More and more gardeners are getting away from the use of incandescent grow lights.   There is a lot of new technology being used in the gardening community.  The burning efficiency of light bulb filaments are part of a past era and is now only good for things like lighting a closet or basement.   Today,  farmers have more advanced light forms like fluorescents, LED lights, and high pressure sodium lights.  Here we will primarily focus on LED technology and its effects on plants.

How LED Lights Work

LED stands for light emitting diode.  Prior to its use as a grow light, it has had wide appeal for things such as electronic device indicator lighting, string lighting for home decor, and Christmas lights of all things.   Technology has advanced to a point where scientists have created a version of LED grow lights that have more intense properties than standard LED lighting.  These lights use electroluminescence which uses electronic diodes that give off photons.   In laymens terms, electroluminescence basically means that energy produces light.  The LED color is determined by the photon energy and the energy gap of the semiconductor.

How Useful LEDs Are As Grow Lights

A good type of grow light is an LED.  They are similar to fluorescent grow lights in that they can both be modified to produce  a specific color for harvest cultivation.  Their technology to produce artificial sunlight may be different but the lighting options they provide are similar.  Because LEDs are very energy efficient, they have the advantage over their counterparts.  Gardeners can reduce their electric bills by using LED lights, which can save a nice amount of cash.

LEDs As Investments

LED grow lights are expensive.  However, long term, they are capable of saving the gardener a lot of money in utility bills as well as replacement costs for the bulbs.  LEDs can last approximately 100,000 hours (or 11 years) which far surpasses other grow lights.  As a long term investment, LED lights will save money down the road.  Also consider that no other accessories are needed to operate the LED grow lights.  They are ready for use right out of the box without configuration.

The technology of the 1960s have introduced a new practical and exciting lighting source.  LED lighting has evolved and progressed throughout its lifespan. As scientists continue to develop better ways to make artificial light, we can be sure that the indoor gardening industry will evolve right along with them to produce better harvests.