Led grow lights recommendations.

Hi all, I tried a single tube grow light last year, a complete waste of time, I know some of you have got some great setups so can anyone recommend a led grow light? I know they range from dirt cheap to very expensive but I imagine you get what pay for, only looking to cover 2 x 52 cm propagators, I see you can daisy chain some of them which probably would be preferable. Thanks.

 

Hi,

Have used some of these led mains bulbs which grew young cuttings ok, but the bulbs only last a couple of months before failing.

Have some of these 8520 led strip lights on two planted aquarium and they give great plant growth, plus they are a safer 12v dc.

You can pay loads of money for some grow lights, but as I have some of these tubes spare they will be worth a go for the normal plants.

Would think a one 30cm would cover your large 52cm propagator, but 50cm could be used if you wanted really bright light.
The may be small , but look at them straight on and they more than dazzle you!

A 30cm one uses about 500ma @12v, so a 12v 3A power adapter should easily handle 2 strips, in parallel, Not daisy chained.

You could fit a litte regulator to vary the voltage /brightness if you are handy with that kind of thing.

Sellers below are Uk Stock.

 

Thanks @ricky101 I'll take a look at those.

 

Mine are strips as @ricky101 has shown. Some are mounted in ballasts. He is correct, they throw a lot of light. This is year 3 or 4? Hmm, can't remember which but I have not been disappointed. They use little power and the plants love them. I run mine at night when the power is cheaper.

 

Forgot to say, do not get the white ones. Go for the grow type. Blue/redish which glows bright violet.

 

Thanks @CanadianLori I'll have a good look on eBay.

 

Just to say that ours are the white ones, so will be interersting to see how they do.

If the we and the greenhouse are still standing after this storm will be taking some Fuchsia cuttings etc which seemed to do well under that purple type grow bulb last year.

Think any extra light is going to be beneficial, one of our local large garden centers still use household fluorescent tube in their large bench propagators, think they are the same tubes year after year.

 

I had regular white LEDs and before that CFL's and I did find a big difference with the coloured ones. It's hard to tell under the lights but when you take them out from under the plants and see them in natural light, you'll be greeted with a lush green.

Some of my lights are powered by direct current and others throuh a converter using alternating.

 

I suggest that before spending out and so often finding, you have chucked your money down the drain. Do your research first. Don't rely on the sellers chatter. Check out on line. I simply typed in. what needs to be considered when using artficial lighting for plant propagation. and up came lots of advice.

 

And so he did! Right here with advice from gardeners who have actually used them!

I would trust the advice here before I would stranger on ebay or another of those platforms as they are sometimes paid for their kind reviews.

 

Looks like you've read my mind @CanadianLori I was just in the middle of typing when you're message popped up, there isn't much I can add really.

 

Lights have just arrived, impressed with the quality, 5 coloured strips and a 12v adapter, actually bought 2 just in case. @ricky101 & @CanadianLori thanks again for your help and advice.

 

Hi,

Be interesting to hear how you go with them, though do mount them onto some aluminium to disipate the heat, the bigger the better.
Places like Wickes and B&Q sell various aluminium profiles in 1 mtr lengths.
Though wonder if you are going to use what looks like the case of a fluorescent tube on the bench ?

Have used some Blue stick on led strips like yours on the aquarium but they seems to loose their intensity after a few months, which I put down to getting too hot / not enough heatsink.

Just been taking some cuttings and about to set up the lights with those White led units.

 

The fluorescent tube was last years attempt at lighting. My initial idea is to cut some mdf a bit bigger than my propagator and space out the strips on that, pin some mylar around the edges of the mdf to make a tent and then drape it over as and when needed.

 

I just taped the strips that I bought to cheap drapery hardware. We call it I beam as it looks like miniature steel beams they use in construction and is also painted white.

Have fun. You won't regret it @mazambo !