Succulent Sunlight Hacks: 5 Must-Have Grow Lights for 2024
Succulents are nature’s low-maintenance wonders, but keeping them vibrant indoors presents a challenge – insufficient sunlight. Fear not, grow lights offer a brilliant solution! These specialized lamps mimic the sun’s rays, allowing your beloved succulents to thrive year-round, regardless of the weather outside.
Among the various grow light options, LED (Light Emitting Diode) models stand out as the clear frontrunners. Not only do they provide the optimal light spectrum for succulent growth, but they also consume significantly less energy than traditional high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, like high-pressure sodium (HPS) bulbs. This translates to lower electricity bills and a smaller carbon footprint – a win-win for your wallet and the environment!
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the world of LED grow lights tailored specifically for indoor succulents. From understanding the different types and their features to reviewing top-rated products, you’ll have all the information you need to make an informed decision. Get ready to unlock the secrets of lush, vibrant succulents right in the comfort of your home!
There are a lot of different LED lights for succulents out there now. Now we will divide them into their types and performance. With this, everyone should find an LED grow lamp for their purpose.
Our Reviews
If you’re like me and want to light up a large indoor space for your succulents without spending a fortune, I highly recommend checking out the King Plus 1000w LED Grow Light. I was pleasantly surprised by how much coverage this thing provides – over 16 square feet! And get this, even though it’s rated at a massive 1000 watts, it only consumed around 185 watts when I used it. Talk about energy efficiency!
What I really liked was the ability to switch between growth and bloom modes to cater to my plants’ needs. The long-lasting Epistar LEDs are also a major plus, promising up to 100,000 hours of use if you let the unit cool down every so often. Fair warning though, this baby can get pretty toasty, and the fan might get a bit noisy in an enclosed space.
But overall, if you’re on a budget and need to cover a lot of ground, the King Plus 1000w is hard to beat in my opinion. It packs a serious punch for the price!
- Very high performance with low consumption
- Very long-lasting Epistar LEDs
- Large illumination area possible
- Good value for money
- Lamps can get relatively hot
- Loud fan
Personally, I’m a big fan of Mars Hydro’s TS 1000W LED Grow Light. This thing is an absolute beast, rated at a whopping 1000 watts of power. Yet, somehow, it only consumed around 150 watts when I used it – crazy energy efficiency! With that kind of output, it easily covered my 9 square foot growing area.
But what really sold me was the natural, sun-like light it produced. No harsh reds or blues, just a warm, bright glow that my succulents seemed to love. And let me tell you, with a PAR value of 743 umol, the growing conditions were top-notch.
Another thing I appreciated was how whisper-quiet it ran without a fan. My only gripe was that it could get pretty warm, so keep an eye on temps. The dimming mode also came in handy for adjusting light intensity.
While the 50,000-hour lifespan isn’t the longest out there, I still think the Mars Hydro TS 1000W is an excellent choice if you want serious power and natural lighting like I did.
- 1000 watts of power with only 150 watts of consumption
- Very high PAR value in warm, sun-like light
- Dimmable
- Whisper quiet, no fan required
- With IR waves
- Somewhat strong heat development
- Lifespan rather below average
As an avid succulent enthusiast, finding the right grow light is essential for keeping my indoor collection thriving. After extensive research, I decided to give the BESTVA 2000W LED Grow Light a try, and I’m thrilled with my decision.
One of the biggest selling points for me was the energy efficiency of this light. Despite its impressive 2000W rating, it only consumes a mere 200W of power. This not only saves me money on electricity bills but also aligns with my eco-conscious values, which is important when cultivating low-maintenance plants like succulents.
The full-spectrum lighting is a game-changer for my succulents. With a combination of 3000K, 5000K, and specific wavelengths like 460nm and 660nm, the BESTVA 2000W mimics natural sunlight incredibly well. My succulents have been displaying vibrant colors and healthy growth under these balanced light conditions, which is a testament to the quality of the lighting.
I also appreciate the versatility of having two cultivation modes: VEG and BLOOM. While succulents don’t necessarily have a flowering stage, the BLOOM mode allows me to adjust the lighting cycle to 12 hours, which can be beneficial during certain growth periods or for specific succulent varieties.
The cooling system is another standout feature. Multiple high-speed fans and aluminum radiators keep the light running at a comfortable temperature, preventing any potential heat damage to my succulents. Plus, the fans operate quietly, which is a bonus for those who prefer a tranquil growing environment.
- Energy-efficient
- Full-spectrum lighting mimics natural sunlight
- Two cultivation modes offer versatility
- Effective cooling system with quiet fans
- Easy setup and operation
- Slightly pricier than some alternatives (but worth the investment for serious succulent growers)
- No detailed instructions for optimal distance specific to succulents
As someone always eager to explore the latest advancements in indoor gardening tech, I decided to give the AGLEX 420W COB LED Grow Light a shot for my succulent collection. This light utilizes cutting-edge COB (Chip-on-Board) technology, which piqued my interest tremendously.
One of the standout features of this grow light is its advanced COB technology. The high-precision 90-degree lens and reliable COB technology work together to ensure that a whopping 98% of the light is absorbed by my succulents. This high light absorption rate has resulted in visibly healthier and happier plants, with vibrant colors and compact growth habits.
I also appreciate the humanized VEG & BLOOM design of this grow light. While succulents don’t necessarily have a flowering stage, the ability to switch between these modes offers versatility in fine-tuning the light intensity for different growth phases or specific succulent varieties. The daisy chain feature is also a game-changer, allowing me to connect multiple lights without worrying about a tangled mess of wires.
Another aspect that impressed me is the efficient cooling system. The large aluminum heat sink and quality fans keep the light running cool and quiet, ensuring a longer service life. This is particularly important for succulents, which can be sensitive to excessive heat.
Lastly, the AGLEX 420W COB LED Grow Light’s ability to shorten the life cycle and potentially increase harvests per year caught my attention. While not necessarily applicable to succulents, this feature could be beneficial for those who cultivate other indoor plants or vegetables.
- Advanced COB technology for efficient light absorption
- Humanized VEG & BLOOM design for versatility
- Daisy chain feature for easy connectivity
- Efficient cooling system with quiet operation
- Potential for shortened life cycles and increased harvests (for other plants)
- Higher upfront cost compared to basic LED grow lights
- Lack of detailed usage guidelines tailored for succulent care
When I was first starting out with my succulent collection, I quickly realized that investing in a massive grow light system wasn’t necessary or practical for my small setup. That’s when I discovered the Relassy 15000Lux LED Grow Light, and it proved to be the perfect solution for nurturing my budding succulent passion.
For starters, the dual-lamp setup packs a surprising punch with a combined 88 LEDs and 45 watts of power. Despite its compact size, this mini grow light shines incredibly bright, providing ample illumination for even my more light-demanding succulents. What’s more, it covers the entire color spectrum from 380nm to 800nm, ensuring my plants receive the full range of light they need to thrive.
One of the standout features of the Relassy 15000Lux is its innovative design. The grow lights are conveniently incorporated into a socket with a gooseneck holder, allowing me to position them precisely where my succulents need the light most. The clip-on design also means I can attach them virtually anywhere, saving precious space in my indoor setup.
Aesthetically, the white light emitted by these bulbs is a joy to behold, creating a pleasing ambiance in the room while nourishing my succulents. And when the time comes to replace the bulbs, I don’t have to worry about discarding the entire unit – a simple bulb swap, and I’m good to go!
- Compact yet powerful dual-lamp setup
- Full-spectrum lighting ideal for succulent growth
- Flexible gooseneck holder and clip-on design for precise positioning
- Space-saving and aesthetically pleasing white light
- Replaceable bulbs for extended lifespan
- Limited coverage area compared to larger grow light systems
- Potential for uneven light distribution in larger setups
Why LED Grow Lights are the Best Choice
LED grow lights have come a long way in recent years, and they’re now the top choice for indoor gardeners. Gone are the days of harsh, unattractive lighting – today’s LEDs produce beautiful, natural-looking light that’s perfect for helping your plants thrive.
One of the driving forces behind the improvement of LED grow lights was the legalization of cannabis in some states. With a sudden demand for efficient indoor growing solutions, companies invested heavily in developing energy-saving LED lights. And the results have been fantastic – not just for cannabis growers, but for anyone looking to cultivate plants indoors, including succulent enthusiasts like us!
Thanks to modern LED technology, we can now grow our beloved succulents year-round, regardless of the weather outside. And the best part? No more worrying about sky-high electricity bills!
How Do LED Grow Lights Work?
LED stands for “Light Emitting Diode,” which are those tiny lights you often see on electronic devices. While a single LED doesn’t produce much light, it’s incredibly energy-efficient. However, sunlight contains a broad range of colors that a single LED can’t replicate.
For indoor plants to flourish, they need a combination of different colored lights, especially blues and reds. That’s why LED grow lights pack countless tiny LEDs of various colors, creating a light spectrum that closely mimics natural sunlight. Pretty clever, right?
Advantages of LED Grow Lights for Succulents
- Lower Electricity Costs: LED grow lights can save you up to 70% on electricity compared to traditional options like HPS (high-pressure sodium) lamps. That’s a massive saving!
- Longer Lifespan: These energy-efficient LEDs can last up to 10 times longer than other grow lights, so you won’t have to replace them nearly as often.
- Cooler Temperatures: LED grow lights run much cooler than conventional plant lamps, reducing the risk of accidental fires or heat damage to your plants.
Disadvantages of LED Grow Lights for Succulents
The main downside of LED grow lights is their higher upfront cost. However, the long-term savings on electricity and replacements often make up for the initial investment, especially for serious succulent growers.
What should you look out for before buying?
Wonderful. I think we all agree that buying an LED lamp for growing succulents at home is worthwhile. Nowadays, in my opinion, there is no other lamp that can keep up in terms of cost or performance.
But that also leads us directly to the next legitimate questions: How do you rate an LED grow light? What are the most important criteria for an LED grow lamp test? After all, you can’t just go by watts or lumens. Just not according to the price anyway.
In the following, I will explain the most important points to consider before buying a grow light. Here we go:
PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) or PPF (Photosynthetic Photon Flux) simply describes how many light particles with a wavelength of 400nm-700nm (i.e. the spectral range that can be used by plants for photosynthesis) is emitted by a lamp. It is given in µmol/s . This value actually says more about the actual consumption of the LEDs than the number of watts of the lamp.
As with conventional lamps, the light output of LEDs is given in watts. Due to the nature of the LEDs, however, they need fewer watts than conventional lamps for the same lighting output. You should also pay attention to the quality of the built-in LEDs. Good manufacturers are, for example, Epistar or OSRAM.
For plants to grow without sunlight as they do outside, the light of the LED lamps must be adjusted depending on the phase of plant development: In the growth phase, blue light tones should dominate, while in the flowering phase a red light spectrum is required. An LED lamp that is used for the growth and flowering phase should therefore cover both spectra. Generally, LED grow lights perform better with the broadest possible spectrum.
When illuminating plants, you have to ensure that there is an appropriate distance between the plant and the lamp: if the distance is too large, the plant will not grow properly, if it is again too small, there is a risk that it will burn or fade. The higher the efficiency of the LED lamp, the greater the distance should be. You should definitely pay attention to the manufacturer’s information on the optimal lighting height.
Conclusion
For larger succulent collections or light-hungry varieties, powerful LED grow lights with outputs over 300W are an excellent choice. Not only will your plants thrive under their bright, sun-like illumination, but you’ll also save significantly on electricity compared to traditional grow lights.
If you’re just starting with a small succulent collection, consider an inexpensive mini LED grow light. While not as powerful as their larger counterparts, these compact units provide ample lighting to keep your succulents happy through the winter months.
Whichever route you choose, LED grow lights are a game-changer for indoor succulent cultivation, offering unbeatable efficiency, longevity, and natural-looking light. Your plants (and your wallet) will thank you!