Light Stand

One area where LED Grow Master lighting truly shines in comparison to other lighting is in the attractive compact design and safety.  When we put these features together, it opens up a realm of possibilities that are impractical or just plain ugly with other light sources.  The result, LGM lighting is being incorporated into whole new lines of products.  The simple grow station pictured here is a great example.  Because each bar weighs less than a pound, a light stand can be constructed with two dowels and a piece of wood.  This design was meant for kitchen herb gardens and can be painted or constructed out of materials to match the decor of any room.

Imagine this same concept in action with an HID light.  I think we can agree this idea is impractical with a 30 pound ballast and bulky reflector.  How about fluorescent tubes?  Could be done but I think we will also agree that neither the fluorescent or HID fixtures add any charm to a room.  This is one reason the indoor garden has been pushed into closets and basements.  Most people just don’t want the lights in the main living area.

The LED stand however, could go anywhere.  The built in reflectors direct light only where you need it.  Without the shock, fire, or burn risks associated with traditional lighting; the LED grow lighting is safe for kids and pets and requires no special wiring.  Simply plug the units into a wall socket and add garden charm to any room.

Two Level Greenhouse

The Alfred State Center for Sustainable and Organic Agriculture had their hydroponics lab set-up to grow on multiple levels.   Both the LED grow lights and the entire upper level were vertically adjustable- hydro channels and all.  Starts on the bottom level received just enough light through the spaces between the upper channels.

LGM LED Grow Lights at the Palms

Sustainable design is a growing trend that has been pushed forward with an ever increasing perception of our need to reduce our impact on the environment. One of the major players in this move toward sustainability is our choice of lighting. According to the Department of Energy, energy consumption for all lighting accounts for 22% of the electricity made in the USA. The conversion of electricity to useable light is one of the least efficient energy conversion processes used in buildings today.  Although this has become a focal point of many who are replacing traditional lighting with efficient solid state lighting, it is not the only factor that makes LED’s the greenest technology available.

Let us consider Mercury.  Mercury is a neurotoxin.  Elevated levels of Mercury in the bloodstream cause retardation and deformities in children and a variety of neurological disorders in adults.  Mercury is present in all HID/fluorescent fixtures. In the case of fluorescent lighting, 620 million bulbs are discarded each year in the US alone. This adds up to 4 tons of mercury (http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/research/mercury-bulbs.pdf) discarded into our landfills each year.  When these statistics are quoted they are generally followed by the justification that the bulbs save energy thus reduce coal combustion, which is also a source of Mercury, thus balancing out the equation. LED’s are even more energy efficient than fluorescents and do not contain Mercury.

When we look at LED plant lighting we see even more greenery (pun intended).  The amount of energy used to ventilate the heat of traditional plant lighting is eliminated by the low heat generation of LED lighting.  The amount of water used is decreased significantly when we eliminate this wasted heat.  The overall waste produced when replacing bulbs is decreased. (LED’s are rated for 100,000 hours, fluorsescents are rated for only 20,000).  So for those of us that are looking to minimize our impact and create a sustainable future, LED lighting is a simple step in the right direction.

LGM3 LED Plant Light

When I read advertisements and articles about LEDs they seem to mainly focus on electrical efficiency.   While I agree that LEDs can dramatically increase the efficiency of the way we light our world, there is a benefit that hasn’t been given the weight it deserves.  This benefit is life time.  LGM LED grow lights are rated for 100,000 hours of life.  If you do the math, this means you could run your LEDs 24 hours a day for 365 days a year and you shouldn’t have to replace them for over 11 years (10-20 times longer than traditional grow lights and twice as long as 1 watt/3 watt LED arrays).

If we use a more reasonable 16 hour photoperiod, LGM lighting should last approximately 21 years.   If you were to switch out your HPS for LEDs in a greenhouse you could save yourself 20 trips to the landfill where you must dispose of your toxic lead and mercury bulbs, 20 trips to the lighting supply company, and 20 installations.  With the money saved in energy efficiency and eliminated bulb replacement costs- LGM LEDs actually pay for their own replacements over the lifetime of the products.  Long live LEDs!

LED Lighting

In the quest for perfect plants, pH is an important consideration.  This is especially true if your are using the NFT system.  If the pH is not at the proper level- plants will lose their ability to absorb nutrients.  For many gardeners new to the system, obtaining the proper pH level will often represent the first challenge.

The pH scale ranges from 1 (acidic) to 14 (basic or alkaline).  Seven is neutral.  Meters are inexpensive and available at most garden supply stores.  A change in one pH unit means a tenfold change in hydrogen concentration (H+).  (According to the Compact Oxford English Dictionary, the “p” stands for the German word for “power”, potenz, so pH is an abbreviation for “power of hydrogen.) PH will change every day (usually going up.)  Over zealous gardeners may be tempted to adjust it daily but ultimately this will lead to nutrient problems.  The solution should be tested each day for sharp changes but adjusted only every few days.  The majority of plants will thrive in a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.  When adjusting the pH it is important to adjust it slowly, 1/2 to 1 point for each adjustment.

Phosphoric Acid (pH down), and Potassium Hydroxide (pH up) are the two most common methods of changing pH.  When making a fresh batch of solution you will want to add the nutrients first and then adjust the pH.  If you have soft water you will likely need very little adjustment.  When first using a system, it is advisable to measure how much pH up or down you use to reach your target.  This will simplify future adjustments in your quest for perfection.

LED grow lights

Many indoor gardeners have already developed a routine under HPS lighting and gardening products have been designed around the radiant heat emitted from traditional lighting.  If you eliminate the HPS- you have also eliminated the heat.  The LED gardener must adjust the entire environment accordingly.  One of the easiest ways to see the benefits of an LED grow light without changing your overall system, is to use them in a hybrid system.

Conventional grow lights run from several hundred degrees to over 1400 degrees Fahrenheit at the bulb’s surface.  Although this heat is expensive and harmful in excess, it is also partially responsible for the growth rates ans size that the HPS gardener has come to expect.  By using LED Grow Master light bars as the primary light source, and HPS as a supplemental heat lamp; you are able to create (and pay for) only as much heat as you need while dramatically increasing the efficiency of your system.

There are several options for the hybrid system.  One method would be to turn on the HPS lighting periodically throughout the day such as an hour in the morning, an hour in the afternoon, and an hour before the lights go out.  The LEDs run for the full photoperiod.  The HPS heats up your plant canopy and the LEDs provide quality wavelengths for photosynthesis.  Another option is to use a lower watt HPS in conjunction with the LEDs.  For example, replace the 1000 watt HPS with a 400 watt HPS and run the entire LED/HPS system for the photoperiod.   These changes can significantly reduce the amount of money spent on electricity and heat management with minimal changes to your current system.

There is no time like the present.

NFT systems have been in use for many years and are recently becoming popular among commercial growers.  NFT reduces the amount of time needed to bring plants to maturity and makes it easier to obtain excellent yields when compared to traditional methods.   There are a number of factors that researchers believe play into the increased yields in an NFT system.   The system eliminates the wetting and drying cycle,  supplies a constant source of nutrients, is absent of root diseases typical in soil grown plants, and supplies the roots with a constant supply of oxygen.

Pairing the highest efficiency plant growth system (NFT), with the most electrically efficient and durable plant light source (LGM540) is a huge step in the direction of sustainability.  The LEDs enable year round operations using about 10% of the electricity consumed by traditional lighting and are compatible to alternative energy sources such as solar and wind.  The NFT uses only 1/10th of the water, 1/3rd of the space, a fraction of the minerals, and little or no waste to contaminate the environment. NFT/LED systems are the most efficient method of plant cultivation available.

Grow Anywhere

1. Use up to 90% less electricity.

2. No Ballast.

3. No Reflector.

4. LED Grow Master lighting lasts 10-20 times longer than traditional bulbs.

5. Low heat means reduced cooling costs in the summertime when electricity prices are at their peak.

6. Eliminate disposal fees.  LGM lighting has no lead or mercury.

7. Use less water.

8. Use less nutrients.

9. Small and scaleable, use only as much light as you need.

10. Sign up for the newsletter and I will personally send you a deal every month.

LED Succulents

     A Pioneer blazes the trail for those who will follow behind.  Pioneers give us new things to do and new ways of doing things we already do.  They are ingenious, and full of the will to discover.  As Galileo once said “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.”

     I’m seeking pioneers.  While SolarOasis patented the first LED grow light almost 10 years ago, the method is still in it’s infancy.  LEDs are different from HPS and fluorescent lighting in almost every way.  What many people don’t realize is that most of the supplies that we find for the indoor garden have been designed with the idea that plants will be receiving radiant heat from their light source.  This heat is associated with fire and shock risks as well as lead and mercury dangers inherent in glass bulbs.    We are now able to eliminate the heat and utilize a safe, durable option which opens the door to entirely new parameters of design in the garden. 

      I’m looking for pioneers of new mediums designed for porosity to help prevent over watering when the heat is eliminated.   I’m looking for pioneers of space, to grow in places that were once inaccessible or unpractical using traditional lighting like shipping crates or underground gardens.   I’m looking for pioneers in measurement as there is currently no handheld device to properly measure the output of LEDs in relation to plant growth.  Almost every aspect of the garden could be reinvented to become more efficient now that we have access to LEDs.

       With the variety of plants and methods of growing used on the planet today, all LED gardeners are pioneers.  We advance the technique every time we plant a new variety or try a new method.  It is estimated that there are over 300,000 different plant species on earth.  You could be the fjrst to grow your species under LEDs.  Take pictures and gather data.  Help blaze the trail and hold yourself to your rightful place in history as a pioneer in LED gardening.