Introduction

The field of LEDs proves to be highly effective for different domains like consumer electronics. Today, we cannot survive better without LEDs at all because of their remarkable features and excellent performance in this regard.

These LEDs also have vast applications in grow lights for gardening. But are all LED lights grow lights? Philzon is going to find this out in this detailed post for you! So let’s get started!

Understanding LED Lights

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric current passes through them. Unlike traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, LEDs convert a larger portion of energy into light rather than heat, making them highly efficient.

LEDs are available in various colors, and their light emission is determined by the energy gap of the semiconductor material used. This property enables LEDs to emit specific wavelengths of light, which can be harnessed for specific applications.

How do LED lights work?

LED lights work on electroluminescence, which is a crucial phenomenon for these lights, or else these might fail to perform effectively. In this process, the light emits from a source as a result of the passage of current from the source.

LEDs are semiconductor devices that rely on this phenomenon so that they can produce light effectively without undergoing any sort of heat damage.

These special semiconductors prove to be effective for the usage of grow lights, and therefore, we are still using such plant lights for seamless plant growth as well.

We are going to see how LEDs work in the following steps:

• Semiconductor Material: LEDs cannot work without proper semiconductors. These are made from different materials like gallium nitride, gallium arsenide, and others. The type of wavelength we need to produce mainly depends on these materials.
• P-N Junction:Since LEDs are semiconductors, these have a P-N junction. It has two parts, where P is the part that is positively doped. While the N part is negatively doped. The purpose of this junction is to resist the current flow from the P region to the N region, and it does this job by developing considerable potential differences.
• Electron Movement: After the voltage has been developed, the electrons of the N part become energized and begin to move to the P region. While passing through this junction, these attach with the positive holes present in the P region.
• Energy Release:When electrons and holes come together, there is a release of energy, and photons are produced, which are the sources of light. The energy packed in these photons is due to the band gap within the semiconductor material. This same energy is behind the color of the wavelength that will appear as a result of this reaction.
• Color and Wavelength: The semiconductors always have bandgaps in them, which is why these produce photons. This is why we can use different colored LEDs to use in various applications.
• Efficiency: LEDs are heat-efficient, which means these do not produce too much heat that can be damageable to the LEDs themselves. These change the energy in light, and the major portion goes into it, which is why these are not harmful in this aspect at all.
• Control and Modulation: LEDs are also easier to control and modulate because of the current flow adjustment, or else these would have been impossible to adjust as well. Due to this, these have important applications in indicators, displays, and fiber optics as well.
• Longevity: LEDs are also durable, which means these serve longer in the run without undergoing potential damage. LEDs don't have any filament, which is why their brightness can fade after extensive usage.

Different Types of LED Lights

LED lights have multiple categories and types, and these mainly differ in the wavelengths they produce. Due to this reason, it is important to learn about these LEDs in detail so that you do not have to struggle.

● Red LED Lights:

• Wavelength: Their wavelength ranges between 620-750 nanometers (nm)
• Applications: Red LEDs are important or dim lights and night vision devices for better visualization. Red LEDs prove to be effective for agricultural purposes and horticulture as well. These are important for the growth of fruit and flowers.

● Green LED Lights:

• Wavelength: Their wavelength ranges between 500-570 nm
• Applications: Green LEDs are important for traffic lights and indicators, along with digital displays. These are also handy for some special cases where green lighting is crucial.

● Blue LED Lights:

• Wavelength: Their wavelength ranges between 450-495 nm
• Applications: Blue LEDs are handy for LCDs and horticulture. These are beneficial for use in displays and backlighting. These also help grow plants in agriculture.

● Yellow and Amber LED Lights:

• Wavelength: Yellow LEDs have a wavelength of 570-590 nm, while amber LEDs wavelength ranges from 590-620 nm.
• Applications: Yellow and amber LEDs are used in the traffic lights and indicators so that these can serve for special visualization scenarios easily.

● White LED Lights:

• White LEDs need some special methods for creation, and this is why it is important to learn about them below:
• RGB Method: Red, green, and blue lights come together to produce white light, and if we adjust these primary colors, then we can easily get a white light spectrum.
• Phosphor Method: For this, we get a blue LED with a phosphorus coating on it so that a small portion of blue light can be converted into yellow light. When blue and yellow lights combine, these produce white light.
• Applications: White LEDs are important for consumer usage, like light bulbs used in homes and offices. Also, some smartphones and laptops have white LEDs in them.

● UV (Ultraviolet) LED Lights:

• Wavelength: Their wavelength is below 400 nm
• Applications: UV LEDs are important for the sterilization of adhesives and coatings and some special medical gear. Some insect traps also have UV LEDs.

● Infrared (IR) LED Lights:

• Wavelength: Their wavelength is Above 700 nm
• Applications: IR LEDs are in remote controls, special security systems, and fiber optics. Some night vision gadgets also have IR LEDs.

Purpose of Grow Lights

We should know why plant lights are important for plant growth. Plants need light to make their food, or else they will die soon. Due to this reason, we use grow lights to provide them with a constant source of light so that they can develop at a natural pace easily.

Things can get complicated for them if plants cannot produce their food easily. So, the purpose of grow lights is crucial for the better development of plants and preventing them from withering as well.

Differences Between Regular LED Lights and LED Grow Lights

Regular LEDs are just for lighting purposes, while LED grow light are specially for growing plants artificially. These focus on the plant needs so that these can develop without facing growth complications at all. Growth lights are important because they contain a light spectrum that emits different lights and also targets individual parts of plants to grow. For example, red light is for fruit and flower development, while blue light is important for vegetative growth.

Intensity and Duration Considerations:

We cannot ignore the importance of LED grow lights because these are important for their intensities. It is important to know that when you are using LED grow lights, it is crucial to regulate their intensities because the excessive intensity of LEDs can ruin the plant on the whole. Also, insufficient intensity can lead to stunted plant growth. However, intensity adjustment is easier, and you don't have to struggle much with it at all. Reading the user manual for LED grow lights can prove to be effective in this regard.

Can Regular LED Lights Be Used as Grow Lights?

Yes, you can use regular LEDs to grow lights because of certain benefits. This is also quite common in horticulture and indoor gardening, which is why it is crucial to take a look at their advantages below for being used as greenhouse lights!

Potential Benefits:

• Cost-effectiveness:Regular LED lights are affordable, which is why when you're just tapping into indoor gardening, these will prove to be effective for you. These are also cost-effective as compared to the majority of the grow lights present.
• Energy Efficiency: LED lights are also handy for saving up energy and utilizing it for making light. Therefore, these don't disturb your budget at all, and you can easily invest in other things as well.
• Low Heat Emission: LEDs are also crucial for low heat emission, and therefore, plants and LEDs themselves are secure from heat damage, which can cause electrical fires as well.
• Customization:LED lights are also handy for complete customization and easy adjustment, which means you can adjust them as per the intensity level and your plant’s growth needs as well.

Limitations:

• Spectrum Mismatch:Standard LED lights are not as specific as greenhouse lights in terms of light spectrum. Due to this reason, these can give a tough time in terms of spectrum matching, which can ruin the plant growth on the whole.
• Suboptimal Growth:These lights can cause suboptimal growth and might hinder plant development at different stages as well.
• Elongation and Leggy Growth: In case these lights fail to perform perfectly, these can cause leggy growth, which is not healthy for the plants at all.
• Limited Flowering and Fruiting: If the intensity is not appropriate, these lights can easily hamper the fruit and flower growth on all counts.

Case Studies or Experiments:

Following are some case studies that show LED lights prove to be effective for indoor gardening and growing fruit and flowers from an artificial source of light!

• The Tomato Experiment:A group of scientists used LED lights and LED grow lights both on tomatoes and derived that tomatoes that used LED lights showed potential growth while the ones that used grow lights did not show impressive growth at all.
• Herb Garden Test: Another experimenton the herbs showed that these herbs can grow better with LED lights as compared to standard grow lights. These include parsley and basil, and some other kinds as well.
• Lettuce Comparison: When lettuce was grown using LED lights, it showed better growth and developed healthy and crunchier leaves as compared to the ones grown with grow lights.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that both LED lights and grow lights prove to be effective for plants, but there are certain areas in which LED lights beat the grow lights easily. You are now well aware of their comparison and know which one to go for your indoor plants!

Are you in search of high-quality and affordable LED Grow lights for sale? Visit Philzon and buy the products of your choice.