Everyone. Our LED grow lights can be used by a large scale commercial horticultural company or by a novice indoor gardener trying their hand at growing indoors for the first time. If you want to grow plants where the sun cannot reach, or for longer than the weather allows, an LED grow light is for you.
What an LED grow light does
Plants use light as their energy source. Through photosynthesis they turn light, water and carbon dioxide into the sugars they need to grow, and they do most of that work with light between roughly 400 and 700 nanometers: the violet, blue, green, yellow and red part of the spectrum that we can see. An LED grow light gives indoor plants that light on demand, for as many hours a day as the plant needs, whatever the weather or the season outside.
That simple idea is why the people who use grow lights are such a varied group. Here is who benefits most.
Commercial growers and horticultural companies
A large scale commercial horticultural company has different priorities from a hobbyist: output, consistency and operating cost. Lighting is one of the biggest electricity costs of growing indoors, which is why efficiency matters so much at scale. My LED Grow Lights use roughly half the power of traditional HID's, and they compare just as well against florescent, blurple and older LED lights. A 1000w HID light actually uses closer to 1100w, so the saving shows up on the electric bill every month. For the numbers, see LED vs HID grow lights.
Other features matter in a commercial room too:
- One light for every stage. Full-spectrum Samsung LM301b/h LEDs can be used at every stage of growth, so there is no need to run one type of light for young plants and another for mature ones.
- Water resistance. IP65 (water-resistant) or IP67 (waterproof) ratings mean accidental water splashing or spraying of the lights will not be a problem, and the wiring harnesses have waterproof connections.
- Voltage flexibility. The lights operate on 120v/240v and detect the voltage you plug into, so a room can be wired either way.
- Control. A dimmer switch gives you full control of the light intensity.
- Warranty. A 3-year warranty is standard unless otherwise noted in the product description.
Beginners and first-time indoor gardeners
You do not need a greenhouse or any experience to start. A novice indoor gardener can set up a grow tent, hang a light, plug it in and begin. My LED Grow Lights suit beginners because they turn on and off just like any switched or dimmable home light, and a light that detects 120v or 240v for you means one less setting to get wrong. There is also no long cool-down period, so a power cut during a storm does not leave you waiting for the light to come back.
First-time growers usually do best with plants that forgive mistakes, such as basil, mint and lettuce, or seedlings started indoors. See growing herbs and leafy greens under LED lights, and starting seeds indoors with LED grow lights.
Growers of citrus trees and other plants that cannot stay outside
Perhaps you want to grow an orange or another citrus tree that cannot be grown outside year-round because of colder temperatures. Plant it in a large pot that can be easily moved indoors for winter. Even better, why not use a grow tent with a My LED Grow Lights light to house your citrus trees until spring arrives?
It works for more than citrus. Tropical houseplants and other cold-tender plants all face the same problem each winter: shorter days, weaker light and cold windows. A grow light puts back the light that the season takes away. See growing citrus indoors under LED lights.
Anyone without a sunny spot
Many homes simply do not have a sunny spot for plants: a basement, a north-facing room, an apartment with one small window, a garage or a spare closet. An LED grow light solves that problem. It is also a great alternative if you need to keep your plants out of reach of pets and young children, because a tent or a closed room keeps them in a protected space while the light does the job of a window.
Science, academia and space
LED systems are not only used by indoor gardening enthusiasts and companies. They are used in a range of other areas such as science, academia, and even Space technology. Researchers value LEDs because the light is easy to control: the intensity can be dimmed or raised and the same conditions repeated from one experiment to the next.
NASA uses LEDs to grow plants in Space! Its Veggie plant growth system on the International Space Station has a bank of red, blue and green LEDs. In 2015 astronauts harvested and ate red romaine lettuce grown under it, after 33 days of growth. If an LED light can grow a salad in orbit, it can handle a spare bedroom.
Growers of food, ornamental plants and medicine
Whether it is food, ornamental plants or medicine you are growing, you can depend on My LED Grow Lights to provide the safest high-quality lights and products available. Food growers value a light that makes problems easy to see: full-spectrum white light has a more natural color to the human eye than the blue spectrum of MH or the yellow and red of HPS, so you can spot pests and disease early.
What to grow first
If you are new, start with plants that are quick and forgiving, and work toward the more demanding ones as you learn your light and your space. A sensible order is:
- Herbs and leafy greens: growing herbs and leafy greens under LED lights
- Seedlings to transplant into the garden: starting seeds indoors with LED grow lights
- Tomatoes and peppers: growing tomatoes and peppers under LED lights
- A citrus tree for winter: growing citrus indoors under LED lights
Questions people ask before buying
Will it raise my electric bill a lot?
It adds to it, but an efficient LED adds much less than an HID lamp. Electricity is charged by the kilowatt-hour, so lower wattage lowers your bill. See do LED grow lights save electricity for the arithmetic.
Is it safe around children and pets?
A tent or a closed room keeps plants and the light out of reach, which is one reason many people use them. Keep cords and plugs off the floor, use a light with a water-resistant rating and keep the light out of curious hands. Read LED grow light power and safety.
Do I need special electrical work?
Usually not. My LED Grow Lights run on 120v or 240v and detect the voltage themselves, so they plug into a standard outlet. Check that the circuit can carry the load of everything on it.
Key takeaways
- Anyone who wants to grow where the sun cannot reach, or for longer than the weather allows.
- Commercial growers value efficiency and control; beginners value simplicity and safety.
- Citrus trees and other plants that cannot stay outside in winter are a natural fit.
- LEDs are used in research and by NASA to grow plants in space.
- Start with herbs and leafy greens, then move on to seedlings, tomatoes and citrus.
How to tell if an LED grow light is right for you
- What are you growing, and at which stage? Seedlings, leafy greens and fruiting plants use light differently.
- How much space do you need to light? See how many LED grow lights you need.
- What power do you have? 120v and 240v both work, and My LED Grow Lights detect which one you plugged into.
- Will the light be near water? Look for an IP65 or IP67 rating.
- What will it cost to run? Electricity is charged by the kilowatt-hour, so lower wattage lowers your bill.
Back to all LED grow lights.