Full Spectrum Grow Light Guide

Lighting is one of the most important components for successful growing and higher yields, especially if you are growing cannabis. One of the best ways to Grow Potent and Strong Weed is by using a full-spectrum light. In fact, full-spectrum lights are the next best thing to natural sunlight.

However, there are a wide variety of spectrum lights on the market. To a first time grower, the different types and styles of lighting can be daunting.

In addition, knowing what to look for in a grow light is very overwhelming to many growers. However, a few basics about full-spectrum lights can make a huge difference in knowing what to buy.

Equally, a little knowledge about grow lights will help you discover the best lighting solutions to fit your needs.

Top Full Spectrum Grow Lights

When it comes to selecting a full spectrum grow light, there is a large variety of options. In fact, shopping for the best quality grow light can get rather daunting.

To make things easier, we have picked the top and most popular full spectrum LED grow lights for you.

BESTVA DC Series 2000W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum Grow Lamp

The BESTVA DC Series 2000W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum Grow Lamp is one of the best designs on the market. It is extremely durable and meant to last at many hours.

It is the perfect grow light for beginners since it is simple to use and affordable. With its newer technology, the duel-chip (10W) LED provides much brighter and improved efficiency.

In fact, it is more efficient than the outdated 3W and 5W LEDs. As well, it offers the highest PAR/Lumen output per watt.

The BESTVA DC Series 2000W also features a powerful cooling system, an amazing coverage are, switches for both the vegetative and flowering stage, and a 3 year warranty.

Pros

• A 3-year warranty and 90-day money-back period
• Extra bright – helps plants grow faster and super big
• Low-priced, especially compared to other 2000W LED lights

Cons

• Has a tendency to heat up

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VIPARSPECTRA UL Certified 1200W LED Full Spectrum Plant Growing Light

The VIPARSPECTRA UL Certified 1200W LED Full Spectrum Plant Growing Light is one of the most popular grow lights available. Not only is the price extremely reasonable, but the quality is outstanding.

Not only does the manufacturer adhere to high-quality standards in safety and construction, but they include a worry-free 36-month local warranty.

The VIPARSPECTRA UL Certified 1200W has low power consumption yet features greater heat dissipation. The durable design is built to last for a long time and is made of fire-resistant iron.

And with the optional spectrum for growth cycles, your yields will drastically increase.

Pros

• Amazing durability and warranty
• Outstanding coverage – works best in a 4x4x7 grow tent
• Reflector reduces consumption and keeps light from escaping

Cons

• No advanced functions for on/off switch or modulation options

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BLOOMSPECT Upgraded 3000W LED Full Spectrum Grow Light

The BLOOMSPECT Upgraded 3000W LED Full Spectrum Grow Light is a favorite with growers. It features an innovative Dual-Chip LEDs (10W) that is brighter and more efficient.

It provides a true full spectrum for fast growth and complete development of your plants.

With the full spectrum features, the BLOOMSPECT Upgraded 3000W is perfect for growing plants from seed to harvest. It also has the highest PAR/Lumen output per watt.

With an excellent cooling system and hassle-free warranty, you can’t go wrong.

Pros

• Extended lifespan
• Consumes minimal power
• It can be daisy-chained
• 2 years warranty plus 30 days money-back guarantee
• Has high-speed cooling and vent holes for excellent heat dissipation

Cons

• Best suited for small indoor spaces only

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King Plus 1200w LED Grow Light Double Chips Full Spectrum

King Plus 1200w LED Grow Light Double Chips Full Spectrum is the ideal light for smaller grows. It offers energy efficiency and long-lasting wear.

In addition, it has a full spectrum layout with an excellent cooling system. Although it is not as long-lasting as other models, it is quite efficient and affordable.

Pros

• Very durable
• Perfect for small grows
• Has 10W doubles chips for a quality performance

Cons

• Not equipped for big tents

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AGLEX COB 2000-Watt LED Grow Light Full Spectrum Plant Grow Lamp

The AGLEX COB 2000-Watt LED Grow Light Full Spectrum Plant Grow Lamp is a high quality grow lamp that offers performance. It has a double chip LED and high power COB that delivers strong lighting.

The grow light also has an efficient cooling system plus a switch setting for both vegetative and flowering stages.

Pros

• Super quiet fans
• Great light penetration
• Can easily be daisy-chained

Cons

• Many consumers find the lights are too bright

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What Does “Full Spectrum” Mean?

One of the most important aspects of growing is the amount and type of light you use for your plants. In truth, knowing how to use light to start your own grow operation is critical to success.

Many experts agree that a full-spectrum light is the best type of light to use indoors such as in grow tents. The meaning of full-spectrum light is a light that contains the full electromagnetic spectrum from infrared to near-ultraviolet.

The definition of full-spectrum also includes all wavelengths that are utilized for animal and plant life such as sunlight. Full-spectrum light bulbs are any amount of bulbs that create light that absorbs which have the full spectrum or range of colors.

In fact, full-spectrum light bulbs ware often designed to emulate sunlight.

In addition, experienced growers are often concerned about PAR and lumens. PAR or photosynthetically active radiation is in reference to the spectral range of light from 400 to 700 nanometers (what most plant use for photosynthesis). For full-spectrum lights, PAR measures the light within the entire spectrum.

The lux meter typically calibrates just the brightest wavelengths such as red and blue. It measures the density of luminous flux (lumens).

How Plants Use Light

The ideal grow light is one that can closely duplicate the spectrum of the sun. In addition, the grow light would allow light intensity adjustments when needed.

For the most part, plants utilize the light that falls within the PAR spectrum. Plants also use some light outside of the PAR spectrum range.

However, the light outside of range is usually to weak or too intense for photosynthesis.

Plants use pigments to absorb light. The highest volume of plant pigmentation is chlorophyll.

Actually, chlorophyll is the most efficient plant pigment that encapsulates red and blue light. Other pigments (accessory pigments) that capture light and wavelengths include carotenoids, xanthophylls, and carotenes.

Basically, the pigments collect the light then transfer it to the photosynthetic process.

Pros and Cons of Using Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights

Full-spectrum LED grow lights have numerous benefits for growing your plants indoors such as a grow tent. In fact, LED grow lights have drastically changed in the past decade.

They are more advanced, economical, and effective. Equally, there are also downfalls to consider when using full spectrum LED grow lights.

Pros

Full-spectrum LED grow lights are one of the most popular light among growers, and for good reason –

• Durability- they are very durable and made to last
• Efficiency – are one of the most efficient grow lights available
• Perfect size – not real bulky like other lights, making it easy to fit into small spaces
• Cooler Temperatures – maintains a cooler temperature than other light systems such as HID bulbs
• Provides full-spectrum of light – the greatest advantage is the full spectrum energy for your plants

Cons

Full-spectrum lights also have a few disadvantages like –

• Power Level – not as powerful as other structures like HID lights
• Cost – the initial cost is higher than other types of lights, but the return is excellent
• Risk of Light Burn – if the lights are to close to your plants, you run the risk of light burn
• Blue Light – in the vegetative stage, your plants love blue light. However, according to WebMD and other experts, blue light can affect sleep and be bad for the eyes
• Lacks standard specifications with manufacturers – there are still not standard specs with manufacturers

What to Look for in Full Spectrum Grow Lights

Today, you can find a wide array of full-spectrum grow lights on the market. On the other hand, it can be difficult to decide which grow light is the best quality.

Fortunately, there are certain things to look for when buying a full spectrum grow light. In fact, knowing which features are needed and the specifications of certain accessories will guide you in the right direction.

Features to look for include –

• Durability – made of durable material
• Efficiency – the grow light should be energy efficient
• Full-spectrum – Full-spectrum wavelengths should be from 380 to 840 nm. This includes light for all growth stages like blue, red, UV, and IR light.
• Balanced Spectrum – for plant health, the spectrum should have a high PAR/lumen output (3 to 5-watt diodes)
• High wattage – the higher the watts, the more intense the light will be
• Sound level – some grow lights can be very loud. Make sure it has a quiet fan
• Temperature Control – the system has a quality cooling and ventilation system for temperature control
• Coverage – typically, you need 50 watts of light per square foot of growing space. Basically, 1-2 plants need 2 square feet at 100 watts, and 20 plants require 20 square feet at 1000 watts
• Switches – you will need different lighting with the two stages of plant growth (vegetative and flowering). There are two types of LED grow lights, full-spectrum and one with switches for blue and red lights. The red lights are for the flowering stage
• Portability – a portable design is also nice to have, for convenience and flexibility
• Warranty – grow light are an investment, so you want to make sure that there is a warranty. There are different types of warranties, depending on the company

Problems with Full-Spectrum LED Grow Lights

All types of lights have their pros and cons, even full-spectrum LED lights. Basically, there are three major issues with full-spectrum grow lights –

• The lights are not dynamic like the sun – they do not include all wavelengths
• They are not optimized for plants – you need to change the type of light with each growing stage
• They do not include the full solar spectrum – the sun is the only light source that has a full solar spectrum

Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights vs Other Grow Light Options

By far, full-spectrum LED lights are the best choice for growing. They offer the closest light spectrum that is similar to natural sunlight.

However, there are other grow lights that offer a variety of light spectrums that are worth considering.

• Broad Spectrum LED Grow Lights – these grow lights have a high ration of broad-band LEDs. They are white in color that is a combination of red, blue, and green wavelengths. They do not offer white wavelengths. These lights are perfect for increasing photosynthesis and recommended for indoor use and plants that do not have different lighting preferences for various plant stages.
• Narrow Spectrum LED Grow Lights – these lights use a higher ratio of narrow-band LED or phosphors enabling wide color gamut displays. They are generally purple or pink in color and are optimized for red and blue PAR. They are mostly used in greenhouses for adding extra wavelengths and the red diode efficiency. These lights are not recommended for grow tents. They do not have the necessary full-spectrum lighting.
• Adjustable Spectrum LED Grow Lights – these newly developed grow lights are designed for precision control of plants. They allow you to adjust the grow light spectrum using wireless methods. Many growers use these lights to encourage flowering, improve cell structure, and easier maintenance. These lights are designed for commercial and scientific applications to study and monitor precision.