It’s time to convert your grow lights to LED
Invest in lower utility bills and greater versatility.
It’s time to upgrade your grow. LED lighting can give your plants the same light output as HPS lamps with an improved broad white light spectrum, less radiant heat and without the headaches that cause energy costs.
A quality retailer can even help you choose a setup that is tailored to your specific growing conditions. And due to their lower energy consumption and the elimination of the mercury lamps used in HPS lights, LED lights have some environmental benefits that can pave the way for many future quality cultures.
The upfront costs can be higher, but the long-term impact on your wallet and workload will quickly pay off. The technology of these types of growlights has advanced and a system may be cheaper and more effective than you think.
Are you considering the move? Here are some reasons to pull the trigger – and some of our best products on the market – from Gavita and Sun System, subsidiaries of the Hawthorne Gardening Company.
Versatile, balanced light
You want to get as close as possible to natural sunlight when brightening your cropland, but HPS lights can be strong red and yellow. This imbalance can result in slimmer plants with thinner stems – as opposed to plants that grow in natural sunlight, which has more blue and green wavelengths and UV rays.
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LED lights give manufacturers the opportunity to optimally match a balanced full spectrum light to support the thriving of every plant. In a high quality grow light like the one in the Gavita LED line, each diode is carefully selected to create a perfect balance across the entire light spectrum from red and blue to green and white. This gentle, diverse spectrum encourages stocky plants with thick stems and lush leaves.
The lights stand alone
Taking some of the warmth from your lamps out of the equation requires some fiddling to make sure the conditions are right for your plants. The temperature of the HPS lights affects most of the systems in your grow, including humidity and ambient temperature.
After an initial adjustment, it is likely that you will not have to compromise your light intensity again for other growing conditions. You are free to give your plants the light they yearn for.
Lots of photons
HPS lights have some hard limits, and one of the biggest is light output. You can only crank it up this far before the heat just gets too much. Because LEDs are cooler, you can get the ideal light levels for your plants to thrive without worrying about overheating the leaf temperature.
Environmental responsibility
LED lights are more energy efficient than HPS lights, so you can better feel your impact on the planet. Switching to LED has the potential to reduce your power consumption by up to 45%, depending on which device you choose (the Gavita 1700e device reduces power consumption by 45% compared to an 1100x HPS device). Plus, there’s the nice side bonus of lowering the expensive electricity bill that comes with growing indoors.
But it’s not just about energy. The most common HPS lamps contain mercury. It can be difficult to dispose of properly and there is a risk of contaminating nearby areas if a lamp breaks.
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Know your options
LED lights are so common that you have many options to choose from! Gavita and Sun System, subsidiaries of the Hawthorne Gardening Company, are some of the most renowned grow light manufacturers in the market, with options for everyone from the home improvement to the commercial grower. One of these four options should get you started with LED lighting – or you can get in touch with them to work on a setup that’s tailored to your plants.
Would you like comprehensive and individual support? Hawthorne 360 Design Services offer a holistic approach to interior design.
For the simplest switch from HPS: Gavita CT 1930E
The CT1930e LED grow light mimics the light distribution of HPS lights in a compact design so you get the same light distribution as your existing HPS system. You can sync up to 2,000 units with a single controller (requires EL Master Controller, sold separately), making large setups a breeze. Even if you don’t have to change much, you still benefit from the advantages of a Gavita LED grow light with up to 20% energy savings compared to HPS and a plant-loving full spectrum light.
Growing for proximity: Gavita 1700E
For a highly efficient light that works perfectly with a vertical shelf system, there is the 1700e, Gavita’s best-selling shelf luminaire. It acts as the primary source of light from one to four feet above the plant roof, making it suitable not only for rows of plants on vertical shelves, but also for smaller spaces. Depending on the controller, you can connect 500 to 1,000 of them.
For hobbyists: Gavita 900E
If you’re growing for fun, the Gavita 900e lamp is a powerful yet gentle way to maximize your harvest. It has multiple hanging options so it fits in all kinds of places, whether it’s a basement, closet, or tent. While this is a great light for beginners, it’s a versatile light that fits well in racks and over benches, something experienced growers will appreciate.
For versatility at the highest level: Sun System RS 1850
This six-rail foldable LED light from Sun System uses top-bin diodes to achieve a robust, full-spectrum light source. Its foldable design is a tipping point when it comes to moving or storing your equipment while optimizing your grow space. A manual digital dimmer button and an internal built-in smart controller compatible with the Gavita e-Series controller (sold separately) allow you high-touch control of up to 500 devices. At home in greenhouses and air-conditioned rooms, the RS 1850 offers the versatility to increase the output for light-loving plants or to conserve it as desired.
Are you ready to move? Browse Hawthorne’s full line of Pro LED lights and accessories to find the right solution for you.
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