioneers

LED Succulents

     A Pioneer blazes the trail for those who will follow behind.  Pioneers give us new things to do and new ways of doing things we already do.  They are ingenious, and full of the will to discover.  As Galileo once said “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.”

     I’m seeking pioneers.  While SolarOasis patented the first LED grow light almost 10 years ago, the method is still in it’s infancy.  LEDs are different from HPS and fluorescent lighting in almost every way.  What many people don’t realize is that most of the supplies that we find for the indoor garden have been designed with the idea that plants will be receiving radiant heat from their light source.  This heat is associated with fire and shock risks as well as lead and mercury dangers inherent in glass bulbs.    We are now able to eliminate the heat and utilize a safe, durable option which opens the door to entirely new parameters of design in the garden. 

      I’m looking for pioneers of new mediums designed for porosity to help prevent over watering when the heat is eliminated.   I’m looking for pioneers of space, to grow in places that were once inaccessible or unpractical using traditional lighting like shipping crates or underground gardens.   I’m looking for pioneers in measurement as there is currently no handheld device to properly measure the output of LEDs in relation to plant growth.  Almost every aspect of the garden could be reinvented to become more efficient now that we have access to LEDs.

       With the variety of plants and methods of growing used on the planet today, all LED gardeners are pioneers.  We advance the technique every time we plant a new variety or try a new method.  It is estimated that there are over 300,000 different plant species on earth.  You could be the fjrst to grow your species under LEDs.  Take pictures and gather data.  Help blaze the trail and hold yourself to your rightful place in history as a pioneer in LED gardening.

Lighting For the Show

For some of us our garden is more than just a source of food. For many it is also the place where we bring visitors and customers so they can be filled with the awe of our green thumb. It is times like these that LED gardeners are prone to be aware of the “graying” of plants under LED’s. The reason for this is the plant specific spectrum used in the LED Grow Master bars.

Plant leaves reflect light colors that are not used efficiently for growing. Under white light, most plants look some shade of green. This is because traditional plant lights are based on room lighting that uses the colors that the human eye is most sensitive to – green and yellow. But since the LED Grow Master line of lighting supplies colors that plants can use, very little light is reflected from the leaves. The plant absorbs nearly all of the light with the exception of a very small amount of green light included in each bar to dilate your pupil. The result is a plant that looks like it’s in a darkroom. This is also a sign that you are not spending money to create light that your plants are not using.

In conclusion, our lighting is for plants and not people. So when the day comes to show off all of your hard work, you may want to keep this in mind. Just supplement a little sunshine. If that is not an option- full spectrum lighting will give excellent color rendering and is an efficient alternative to incandescent bulbs. Garden on.

The Future of Hydroponics

    The LED Grow Master grow light provides a natural evolution in the indoor gardening market. According to a National Competition Policy Legislation review. “The hydroponics industry is the fastest growing sector in the horticulture industry.” The review goes on to state that “In a tightening regulatory environment to produce safe food, growers are under increased pressure to adopt best practice technology such as hydroponics, to efficiently produce high quality, safe produce. New water reforms and pesticide bans place additional pressure on growers to produce safe food.”
    Hydroponics is universally recognized as a sustainable production method and it has a strong reputation for high quality, “clean, green” produce. Users of hydroponic supplies increasingly search for products that will increase their efficiency. The systems commonly in place today, such as HID lights, are extremely inefficient. They use enormous amounts of electricity, are bulky and difficult to install, and are still using the “glass envelope” bulb invented by Thomas Edison in 1880. Such old-school technology is fragile, hot, and inefficient- opening the way for the LED Grow Master product line.
Hydroponic gardens are quickly becoming a part of everyday life here in the United States. Everyday there are 5,000 more people to feed from the production of farmland which is shrinking by over 15,000 acres a day. The result is over 1,000,000 household soilless culture units operating in America for the production of food alone. Russia, France, Canada, South Africa, Holland, Japan, Australia, and Germany are among other countries where hydroponics is receiving the attention it deserves. The race to efficiently produce is well under way, and LED’s are lighting the path.-AL

And I Will Make Thee Beds of Roses

For centuries, the rose garden has been an inspirational place. From Cleopatra to George Washington, the rose has been grown and romanticized throughout the world. Today, through the wonders of progress, we are now able to bring the rose garden into our homes. Several varieties of roses have been specially bred to live indoors. These include miniature roses, and hybrid teas such as the “Sunsprite.”

Balancing out the light and heat requirements can be difficult when growing indoors. Although roses love light, they require moderation in heat. The excessive heat of traditional plant lighting can cause the rose to transpirate water faster than it can take it up. The result is wilting, browning, and short-lived blooms.

My solution: LED Grow Master lighting. The lack of heat will make blooms last longer and you won’t see the spotting or edge burning that you may see under traditional lighting. Miniature roses can be grown under LED grow lights with blooms that are picture perfect. Some of them lasting for months. The quest for the perfect rose is nearing its end. Love the quest. -AL