Can You Use LED Strip Lights to Grow Plants? Learn The Way

Can you use LED strip lights to grow plants, is a matter that one would ask and worry about. They have lower intensity, meaning they are insufficient for large plants, which means they are beneficial for other plants.

You can also use strip lamps as supplemental lights if your regular-size LED lights are not enough. Keep reading for insightful information about these lights and their developmental stage.

Can You Use LED Strip Lights to Grow Plants?

Yes, you can use LED lights grow strips for plants, but depending on the type of plants you grow, and the space available, these lights are best for small plants and seedlings. They will help with growing the little plant and will be able to provide proper light.

You can grow small plants and seedlings using LED strips, and that is due to the fact that these lights are also ideal if used as supplemental with the normal LED grow lights because you can hang them as close to the plants as possible.

Unfortunately, these are not the best lights to use if you have a bigger farm or grow bigger plants. They have a low light intensity that does not significantly cover foliage for large plants.

– Different Colors

You can use any light variation of the LED to grow your plants. However, to get the best out of these lamps, ensure your light has the plant’s optimal color spectrums to grow. For example, a white LED is a perfect choice because it has the suitable wavelengths plants require developing, which means that investing in this light will be helpful for this specific need.

When buying, purchase the full spectrum strips containing blue, red, and green lights; these support the growth of most plants. You should also check the color temperature of the bulbs if you also use them to illuminate light in your space.

On another note, the light intensity is also an important consideration to make when buying the strips. In short, a higher light intensity quickens photosynthesis and the growth of plants. However, don’t expose your plants to too much light intensity because it causes damage.

So, which are the best LED strip lights for plants? The strip lamp you buy depends on your type of plants. In this matter, you should conclude that the Philips LED grow light strip is best for vegetable, fruit, and horticulture crops, which means that if you plant seedlings, tropical house plants, or herbs, ensure you get the best light to support their growth.

– Benefits

Although the best ways to use these lights are as supplement lights for indoor plants or in a small grow room, they have benefits over other lights. The strips use less power, making them more energy efficient, for plants that are smaller.

Another side of their positive aspect is that they also produce a bit of heat, meaning you can place them close to the plant without burning the leaves. The strips also have a longer lifespan which means that you won’t worry about replacements, and as tiny as they are, these lights are cheap to purchase. Moreover, you can use LED lighting strips in your small growing area because they don’t require extra space for installation.

When you want a boost given to your plant, you should use the violet-blue and red lights, since they are the best for plant development. The blue color speeds up chlorophyll absorption, hence faster photosynthesis and rapid growth. In addition to this, the red light is perfect for flowering and budding; however, ensure you buy full spectrum LED strips to maximize all present color lights, and to give you the full advantage.

– Drawbacks

While light supports plant development, too much can inhibit growth and even hurt the plant. In specifics, plants have certain light intensity requirements and a specific duration of exposure.

When using natural light, these plants photosynthesize during the day when the sun shines. Once darkness comes, photosynthesis stops, and the plant is less active until the sun rises again, but in this process, plants are still respiring.

Plants grown using artificial lights also need hours of darkness to balance their processes. This is because darkness stops most processes like photosynthesis, so the plant “rests.” Keeping the grow lights on throughout disrupts these patterns, leading to plant fatigue; in general it will cause stress to your plant.

Also, intense light affects the plant, because if the source is too heavy that the leaves can absorb it, the excess light can lead to heat issues. The plant uses water to cool off the heat, leading to a frequent need for watering. The heat from the sunlight can also dry the soil, disrupting nutrient transportation, and this matter will shake the process.

How Do LED Grow Strips Work?

LED grow strips work in a way that they produce a similar light spectrum to the sun and have unique wavelengths that help with photosynthesis. The process of photosynthesis leads to the production of oxygen and glucose, which are essential requirements in plant growth.

The grow lights have specific colors that influence the development of plants. They have a blue light in the color spectrum which helps with the growth of the plant’s foliage, and a red light responsible for root formation and flowering.

The presence of red and blue lights, at the same time, supports normal plant development. They also contain green, far-red, and deep blue colors, commonly known as a full spectrum, which complete the type of environment plants thrive in. Full spectrum LED grow light strips result in higher quality plants because the green light appears white to the human eye and is more beneficial for lusher growth on lower leaves. It is, therefore, perfect for vegetables because it helps provide a better yield.

The far-red light improves photosynthesis, leading to oxygen and glucose production, helping the development of the plant. The glucose helps with the division and multiplication of cells, increasing leaf size, stem length, and growth of the roots.

– Regular LED Lights Vs. Grow Lights

Regular bulbs are created to provide light for common uses, and when placed in front of plants, they will not be as beneficial. The light spectrum is mainly made of two colors, white and yellow, which are not helpful to plants. Although they produce wavelengths that can help plants survive, they do not have the required concentrations to help your plants grow.

On the other hand, LEDs mimic sunlight, and they have every color of the spectrum to support photosynthesis, blooming and fruiting in the plant, and leaf and stem growth. They also maintain the plant’s structure by keeping the leaves and stems thick.

The explanation above could leave you wondering, ‘can I use normal LED light to grow plants indoors?‘ The quick answer is yes. Standard LEDs can help with plant development, but it depends on your plant’s requirements in terms of light intensity.

However, regular bulbs do not have the light intensity for plants to photosynthesize, leading to slow growth. They also produce a lot of heat which can scorch the plant’s leaves. If you use normal LEDs for your plants, place the lights farther away to avoid burning them, and causing any harm in the long run.

How To Install Grow Light Strips?

To install grow light strips you must clean the surface first, and then use the light strips and stick them in the surface where the plant will be growing. After doing so, you must turn it on, and make the right adjustments for the benefit of your plant.

– Clean the Surface

You must mount the strips on a clean surface to keep them in place for longer. Ensure the consistency is also smooth because rough and textured surfaces can cause the lights to come off. You should also stick them to a straight and not bent place.

– Use the Light Strip Adhesive to Stick It

Once the surface is clean and straight, unroll the light strip. Peel the adhesive protection and stick the strip on the wall, ceiling, or tile.

You should ensure it sticks to the surface firmly by pressing down the entire light to remove air bubbles. If the strip comes with fixing clips, use them for firmer support.

– Light It On

Plug your light strip into a power adapter and an electrical outlet. You can control the colors using the remote control, and now you can set the right duration of how long you want your plant to be underneath this source of energy.

– Make the Right Adjustments

Where you place your light can affect its impact on the plant. In most cases, growers should place LED lamps over the plants to illuminate light the same way the sun does. Besides, placing the lights above the plants illuminates all their parts, leading to consistent growth.

In addition, you must also keep on checking how your plant grows to adjust the lighting. You should leave enough space between the plant and the light to prevent scorching the leaves. Most lamp designs have these instructions, so check them out.

If the plant requires little heat, you can set it at a higher height to reduce the heat intensity. The distance also depends on the type of LED lamp you have. Some, like fluorescent lights, produce low heat so that you can place them nearer.

Since too much light can destroy and kill plants, knowing how long to provide the artificial lighting can help to keep them alive and growing. The ideal duration to leave your lights on is eight to 10 hours. However, the plant types you grow can also influence the time. For example, long-day and short-day plants have different light requirements.

The size of the plant also impacts its light requirements. Seedlings can survive on six hours of light, while mature plants could do better with 10 hours. However, regardless of the plant type and size, keep your grow lights on for at most 13 hours.

FAQ

– Which Light Color on LED Grow Strip Will Not Support Plant Growth?

Avoid using yellow and white colors because they do not support the plant’s growth. Green light is also not as effective as red and blue because plants mostly bounce it back. You can keep your lights in red and blue colors.

Conclusion

LED light strips help in gardening, and they are perfect if you are growing plants in a small garden and are suitable for small plants with little light requirements. From this article, you will learn that:

• You can grow small plants using LED strips, but you cannot use the strips in a big growing area or on big plants because they have low light intensity.
• The best light colors to support the growth of your plants are red and blue because they fasten photosynthesis and bloom.
• Ensure you install the strip LED lights on a flat, clean surface to prevent them from coming off.

Now that you know our final thoughts you can go ahead and invest in them, and give great development to your plant through this source of energy.