LED Grow lights

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Yak54
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LED Grow lights

#1

Post: # 86861Unread post Yak54
Sat Jan 14, 2023 1:45 pm

I'm trying out this new grow light for the upcoming season. Been using 4 ft. T8 4 light fixture for many years but thought I'd try LED's
SZHLUX

Dan
Dan

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bower
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Re: LED Grow lights

#2

Post: # 86863Unread post bower
Sat Jan 14, 2023 2:12 pm

Let us know how it works out. I've been looking at the "full spectrum" or "sunlike" type lights as a next thing to try.
Watch out for edema on tomato seedlings with LED lights. Some varieties are more susceptible than others, but basically tomatoes need some UV and IR wavelengths to do best. If there's some natural light too, that would cover it.
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
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Yak54
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Re: LED Grow lights

#3

Post: # 86970Unread post Yak54
Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:17 pm

According to the spec sheet this light is supposed to have your above mentioned wavelengths. However the one I just received has absolutely NO wavelengths at all cause it doesn't work at all. Nothing, no way no how. So I'm returning it for a replacement. This does not inspire confidence in a product. I should get the replacement in a few days so we shall see. More will be revealed ! ;)
Dan

Vanman
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Re: LED Grow lights

#4

Post: # 86994Unread post Vanman
Sun Jan 15, 2023 7:40 pm

We have three hanging over an 8 foot table in the basement. Not sure any more the brand. Two were supposed to be the same. but we bought them at different times from Amazon and we like the first one better. The third was one that was linked to here as a special sale price. We will never go back to any other type of grow light. We have some cabbage and broccoli under them now doing great. My wife has grown leaf lettuce under them in the winter very successfully.

akgardengirl
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Re: LED Grow lights

#5

Post: # 86998Unread post akgardengirl
Sun Jan 15, 2023 8:47 pm

I've been using a 4 ft - 4 bulb LED Active Grow for 4 years now that I am completely happy with. It was purchased on Amazon.

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Cornelius_Gotchberg
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Re: LED Grow lights

#6

Post: # 87087Unread post Cornelius_Gotchberg
Tue Jan 17, 2023 7:44 am

We got a space-saving Harris Seeds 4 Tier/16 Tray unit a coupla years ago and couldn't be happier. The plastic cover creates an humid Equatorial environment that seedlings just LUV.
https://www.harrisseeds.com/products/04 ... d-16-trays

For taller seedlings, & sprawling cukes/zukes/squarsh overflow, we replaced our many other units with these from Home Depot. Liked them so much that we also replaced other basement shop lights with them.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial- ... /306224339

The Gotch
Madison WESconsin/Growing Zone 5-A/Raised beds above the Midvale Heights spade-caking clay in the 77 Square Miles surrounded by A Sea Of Reality

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Yak54
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Re: LED Grow lights

#7

Post: # 87139Unread post Yak54
Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:50 am

Yak54 wrote: Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:17 pm According to the spec sheet this light is supposed to have your above mentioned wavelengths. However the one I just received has absolutely NO wavelengths at all cause it doesn't work at all. Nothing, no way no how. So I'm returning it for a replacement. This does not inspire confidence in a product. I should get the replacement in a few days so we shall see. More will be revealed ! ;)
So I received the the replacement light today and it doesn't work either. Imagine that ! How do you say "Quality Control" in Chinese ????????
Dan

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Yak54
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Re: LED Grow lights

#8

Post: # 87140Unread post Yak54
Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:56 am

Yak54 wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:50 am
Yak54 wrote: Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:17 pm According to the spec sheet this light is supposed to have your above mentioned wavelengths. However the one I just received has absolutely NO wavelengths at all cause it doesn't work at all. Nothing, no way no how. So I'm returning it for a replacement. This does not inspire confidence in a product. I should get the replacement in a few days so we shall see. More will be revealed ! ;)
So I received the the replacement light today and it doesn't work either. Imagine that ! How do you say "Quality Control" in Chinese ???????? :roll: :(
Dan

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Yak54
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Re: LED Grow lights

#9

Post: # 87141Unread post Yak54
Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:57 am

Yak54 wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:56 am
Yak54 wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:50 am
Yak54 wrote: Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:17 pm According to the spec sheet this light is supposed to have your above mentioned wavelengths. However the one I just received has absolutely NO wavelengths at all cause it doesn't work at all. Nothing, no way no how. So I'm returning it for a replacement. This does not inspire confidence in a product. I should get the replacement in a few days so we shall see. More will be revealed ! ;)
So I received the replacement light today and it doesn't work either. Imagine that ! How do you say "Quality Control" in Chinese ???????? :roll: :(
Dan

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Re: LED Grow lights

#10

Post: # 87155Unread post bjbebs
Wed Jan 18, 2023 3:18 pm

Most of my seeds go under 4 tube T8's. I also use cheap screw in LED'S with the diffusers removed.100 watt, 5-6000K in daylight. Very bright white light. 15-20 consumable watts. Don't get too caught up in broad spectrum lighting. You're starting plants to transplant into somewhere outdoors. Bright white LED lighting works quite well. One drawback I've noticed is magnesium deficiencies. Easily correctable with a couple drops of cal-mag or Epsom salts.
Also commercial high bay lighting is very cheap and throws off big light. The picture shows a 174 watt Lithonia fixture that measures about 11" x 22". A friend works at an electrical supply house. This was a store return and the box was marked "flickers". Barely noticeable to my eyes and plants don't care. This light can cover a large area.
20230118_151313.jpg
You'll need sunglasses working around these.
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Yak54
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Re: LED Grow lights

#11

Post: # 87157Unread post Yak54
Wed Jan 18, 2023 3:57 pm

Yeah I been using the 4 tube T8's for the last 15 yrs and before that it was T12's. :)
Dan

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Re: LED Grow lights

#12

Post: # 87837Unread post Tormato
Sat Jan 28, 2023 10:51 pm

I'm going to attempt using grow lights for the first time in 20 years.

The technology sure has change. I picked up a WalMart Great Value 2 foot LED fixture, switchable between blue spectrum, red spectrum, or blue and red spectrum. For $30, it's worth a shot, and it was the last one in the store. Apparently several others are giving it a try, as WM is well stocked with all of their other grow light products.

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Re: LED Grow lights

#13

Post: # 87838Unread post Paulf
Sat Jan 28, 2023 11:37 pm

I ordered a 4ft. shop light to experiment with. It was a single bulb fixture and I thought I wanted a double bulb LED sunlight. The single bulb now lights up the basement like never before and the double bulb LED bright white will be here Monday. The new light will be used on peppers this year with the 20 year old fluorescent fixtures remaining in use for tomatoes. If things work out I may begin switching out fixtures. It will still be shop lights not grow lights.

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Re: LED Grow lights

#14

Post: # 87956Unread post greenthumbomaha
Sun Jan 29, 2023 10:01 pm

Yak54 wrote: Sat Jan 14, 2023 1:45 pm I'm trying out this new grow light for the upcoming season. Been using 4 ft. T8 4 light fixture for many years but thought I'd try LED's
SZHLUX

Dan
Yak , If you still have your T8 fixture, Lowes has a set of GE LED replacement full spec for $2.17 . I was there today and they have still have a whole stack. Lots of bulbs on sale really cheap.

-Lisa

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Yak54
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Re: LED Grow lights

#15

Post: # 87997Unread post Yak54
Mon Jan 30, 2023 3:14 pm

Lisa....Thanks for the heads up !!!
Dan

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Re: LED Grow lights

#16

Post: # 88776Unread post greenthumbomaha
Sat Feb 11, 2023 6:21 am

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Good-Earth-Lig ... 1003263748

I went ahead and bought two of these on sale in the 3 foot size. On the packing it says for houseplants and leafy greens, but in the description it mentions full spectrum. The watts are low (20) though. I can't remember the watts on the 3 ft model.

Can I use these to start tomatoes, and at what point do I need to switch to a different light. I don't do houseplants, so anything recommendations besides lettuce to grow for transplant outdoors in early May?

-Lisa

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Re: LED Grow lights

#17

Post: # 88877Unread post bower
Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:02 am

The LEDs I'm using for greens are shoplights, not designed for plants (but "suitable for damp environments" and -20C to +40C). They are 4ft, 40 watt, and 'cool white' 4000K. They are fine for winter greens, although some differences have been noticed - plants grow taller under fluorescents. Under the LED, things like bok choy and napa cabbage will reach a certain height and then they just grow sturdier without getting taller, like they don't want to get any closer, vs the fluorescent fixture they will grow right up into it. Lettuce seems to like the LED and arugula did better under it than the fluorescent hung in a cold window.
These are the lights that gave my tomato seedlings a bad case of edema, when I let them get a little dry and then watered.
So they are not the same as LED lights designed for plants.
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
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Re: LED Grow lights

#18

Post: # 90558Unread post Rockporter
Thu Mar 02, 2023 12:19 am

I am so happy I found this site and all the helpers abound here. I didn't know what grow lights to get for my new shed growing but decided on these because they seemed to be good enough and cheaper than what it would have cost me to replace the bulbs in my old light fixture. They seem to be doing pretty well, and I am sure I am needing more experience but things are growing so that is a plus. I found these listed in numerous places online, I bought mine in 2 packs from WM, but you can get them in many other places and there is lots of feedback on them at Amazon.

https://www.boostlightinginc.com/boostgro-grow-light
In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt.
~Margaret Atwood~

Still my favorite quote! :lol: :P :D :)

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Re: LED Grow lights

#19

Post: # 90560Unread post MissS
Thu Mar 02, 2023 12:50 am

I use Costco's Feit 4' LED 4000 Lumen Shop lights and have been very happy with them.

These days these lights are smart lights controlled by your phone. They are dimmable and you can use warm, Cool or Daylight Color.
~ Patti ~

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Re: LED Grow lights

#20

Post: # 90562Unread post Rockporter
Thu Mar 02, 2023 1:19 am

MissS wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 12:50 am I use Costco's Feit 4' LED 4000 Lumen Shop lights and have been very happy with them.

These days these lights are smart lights controlled by your phone. They are dimmable and you can use warm, Cool or Daylight Color.
I love it, so many different lights being used. :D
In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt.
~Margaret Atwood~

Still my favorite quote! :lol: :P :D :)

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