Characteristics and tips of growing marijuana led

In this post we will focus on the future of indoor growing due to energy savings, but makes it more sustainable and more environmentally friendly.

What is led lighting for marijuana crops?

The LED system takes advantage of the energy emitted by the light-emitting diodes, its acronym in English of Light-Emitting Diode. A diode is an electrical component that consists of two terminals and allows the passage of electrical current in only one direction

In recent years, LED spotlights have been adapted to growing marijuana, reducing its production cost.

What types of led luminaires are there?

The growing prominence of led spotlights in cannabis cultivation is undeniable. So we will detail what type of luminaire there are.

• Standard LED

They were the pioneers for the cultivation, today, they are still used today. This compact fixture contains plenty of low to medium power LEDs. Their biggest advantage is their price, but they tend to have drawbacks because they are unreliable and have low light output, which is reduced in a poor harvest.

• COB LED

It is made up of several hundred tiny LEDs on a single chip. These are among the most efficient LEDs. Its white light is very intense, similar to the luminous spectrum of the sun, penetrating very well between the branches of the plants, achieving a final harvest similar to what we can do with high intensity lamps.

• LED Spread-Style

Spread-Style LEDs combine the advantages of traditional LED panels with COB panels. The advantage is that these types of lights are one of the most efficient from the energy point of view, you get more light with the same power. The downside is its high price.

Advantages and disadvantages of using led for plants

LEDs have several advantages compared to other types of grow lights. We leave you a summary of why you may prefer this method for your next crop.

Advantages of growing marijuana with led lights

The Led has a lower consumption, specifically three times less than the HPS or sodium. The temperature tends to rise very little so it will not be necessary to have the ventilation on all the time.

Disadvantages of growing marijuana with led lights

The disadvantages are few, crops with LEDs are often prone to pests due to the colors of the light. In cold areas it may be necessary to use some type of heating to increase the temperature of the crop. Despite the many benefits, the high price of the plates may be one of the factors why some growers continue to opt for traditional sodium bulbs.

Tips to grow with led lights

• Before buying, first it is necessary to inquire, both the color temperature, the ideal idea that it includes between 3500 and 6500k, as well as the luminous efficiency and the chromatic reproduction index.
• The supercropping or scrog, favor the development of the plants, if we carry out these techniques, the LED light is able to go deep down to the lower area of ​​the plant, being able to harvest large, hard and compact buds.
• There is a relationship between temperature and plant development, temperature acts as a metabolic regulator. In winter to have low temperature, the frequencies of irrigation and fertilization decrease a lot, favoring the grower in his pocket

Common mistakes to avoid when growing with led lights

• Not placing the led lights at an adequate distance

Too far away, your plants are likely to stretch a lot when trying to get close to the light, but placing them too close can cause more stress, causing burns and discoloration of leaves and buds.

• Watering your marijuana plants too much

The considerable reduction in heat, makes the plants require less frequent watering, adjust the watering schedule appropriately, especially if you have little experience.

• Choosing the wrong type of led

We will be able to find “full spectrum” lights, which means that you can use them for the vegetative phase and flowering. But there are also those with a switch to change the phase spectrum or some are designed for vegetative stage only.

• Not providing enough light to plants

The voltage of the LED lights does not indicate how much light the LED is emitting, but how much energy is required to produce the light, to measure the amount of light emitted we use lumens. Regardless of how high the voltage is, the light could be poorly scattered and / or not penetrate well

Conclusions

Keep in mind that the best LED system does not produce good weed on its own, try to be attentive to all the needs of your plants: water, nutrients, substrate and all the good things they need.

Related questions

What LED do I need for an indoor?

If you want LEDs for indoor growing, the information in this note will help you decide, but keep in mind that you will have to spend a lot of money to get a light that promises good harvests and lasts a long time.

How many plants can I put with LEDs?

A good 250W LED, which can light about 4/5 plants, a 400W one about 6/7 plants, while a 600W one should cover about 8-9 plants.

How many LED spotlights do I need per square meter of cultivation?

In a growing indoor with led panels of the following dimensions we could have:

• 60×60 cm with 250 W: 4 plants
• 80×80 cm with 400 W: 6 plants
• 1x1m with 600 W: 9 plants