Ask any grower about what they feel is the most important component of growing a plant, and they are likely to tell you that it is the grow lights. This is true, too. Lighting is critical for your plants just as much as oxygen is for you. Plants make use of the light in many different ways, primarily for the process of photosynthesis, with the help of which they can prepare their ‘food’. Plants also require light for various other functions such as the breakdown of sugars, and for a better yield and a stable growth.
When it comes to outdoor growth, there’s plenty of light thanks to the sun. However, growing your plants indoors means there’s no access to the sun and that you need to artificially recreate this light. This is possible with the help of LED lights. These lights are great when it comes to growing all sorts of plants – be it regular soil-based plants or be it hydroponic plants. In this article, we specifically talk about the latter.
If you are a hydroponic grower, this article will help you find out the 15 best LED lights for hydroponic gardening. These lights can also be used by regular growers, so even if you do not grow via hydroponic techniques, you might still want to go through this article to figure out how these lights are! Let us now jump right into our list!
15 Best LED Grow Lights for Hydroponic Gardening
Now that you know why LED lights are useful when it comes to growing hydroponic plants, here’s a look at the top 15 LED grow lights that you can buy off the markets today to start growing your plants indoors!
1. BESTVA DC Series 2000W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Hydroponic Plants
BESTVA DC Series 2000W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Hydroponic Plants
Features:
- Covers 7.8ft x 7.5ft
- Separate veg and bloom switches
- Consumes 390W of power on an average
Any grower who has been around for some time, or a beginner who has even done basic research would have heard the name of Bestva. The company has been making grow lights for quite some time now and has become a major player of late. This is a powerful 2000W LED grow light from the company, which comes with separate VEG and BLOOM switches and features 10W dual-chip LED lights, which are quite powerful compared to the standard 3W or 5W lights. There are 200 such 10W lights on this grow light.
What truly makes this one of the best LED grow lights for growing hydroponic plants is the fact that it does not heat up and provides the best lighting to your plants. In the early stages, you can choose to provide only the VEG light, then a combination of one or both the lights as the plants mature. The grow light covers an impressive 7.8 x 7.5 ft of area, which is the biggest highlight of this product. The lights are angled at 120 degrees and the LEDs used here are pretty high-quality that will last you for a really long time. The average power draw here is just about 390W which makes it a very power efficient grow light too! There’s a 3-year warranty on this grow light from Bestva.
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2. VIPARSPECTRA Newest Dimmable 600W LED Grow Light for Indoor Hydroponic Plants
VIPARSPECTRA Newest Dimmable 600W LED Grow Light for Indoor Hydroponic Plants
Features:
- Covers 2.5×2.5ft of vegging and 2x2ft of blooming area
- Features a dimmer which allows you to control the intensity of the light
- Consumes only 132W of power
Undisputedly the biggest name in the world of grow lights, Viparspectra’s 600W lights are just the perfect fit for growers who don’t need something as massive as a 2000W light shining down on their plants. This is one of the best indoor grow lights for hydroponic gardening and it also comes with a dimmer! Dimmers are usually a feature of high-end grow lights or ones on high wattage lights, but having one here is a huge advantage! The light covers an area of about 2×2 ft during the bloom phase and about 2.5×2.5ft during the vegging phase.
It also supports daisy-chaining which allows growers to hook multiple grow lights on to each other instead of having them plugged to different sockets individually. There are high-speed fans located on the back of this grow light from Viparspectra which work to keep the temperatures low. The light consumes only about 132W of power, which is another benefit for growers as they save on the electricity charges. There’s a 2 year warranty that you get on this grow light. This grow light comes with an average lifespan of about 100,000 hours as claimed by the manufacturer.
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3. Venoya 45W LED Grow Light for Indoor Plants Growing Lamp
Venoya 45W LED Grow Light for Indoor Plants Growing Lamp
Features:
- Covers 2x2ft
- Consumes only 15W of power
- No fan, noiseless operation
From two very popular brands to one you might not have heard at all! Venoya’s 45W LED light is just the right fit for a grower who has very small scale needs or just needs an additional panel to provide some extra light. This is also suitable for those growers who are growing tiny plants or plants that do not require too much light. It is a full spectrum LED grow light featuring a mix of red, blue, UV and IR lights. It covers about 2x2ft of grow area, which makes it suitable for personal-scale growers. The key focus here is on the price as it costs just $25.99.
The light provides a 45W output but consumes only 15W of power. Since it is a low wattage grow light, it does not even heat up that much and there is no need for a back panel with a fan on it! Since there are no fans, the light makes no noise as well! This light can last you for 50,000 hours and comes with a one year warranty period – all of which are quite a delight at the price point it comes in at. It can easily replace a 50W HPS/traditional grow light while consuming only a fraction of the power!
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4. SPIDER FARMER SF-2000 LED Grow Light 2×4 ft Flower with Samsung LM301B Diodes for Indoor Hydroponic Plants
SPIDER FARMER SF-2000 LED Grow Light
Features:
- Consumes only 200W of power
- Covers 2x4ft flowering and 3x4ft vegging growth
- Comes with a dimmer
Next on our list is this grow light from spider farmer, which promises to give you a very high yield per square foot when you use it. This grow light promises about 2.5 gram per watt on an average – which is huge for most growers! It uses Samsung’s diodes and meanwell’s driver, providing you with the industry’s best hardware. The grow light consumes about 200W of power when you run it, but also comes with a dimmer and the consumption reduces when you dim the light. This light comes with an aluminum board on the back where the heat escapes from without the need of a fan, making it light in weight as well as noise-free.
The grow light provides a wide spectral range, going all the way from 3000K, 5000K, 660nm up to IR 760nm. This makes it ideal for both phases of the plant’s growth cycle. The light can last you for over 100,000 hours, and is one of the longest-lasting grow lights on our list. While it costs a little on the higher side of things, the grow light provides you with 3 years of service and support. It covers a 3x4ft vegging growth and a 2x4ft flowering growth. These grow lights are also water-resistant and one of the best options for those growers who want to provide their hydroponic plants a huge boost.
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5. Koscheal 2000W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum
Koscheal 2000W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum
Features:
- Separate VEG and BLOOM channels
- Consumes only about 351W on an average
- Affordable price point
A lesser-known brand but one which is out here with a very familiar product. The 2000W grow light from Koscheal provides the growers with everything that they need when they want to grow hydroponic plants – and at a very affordable price. At just $103, this 2000W grow light offers separate switches for the VEG and BLOOM modes, daisy chaining, good heat dissipation, a full spectrum design, as well as triple-chip LED lights. All of these factors put together account for a great grow light.
This is a great fit for growers who want to grow marijuana hydroponically as it comes with three fans on the back which keep the temperatures cool. There’s also no reflector on this grow light, which is usually seen by many growers as a problematic element, often causing the light to catch fire. There are 596 Samsung LEDs on this grow light, providing the growers with the best possible experience. The biggest benefit here is that you will manage to keep your costs under control. It consumes only 351 Watts of power when the VEG+BLOOM lights are both on.
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6. Roleadro 75W Grow Light for Indoor Plants Full Spectrum Plant Light for Hydroponic Plants
Roleadro 75W Grow Light for Indoor Plants Full Spectrum Plant Light for Hydroponic Plants
Features:
- 75W LED grow light, consumes only 25.2W
- Full-spectrum lighting
- Fan-less and hence noise-free operation
Yet another grow light that isn’t high on the wattage but is great for smaller plants, especially those that grow on hydroponic gardening. This grow light comes from Roleadro, and offers its growers with a mild dose of lighting – 75W. This is quite akin to the 45W grow light we have seen above, though a tad bit stronger on the wattage front. It is a full spectrum light carrying the reds as well as the blues, and suits the need of hydroponic plants as well as succulents really well. There’s a yellow variant also available, should you choose to buy one. This grow light is quite easy to set up and use and is very beginner-friendly.
There’s a heat sink as well as an aluminum cooling plate which helps this grow light keep cool while operating at low temperatures. There is no fan on the light, and hence you get a noise-free operation. Roleadro has been around for over a decade and has come out with a product that isn’t heavy on the pocket but will still last you for 50,000 hours easily. The actual amount of power that this grow light consumes is about 25.2W, while providing an average coverage of about 2x2ft. At under $30, this light is a total bang for your buck and one of the best options out there!
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7. VIVOSUN 600W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Hydroponic Indoor Plants
VIVOSUN 600W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Hydroponic Indoor Plants
Features:
- Covers 2.5×2.5ft during flowering and 3x3ft during vegging
- Consumes only about 270W of power
- 3 year warranty period, 100,000 hours of lifespan.
Vivosun is another major name in the markets that growers are quite familiar with and have almost a blind level of faith on! The company makes not only great grow lights, but a number of other farming and gardening equipment. This is one of the best LED lights for hydroponic gardening that you could find on Amazon. There are 120 LED lights of 5W each, giving you a total wattage of about 600W, while consuming less than half of that power – only about 270W! The light makes use of two fans on the back, 5 inches each, which help keep the temperatures cool.
When you use this grow light to grow your hydroponic plants, you can cover 3x3ft of growing space in the vegging phase, while 2.5×2.5ft of space can be covered in the blooming phase. The light comes in at about $130 and has a cool four-chamber design. It can last you for about 100,000 hours on an average, and you also get a three-year warranty. Vivosun has proven to be a reliable brand which honors all their warranty and after-sales promises so there’s that mental peace when you buy the light. You also get a 30 day return period here if you are not happy with the light’s performance.
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8. MARS HYDRO TS 600W LED Grow Light 2x2ft Coverage Sunlike Full Spectrum
MARS HYDRO TS 600W LED Grow Light 2x2ft Coverage Sunlike Full Spectrum
Features:
- The actual power draw of about 150W
- Covers up to 2×2 ft during the vegging phase and 1.5×1.5 ft during the flowering phase
- Very high PAR score
Quite a well-established brand in the market of growers and gardeners, Mars Hydro has been coming out with a large number of products over the years and this one is also a great option for hydroponic gardening. This is a 600W grow light from Mars Hydro, which covers a space of about 2×2 ft during the vegetative phase of your plant’s growth cycle, and about 1.5×1.5ft during the flowering phase. At 430μmol/m²s, it gives the growers a really great PAR output, which is very beneficial for the plants. You also get up to 2 grams of yield per watt, which is quite a lot for a hydroponic grower! The light is a full spectrum grow light and gives you everything that your plant requires for healthy growth.
Besides all this, you get a fanless growth here – as the light dissipates all the heat, but without the use of a fan. This keeps the operation silent yet cool. The reflector panel is angled in a way that it increases the spread of light and helps you gain 20% more yield than you would otherwise get. On top of the diodes, there’s a waterproof coating which helps keeps the light secure against any water-related accident inside the grow tent. Priced in at $79.99, this is indeed a great option for hydroponic growers.
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9. BLOOMSPECT 600W LED Grow Light for Hydroponic Plants
BLOOMSPECT 600W LED Grow Light for Hydroponic Plants
Features:
- 600W LED grow light that consumes about 132W of power
- Covers 2.5ft x 2.5ft area during vegging and 2x2ft during flowering
- 2 year warranty period and 30 day return policy
The general consensus among growers is that 600W grow lights are the best suited for an average grower who is growing hydroponic plants on a small scale. This is why a majority of our lights in this list are also in the same range. This 600W grow light comes from Bloomspect, and is a great buy for most hydroponic growers. This is a very simple and basic setup, where you have a white body around a single panel of light. There are vents on all four sides, and a fan on the back. This grow light does not offer separate channels for VEG and BLOOM lights but instead comes with only one switch which controls the whole thing, making the operation quite simple and easy.
This is a simple and easy to use grow light which offers a 600W wattage but consumes only about 132W of power from the socket. This is an ideal product for those growers who wish to grow indoor plants, particularly the hydroponic ones. This is a full spectrum grow light and it also carries IR lights which are particularly beneficial for growers who are growing blooming flowers. The grow light covers a 2.5×2.5 ft area during the vegetative phase and about 2×2 ft during the bloom phase. You get a 2 year warranty with this grow light, along with a 30 day money back guarantee. All in all a great option for growers looking forward to buying the best grow lights for hydroponic plants.
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10. MAXSISUN 600W LED Grow Light
MAXSISUN 600W LED Grow Light
Features:
- 600W light that consumes only about 125W of power
- Easy to operate – only one switch for the lights
- Lasts over 50,000 hours
Maxisun is another name when it comes to those growers who are looking forward to buying an affordable grow light which is easy to operate. This comes with a very simple form factor. There’s a panel of light with a fan at the back. Nothing fancy, but covers all the bases really well. There are 60 pieces of 10W chips on this grow light, which provide a combined output of 600W for the growers. As suggested above, 600W lights are the best for people intending to grow hydroponic plants. This grow light also has only one switch that controls all the lights instead of having separate switches for VEG and BLOOM modes.
The manufacturer promises that this grow light can last you for over 50,000 hours, which is a pretty good thing about it. You also get a full spectrum lighting experience, which is great for your plants as that is the closest you can get to replicating natural sunlight. This light can easily replace a 250W HID light. When it comes to keeping things cool, this Maxisun grow light scores really well, as it comes with a fan on the back which makes it easy to dissipate all the heat. You get a 2-year warranty and a 60-day money-back guarantee on this grow light.
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11. Giixer 1000W Full Spectrum LED Grow Light Suitable for Hydroponic Plants
Giixer 1000W Full Spectrum LED Grow Light Suitable for Hydroponic Plants
Features:
- Affordable grow light
- Separate veg and bloom switches
- Consumes only 110W of power
Giixer is one of those names that many people might not be fully aware about. However, once you get to know the brand and what it stands for, you are bound to give it a consideration for a backup grow light or an additional source of lighting. This grow light comes in at under $70, but offers the growers with separate channels for VEG and BLOOM mode. This is a 1000W grow light, that features 100 LEDs of 10W each. The design is pretty similar to many others that you have seen here. However, the highlight of this grow light is the fact that it consumes about only about 110W of power – a major benefit.
The grow light can easily last you beyond 50,000 hours, which makes it great for growers who want a long-lasting grow light. There are two fans on the back of the grow light, which ensure that all the hot air can move out, This is a full-spectrum grow light where you get the reds as well as blues, so that you do not have to change the light every time the phase of your plants changes. There’s a 24 month warranty period that you get with this grow light, along with a 30 day return period in case you do not think it is up to the standards that you expect it to be. One of the best full spectrum LED grow lights for growers who are looking for one for a hydroponic setup.
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12. Dimgogo 1000w LED Grow Light Double Chips Full Spectrum
Dimgogo 1000w LED Grow Light Double Chips Full Spectrum
Features:
- Consumes only 165W of power
- Covers upto 5.5×5.5 ft during the vegging phase and about 3.5×3.5ft in the flowering phase.
- Supports daisy chaining
Dimgogo’s 1000W LED grow light comes with the same setup as that of Giixer – there are 100 lights here, each operating at 10W to provide a total 1000W output. However, Dimgogo makes a number of grow lights – beginning from 1000W and going all the way up to 3000W. This is their entry level product and a great choice if you are planning on growing plants the hydroponic way. With separate veg and bloom switches, this lesser known brand carries in it what many heavyweights don’t. Having separate channels is a great option for growers as it ensures that they can turn the right kind of light on during the right phase of growth.
The light consumes about 165W of power from the wall socket – which is very energy efficient. One of the key things that you must know about this dimgogo grow light is the fact that it offers a large coverage space of 3.5×3.5 ft in the flowering stages and about 5.5×5.5 ft in the vegetative phase of the plant’s growth cycle. It makes use of two fans to keep the device cool, and also supports daisy-chaining – which allows you to hook one grow light on to another. You also get 3 years of professional service on this grow light, as well as a 90-day money-back guarantee on it!
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13. GREENSINDOOR LED Grow Light, 45W LED Grow Lights Full Spectrum Led Growing Lamp for Indoor Hydroponic Plants Veg and Flower
GREENSINDOOR LED Grow Light
Features:
- Unique form factor, fanless design
- Covers 3×3 veg area and 2×2 bloom area
- 1 year warranty period, 60-day money-back guarantee
While we’ve got a really large collection of 600 to 2000W grow lights here, this one is the smallest one out there. Coming in at just 45W of power consumption, this grow light from greens indoor allows you to cover a 3×3 vegging area or a 2×2 flowering area, making it a great choice for growers who grow on a personal scale. It features an aluminum back and no fans, which makes it a rather silent grow light. This is a full spectrum lamp which comes in at under $25, one of the cheapest options out there, and just offers the right kind of light for smaller plants or hydroponic plants to grow properly.
One major drawback here is that this grow light is not waterproof – and the makers have specified that so that growers know how exactly they ought to use it. The lifespan you get here is of more than 50,000 hours, and it is recommended to use this from a height varying between 18 to 32 inches from the plants. This is a lightweight panel which is easy to hang and set up. It offers you with a one-year warranty period out of which you have the first two months covered under the ‘money-back guarantee’ where you can get all your money back if the product isn’t what you were expecting it to be like.
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14. Mieemclux 1000w LED Grow Light with Veg&Bloom Switch, Triple-Chips Full Spectrum Hydroponic Grow Light
Mieemclux 1000w LED Grow Light
Features:
- Separate veg and bloom channels
- Consumes maximum 180W of power
- Core coverage of 3.2×3.2 ft
One of the best options in the markets for growers who are specifically looking forward to buying grow lights that offer them a high PAR output. The panel features 100 grow lights operating at 10W each, divided into two sections with 50 LEDs in each of them. There are separate switches for the VEG and BLOOM mode, each with its own color – another unique aspect of the grow light. The coverage is pretty impressive as you get a flowering coverage of 3.2×3.2 ft while the vegging coverage is a little larger. Each LED here comes with a cup-shaped reflector around it which helps focus and angle the lights better.
The grow light provides you with a 1000W output while consuming about 180W of power from the main socket at its peak. This drops to 125W when you use only the veg channel and further to 55W when you use only the bloom channel. This grow light is priced in at $120, and comes with a three-year warranty period, as well as a 90-day money-back promise. Daisy-chaining up to three grow lights is supported by this grow light from Mieemclux.
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15. Golspark Indoor LED Grow Light, 600 Watt Full Spectrum Plant Light for Hydroponic Plants
Golspark Indoor LED Grow Light
Features:
- Consumes only 100W power
- Excellent heat dissipation
- Cost-effective – priced under $60!
The last name on our list but one you must know about, despite it being one of the least known brands here, this grow light from Golspark provides you with quite a bright output that is great for growing hydroponic plants. This is a 600W grow light which provides a lighting that looks a lot like an alien space ship beaming something on to your plants. There are separate channels for veg and bloom mode. The grow light has sufficient vents all over its body for ensuring that the heat flows out. The company is also quite confident of their research and development team and ensures that they deliver the best of products at the least of prices – this grow light costs under $60 and is the best such light in an affordable segment. The light consumes about 100W of power, and is a great option for all sorts of growers, but especially the ones growing hydroponic plants.
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How to Choose the best LED Grow Light for Hydroponic Plants?
When it comes to choosing the best LED light that suits the needs of your hydroponic plants the best, there are a number of factors that a grower needs to consider. Here’s a quick checklist of some of them, which you can consider when buying the grow light of your choice:
- Coverage – You must check out the exact coverage that the light offers, during both, the vegetative as well as the blooming phase. You need to know if the light is sufficient to cover the total coverage area in which your plants are spread out on.
- Wattage and Power Consumption – You must know what is the output you are getting on the light vs the input that you provide it. Most LED lights provide at least three times the output than the input, for instance, a 2000W light usually operates at around 500-600W, this is what makes LEDs really energy-efficient and a great choice for buyers.
- Heat Dissipation – This is another factor that you ought to keep an eye out for. Grow lights tend to generate quite a bit of heat (though LEDs don’t heat up as much as older lights), but having good heat dissipation systems always works in your favor.
- Lighting Details – Ensure that you get a full spectrum grow light, and preferably one which features separate channels for VEG and BLOOM lights. This is generally better as it gives you a better control over the lighting. Lights which provide dimmable lighting are even better suited.
- Brand Credibility – The brand of grow lights also needs to be credible enough so that you know it will hold true to the promises it makes and that your calls would be answered and service happens on time and on-demand.
- Lifespan, Cost, and Warranty – Lastly, these three things also play a very important role. Most LED grow lights tend to last you between 50k to 100k hours, Make sure your light falls in the bracket. The longer the better. Cost and warranty are self-explanatory but you still need to keep an eye out for both of these factors.
Frequently Asked Questions about LED Grow Lights
Here are the answers to some of the most common and frequently asked questions that we get about LED grow lights. We have put them all together at one place so it becomes easier for you to get answers to some queries that you might be facing as well:
1. Is it safe to use these grow lights?
Yes, grow lights are absolutely safe to use, and especially the LED grow lights. Most of the names on our list have gone through rigorous amounts of testing and safety standard checks to make sure that the products are safe. Some of these are water resistant as well. Compared to older forms of lighting, LED grow lights are generally much safer as they do not carry any chemicals inside them.
2. Do hydroponic plants need different kind of grow light than regular plants?
By and large the lighting remains the same, just the intensity and the scale differs. Most hydroponic growers have a small-scale requirement when compared to the regular growers. The wattage here can be a little lower and so can the intensity. Other than that pretty much remains the same – some growers also use the same grow lights for regular and hydroponic growth.
3. Why are LED lights considered the best plant lights?
LED lights are considered the absolute best because they offer a very high power efficiency. They consume very little electricity but provide the growers with a very high output in return. Furthermore, they last a much longer time, over 100,000 hours in some cases. These lights also do not carry any chemicals inside them. Full-spectrum LED lights do not even require you to change the bulbs – making them just the perfect plant lights.
4. Should I use a full spectrum light or separate red and blue lights?
Using the full spectrum grow lights is always considered to be a better option than separate red and blue lights because in the case of the former, you have only one light with two channels that you can use – while using separate lights requires you to change the lights as the growth phase changes from vegging to flowering. Vegetative plants require blue lights but when they enter the bloom phase they need the red lights. Hence, using one grow light that does it all is considered better.
5. Where can I buy LED lights from?
The best place to buy LED grow lights is Amazon. You get a large number of brands curated at one place, and you also get grow lights of different wattages, shapes and sizes! You can run through our ‘how to choose your grow light’ list above to find out which is the light that suits your needs the best. Other than Amazon, you might also want to visit your local gardening stores or super speciality stores to find these grow lights.
Conclusion
By the time you reach this part of our article, we hope that you have fully understood everything that there is about the best LED lights for hydroponic gardening. We have tried to provide an all-round view about these lights – and hope growers find exactly what they are looking for! We have specified the features and benefits of each of these lights, as well as alerted the users about their shortcomings. If there are still any questions that persist, feel free to shoot us a mail or drop a comment and we shall get back to you as soon as we can! Till then…
…Happy Growing! 🙂
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