What Grow Lights Do Most Commercial Farms Use?

Types of Grow Lights

There are three basic types of grow lights available for indoor urban farming: Fluorescent grow lights, HPS or HID grow lights, and LED grow lights.

1. Fluorescent Grow Lights

Fluorescent grow lights are used to grow herbs and vegetables indoors. They come in two types, including fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). Fluorescent tubes come in many different intensities. They last longer and are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs - the common bulbs that have been lighting homes for decades. Fluorescent bulbs are very thin and can easily fit into tight spaces. As for the downsides, they need ballasts to regulate the current, and the tubes need brackets, not traditional sockets.

Such requirements can be added to the cost of installation.

On the other hand, CFLs are becoming more common in domestic use, not just indoor urban farming. CFLs use only 20 to 30 percent of the energy consumed by traditional incandescent bulbs, and they last 6 to 8 times longer. They are by far the cheapest of all three main types of grow lights. A significant advantage of CFL bulbs is that they do not emit excessive heat, allowing farmers to keep the lights closer to the plants. This low heat feature also makes it very energy-efficient.

2. HPS Grow Lights

High pressure sodium (HPS) lamps are gaining popularity and are surpassing fluorescent tubes and light bulbs. These lights are more common among commercial and experienced indoor growers, and the technology behind them has matured for over 75 years.

The problem with HPS is that it generates a lot of heat. Therefore, you must keep the lights a good distance from the plants. They require significant investment to build and maintain. Therefore, HPS is not recommended for small growers.

3. LED Grow Lights

While the origins of LED technology first appeared in the early 1900s, red and blue LEDs, ideal for indoor farming, were in use before the 2000s.

LED grow lights are the most energy efficient of all three basic types of grow lights. These light sources can be placed farther away from plants while still producing enough light without consuming too much energy. CFLs are almost 50% less efficient than LED grow lights. The heat generated by LED grow lights is close to zero. Best of all, LEDs are the best at creating the perfect indoor environment for almost any kind of food.

However, LED bulbs cost more than the other two types. Additionally, workers working on indoor farms need to use eye protection as LEDs can be harmful to the human eye.

Why Choose LED Grow Lights for Vertical Farming or Vertical Gardening?

There are a variety of grow lights to choose from, however, we recommend LED grow lights over traditional HPS, CFL and MH lights. Here are a few reasons why we recommend LED grow lights over other types of grow lights-

1. LED Lights consume less power and are cheaper to run
2. They produce less heat than other types of lights
3. Due to their construction, they have almost five times less failure and virtually no accidental breakage
4. They do not contain any mercury and are therefore more environment-friendly
5. There are multiple LED grow light brands across various price points offering great after sales support

Which LED Grow Light Is Right for Your Vertical Farm?

Flexible LED Grow Lights

For smaller-scale vertical farms or table-top growing, growers have several options. You can choose from LED light bundles, flexible LED grow lights and bulbs. These are very affordable lights that allow growers to experiment with a variety of farm designs and plant configurations. Most of these units come with replaceable LED grow bulbs, so they can be easily upgraded as well.

LED Grow Light Bars

LED light bars are an upgrade from flexible lights in terms of practicality and coverage. Grow Light Bars are similar to tube lights/CFLs in that they are long and thin. They are lighter and smaller than grow light panels. This makes them ideal for installation in the smaller spaces of indoor vertical farms. Their slim shape also makes it easier to pair with vertically growing tubes and columns. They are also easy to change and maintain.

LED Grow Light Panels

These are top lighting used by indoor farmers. They offer the best options in terms of light coverage, lighting changes, automation and configuration. LED grow light panels are manufactured for hobby growers and commercial growers based on light, intensity, duration and automation needs. These lights are usually supplied in the form of rectangular panels with the option to attach vertically to the ceiling of the shelf unit. These grow lights can start as low as 40W and go up to 2000W (even higher for custom requirements)

About the Author:

Michelle Zheng

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