A guide to choosing led grow lights-2025

1.Introduction to Grow Lights 

Like everything in the world, agriculture has evolved with time and technology. We are able to do tunnel farming, grow plants within our house, and allow plants to nurture with artificial grow lights and much more. Today, we have waterproof LED grow light, dimmable LED grow light, T8 LED grow light, and much more.

Even though all grow lights serve the basic purpose, that is to help plants grow, each has its unique characteristics and advantages. Before we get down to the scientific part of these grow lights, let us focus on the basics.

1)Why Use a Grow Light?

The tall buildings and the changing weathers might not allow the plants to take-in the required natural light. However, with grow lights, you can easily overcome these hurdles. Light, after all, is imperative for the growth of the plan, but sometimes, it fails to reach them especially in winters or for indoor plants.

In this case, let the grow lights nurture your plant. With these lights you can grow plants anywhere you want and at any time of the year. These lights are effective for seed starting, herbs, house plants, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and much more.

2)Can Grow Light Replace The Sun? 

Sunlight is a natural process, and it goes without saying that nature is always the best. However, grow lights are definitely a good alternative especially when you don’t have access to natural light. These modern, sophisticated lights have the ability to provide most, if not all, amenities that sunshine has to offer.

3)Quality Perspective

The main difference between grow lights and the regular light bulb of your house is the spectrum of the light that they distribute. The naked eye can see light at different frequencies ranging from 380 to 740 nanometers.

Humans are most sensitive to yellow-green light (with a wavelength around 550 nm).and it is also the cheapest among different light forms. 

4)Intensity Perspective 

Understanding and evaluating the light in human pupils are among the biggest challenges that we face today. The retina expands or contracts in order to allow the varying amount of light onto your retina. The role of the pupils is to regulate the light that is coming into your eyes.

When there is abundant light, the holes become small. However, in the case of fewer lights, they allow more light. Since we humans are extremely bad at evaluating the intensity of light, therefore, we need tools to measure light for us.

Lumens and Lux are used for measuring lights. However, in the case of plants, we use a different measure, called PAR or Photosynthetically Active Radiation. Although, most modern lights have the ability to deliver sufficient to the plants, however, the real truth is that not all can truly manage it.

Therefore, you need to invest in good company growth lights such as TheOneGrow. For slow-growing plants, you can rely on inexpensive cheap grow lights. However, in the case of edible plants, you would need more energy as they have rapid growth rates. For these growth plants, you need lights with better quality and higher power intensity. Also, you need to ensure proper distance from your plant.

5)Economical Perspective on Grow Lights 

Grow lights have been providing both quality and quantity light for plants to grow for a long time now. However, the recent technological developments have led to making them more effective and cost-efficient. 

In simple words, it means that the cost of growing light is now less in comparison to the value of the food that grows beneath it. Since this wasn’t always the case, therefore, many of you were not aware of it. However, in the past few years, the led grow lights have become increasingly popular, thus the increase in demand and awareness.

2.Different Types of Grow Lights 

Thanks to technological advancement, you now have access to different types of grow lights. You can choose the one that would suit your needs to perfection. Do bear in mind that different growth lights offer different features, make a different impacts and are used for different purposes.

There are different types of LED Grow Lights available in the market. In addition to types, we have different watts. For instance, you can use a 600 watt LED grow light for your plants, or you can go with a 800watt LED grow light.

The intensity of the light that you use greatly depends upon the type of plantation, the output you are expecting and the environment you are planning to install the light in.

3.Things to Look For in an LED Grow Light

Once you decide that you want to invest in a grow light, it is time to give them a try. However, do bear in mind that you would need to know the basics in order to buy the right kind of LED light.

Some of the factors that require consideration include:

1)Power

Of course, power is the first thing that requires consideration. You need to know the amount of power you would require. You measure the power in watts. A general rule is that a grow plant with higher power tends to cover larger area.

However, do bear in mind that raw power is not the only thing that you need, there are several other things that require consideration.

2)PAR

PAR is as important as raw power. PAR means Photosynthetically Active Radiation. It basically refers to the wavelengths that are important for the plant. These are the wavelengths that are part of the photosynthesis process.

In simple words, plants require red and blue light for photosynthesis. When you have higher PAR, it means that the Grow light would deliver a higher amount of these specific wavelengths. A light with a higher PAR number equals to more effectively grow light.

3)PPFD

The Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) is a branch of PAR. Basically, a light that has a good PPFD rating has the ability to deliver wavelengths that are important to the plant’s growth instead of generic wavelengths.

4)Height and Area

Every grow light has a rating that greatly depends upon the area of the plants it can cover when you hang it at a specific height. Sometimes, you need to invest in waterproof LED grow light strips especially when there are chances that the light would come in contact with water.

It is important to ensure that the light you choose matches your requirements. For instance, there is a light that can cover an area of 3ft x 3ft, when you hang them at a height of 24 inches.

5)Spectrum 

When we talk about spectrum, it is basically the range of wavelengths that these grow lights can produce. For instance, there are certain grow lights that are labeled as the “Full spectrum”. This means that these lights can produce all the wavelengths that a human eye can see.

However, not all “full-spectrum” models include ultraviolet and infrared light. Since these lights are useful for plants as they help them fight bacterial infection, therefore, it is better to opt for models that offer both the above lights.

6)Modes and Development Phases

The growth of the plant goes through different development phases such as germination, seedling, vegetative, and fruiting or blooming.

Since each phase requires a different type of light requirement, the grow lights need to make adjustments accordingly. To go with the “TO GO” option, you can opt for full-spectrum light around the clock.

This means your plant would get all wavelengths all the time. In order words, these are suitable for all development phases of all plants. However, these usually are not energy efficient.

The other option is to choose to grow lights that can switch between modes. For the vegetative phase, you can opt for blue and white light. When it comes to blooming, switch to red and white light. This is a better, more effective, and more efficient way to develop plant faster.

7)Safety Features 

A cooling system is an imperative safety feature of a grow light. Although, LED units run cooler in comparison to the traditional grow lights, yet they need an additional cooling system to prevent overheating.

These systems consist of one or more fans, depending upon different factors. They also have a head sink and similar features to aid ventilation. It is important to use an LED grow light that doesn’t overheat, especially when you use it intensively.

Some of the other safety features include light operators. This is important as it does not let one LED burn all the others. This is an important feature as it extends the life of the overall LED grow light. You would end up losing just one LED bulb instead of the entire LED light.

4.Recommend：Grow lights south africa

1)600w led grow light  – Full Spectrum Indoor Grow Lights 

When you are growing in a greenhouse and want to find a top fill light, you might as well take a look at this one, 600w led grow light.

The 600W LED grow light is made of aviation aluminum, which is stable and has good heat dissipation. The full spectrum simulates natural sunlight and promotes the growth of plants at all stages. The lamp is UL certified and has a waterproof design, suitable for a variety of environments. Its main advantages include:

• High-strength material: Aviation aluminum ensures stability and heat dissipation performance.
• Easy maintenance : Removable power supply structure, easy installation and maintenance, and extended service life.
• Full spectrum : Add 660nm red light to promote photosynthesis, accelerate plant flowering and fruiting, and improve yield and quality.
• High-performance light source: Using Samsung 281B LED chip, PPF reaches 1560 µmol/s, which effectively supports plant growth.
• Safety guarantee: Waterproof constant current LED driver enhances safety of use.

2)1000w  Full Spectrum LED Grow Light

If you are looking for a high-quality grow light for large-scale planting, the 1000W LED Full Spectrum Grow Light may be the perfect choice for you.

Designed with 10 LED light bars and a 120° beam angle, it ensures even light distribution over large growing areas. The light is foldable for easy transportation and storage, while its excellent waterproof performance allows it to be used in a variety of growing environments. Capable of covering 2.5-3㎡

Finally, the price of this unit is also something to look at. For R 8,950, it is hard to find another high-quality 1000w grow light like this.  

3)1200W LED Grow Light IN South Africa

If you are looking for a plant growth light for large-scale planting, the 1200W LED grow light is a good choice.

The 180° foldable structure is easy to install, and the 1.8m length reduces the number of lights required, saving installation costs. Equipped with 4320 white LEDs and 144 red LEDs, the total photon output is 3120 µmol/s and the light efficiency is 2.6 µmol/J, which can provide stable and efficient light.The grow light unit is suitable for covering a 2.5-3.5㎡.

4)1600W Samsung LM301B LEDs Grow Light 

If you are looking for a large-scale commercial plant growth light, the 1600W LED Plant Growth Light is an excellent choice. At the same time, it is also suitable for a 240*120*200cm planting tent.

It features 16 LED light strips and a double-folding design that can be extended to 2.1 meters, which can effectively cover a wide planting area. This light is easy to install and transport, which is perfect for saving the number of lights and installation costs.

Equipped with 5760 white LEDs and 192 red LEDs, it can provide a PPF of 4640 µmol/s and a light efficacy of 2.9 µmol/J, providing stable, high-quality light to promote plant growth and growth rate, with a yield of up to 2.9 grams per watt.

5）2000W Grow Light

This 2000w Grow light model is a perfect choice when you want the highest power levels. 

Advantages

Let’s go through some of the top advantages growers will get with this LED grow light:

• Bigger Size- Growers will get a lot of power to meet their growing needs
• Suitable for Any Plant Type- This light is a perfect choice for all development stages
• Full Spectrum- It offers the complete range of needed wavelengths that mimic the sunlight

Disadvantages

Below are a couple of potential drawbacks of this LED grow light:

• Can Produce Massive Heat- You need to be careful so that your plants don’t burn
• Spectrum Switch Unavailable- This light cannot adapt to different growth stages which makes it less adaptable

In a Nutshell

It’s a 2000w grow light, so you should expect it to produce loads of heat. Therefore, you must be extremely careful when using it to ensure that you don’t burn your plants. Moreover, you cannot change the light spectrum which makes it less adaptable than many other grow lights. Overall, it is a top-quality grow light that is an ideal choice for serious plants growing indoors. It is good enough to provide sufficient enough light for ideal plant growth.

T5 vs. T8 LED Grow Light: A Quick Comparison

T5 LED Grow Lights

T5 bulbs come under the latest tubular style light bulb generation category. They come with a 5/8ths” of diameter. T5 light bulbs are highly efficient than the predecessors t12 and T8 LED grow light. T5 bulbs ensure a greater brightness output while consuming less energy per lumen. Growers also have the HO (high-output) option with the T5 grow lights. This option helps increase their efficiency and brightness even further.

Why Choose T5 LED Grow Lights?

The increased efficiency of T5 LED grow lights cost considerably less in energy consumption than the T8 LED grow light . You will notice this exceptional benefit, especially during the plant’s vegetative growth stage. Remember that a grower needs to keep the light on throughout the day during this stage. During the stage of flowering, the maximum T5 bulb lumen capacity may result in increased yields of more aromatic and potent flowers.

Are there any Disadvantages of T5 LED Grow Lights?

T5 LED grow lights are exceptionally brilliant when it comes to energy efficiency. However, there are still a couple of drawbacks to these lights. First, these lights are a little behind T8 LED Grow light in terms of average lifespan. However, it might not be a great concern for small-scale grows because one T5 LED bulb costs only $2.50 - $12. It may be a concern if you want a grow light for a large-scale plantation indoors.

The second problem is that T5 LED bulbs produce greater heat than the same power T8 LED grow light tube. If you need a grow light option for your closet setup that doesn’t have proper ventilation, the T5’s heat may result in undesirable growing environments at all stages.

Advantages and Disadvantages of T5 LED Lights

Advantages

Here are some of the top advantages growers can get from T5 LED lights:

• Ideal choice for energy-efficient indoor plants growth
• Help you save a lot on your electricity bill
• Excellent choice for flowering and veg stages
• Higher output option available
• Brightest among T-style LED lights, with greater lumen capacity

Disadvantages

• The T5 LED lights emit greater heat which is not good for rooting, seed, and cloning
• Per bulb cost of T5 lights is more expensive
• The average lifespan is slighter lower

T8 LED Tube Grow Lights

2ft(60cm) or 4f(120CM) T8 LED tube are common T-style grow light. These lights have a tubular lighting style with a 1” diameter. These lights are the previous generation of T5 LED tube and consume a little more energy than T5. However, they don’t require any modifications to use with an array of housings. On the other hand, you cannot interchange T5 LED lights with older generations, but T8 LED Tube can be.

Why Choose T8 LED Tube Grow Lights?

Although T8 grow tube lights are not as energy efficient as T5s, they also emit less heat. You may want to know how less heat is beneficial. It is especially critical during the initial indoor growth stages. The T8 LED lights are brilliant under the following conditions.

• When the setup is susceptible to overheating because of inappropriate ventilation
• When the growing climate is difficult
• Growing plants when the summer season is at its peak

T8 LED tube grow light bulbs are a brilliant choice during rooting, seeding, and cloning phases. During these phases, these lights will offer adequate lighting for deep rooting and germination without risks, such as drying or scorching immature plants.

Are there any Disadvantages of T8 LED Tube Grow Lights?

The energy efficiency cost of T8 LED Tube grow light bulbs may grow exponentially according to your indoor plantation project scale. Due to this, it is better to consider more energy-efficient grow light options when expanding growing operations. Typically, T8 lights are suitable during the initial growth stages. They lack maximum lighting capacity and it may impair and hamper the growth of plants during flowering and veg stages.

Advantages and Disadvantages of T8  LED Tube Lights

Advantages

Here are some of the great advantages that T8 LED Tube grow light offers:

• Reduced heat production
• The average price per light bulb is cheaper
• Extended average lifespan
• Better for rooting, cloning, and seeding phases

Disadvantages

• T8 lights are less energy-efficient that results in more power consumption
• Lumen capacity is low
• Not suitable for flowering or veg phases

When choosing a T8 LED Tube grow light, you should pay attention to several considerations. Remember that these lights are available in many types, sizes, and shapes. The most common ones available in the market are:

• Full spectrum LED grow light bars
• Blue spectrum LED grow light bars
• Commercial LED grow light bars
• Domestic LED grow light bars
• Dimmable LED grow light

It is essential that you prefer the best quality light bars grow units for your growing needs. You can also find waterproof LED grow light and waterproof LED grow light strip units in the market. Waterproof LED grow light fixtures are best for open area growers.

What is Quantum Board Grow LED Light?

You can take a quantum board as the most premium thing ever! Those who are not using it are missing something very special in the growing field. It has been a talk of the town, especially since the last few years. But the question is why a quantum board LED grow light is so special?  We will discuss in detail the quantum board later on. But for now, let’s answer the most common question that is doing rounds on various growing forums these days.

What Exactly a Quantum Board Is?

The HLG (Horticulture-Lighting-Group) first coined the word “quantum board”. It refers to a unique light style where various small diodes of LED are attached to one flat board. The arrangement of diodes is in rows, run in analogous configuration through a constant, powered current driver. Today, we have various boards available in the market from many manufacturers with different configurations.

HLG is using the V2 QB288 board as their primary board. It comes with 288 LM301H Samsung LEDs. These LEDs are regarded very highly in the list of highly efficient LEDs available at the moment. This board has two variants. The other one replaces 16 diodes of Samsung with blue or Osram deep red diodes.

Today, various brands are manufacturing quantum boards. Most brands are using the same HLG quantum board components. Some also use cheap-quality components to minimize costs. However, it is essential to ensure that you always choose the best quantum board LED grow light. You can find one by ensuring that the quantum board consists of high-quality components.

Why Choose Quantum Board Grow LED Lights?

Now you may want to know why these lights are popular and why should you choose them. Apparently, you will find the build quantum board LED grow light pretty basic. You may also not any huge difference in their build quality like other traditional grow lights. So, what are the reasons to invest in these lights?

Quantum boards come with many unique advantages, making them a great replacement for conventional grow lights. Here are the key advantages that growers can get with quantum boards:

Why Choose TheOneGrow

TheOneGrow is a South African grow light company with offices and warehouses located in Johannesburg. We provide high-quality lighting equipment, grow tents, ventilation systems and accessories, as well as fast delivery services.

Its team has more than 200 employees, including 40 experienced R&D engineers with more than 20 years of experience in plant science, hardware and control systems.

TheOneGrow has also established its own planting laboratory, testing more than 50 spectrum combinations, covering more than 100 plants, and providing customized spectrum solutions for different plants. Whether it is home gardening, vertical farms or greenhouse cultivation, TheOneGrow can provide customers with professional free lighting design services to meet customer needs