The Full Spectrum Grow Lights that Every Grower Needs to Know

LED grow lights are currently popular products on the market, especially for full-spectrum LED grow lights. Recent studies have shown that cannabis plants, in particular, prefer green light - more than any other type of light found in LED lights. Additionally, green light penetrates leaves, allowing for lower leaves and stems to absorb more light. This is important in a highly competitive and constantly evolving industry like cannabis, where every dollar counts and can contribute to producing larger cola under the canopy. Some growers are using full-spectrum LED grow lights as the sole light source, while others are using them to supplement growth - such as in greenhouses.

1. Full-Spectrum Grow Lights: Growth Spectrum

First, let's talk about the growth spectrum. This is essentially the wavelengths produced by a light source, such as the sun or LED lights. As a spectrum, there are a range of wavelengths, with growers most interested in the range that affects plant growth - these wavelengths include UV radiation, the visible spectrum (including photosynthetically active radiation or PAR), and far-infrared radiation.

In plants, chlorophyll - which converts energy from light into chemical energy - primarily absorbs red and blue light during photosynthesis. Red and blue light are also found within the PAR range of the spectrum. Plants store DNA from the sun dating back approximately 5 billion years - we cannot assume that we know everything. Full-spectrum grow lights most closely mimic sunlight.

2. Full-Spectrum Grow Lights: Daily Light Intervals

As plants grow and mature, their required light intensity changes. Younger plants require more light for longer periods, while mature plants can use less light - but they require more intense light. This is where full-spectrum grow lights come in handy. Full-spectrum grow lights are closer to simulating the sun, as they include all colors of the spectrum - hence the name. If you are growing cannabis, for example, young cannabis plants require more blue light, while flowering cannabis plants require more red light. This is where full-spectrum light can benefit growers, as they use artificial light to help plants grow more effectively.

3. Full-Spectrum Grow Lights: Using Artificial Light

Growers utilize artificial light to help plants grow bigger and better. This is where full-spectrum grow lights come into play, as humans can influence better results by emphasizing what plants need at precise times. This is why you may not want plants at different stages under the same light, as they do not need the same intensity at the same time.