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LED GROW LIGHTS: POWER, SPECTRAL OUTPUT, AND YOUR ROI EXPLAINED.
Horticulture lighting lighting has advanced tremendously in a relatively short period. Research and development in
plant growth science have experienced a dynamic increase in funding, fueled by the evolving medical and recreational
cannabis industries. Across the globe, wherever production of this high-value plant is legal; entrepreneurs are building
their future around the business of cannabis. The fledgling industry continues to evolve and change, and as it matures,
there is at least one trait it shares with all industries that want to survive; Create the best product the most efficiently at
the lowest cost.
$20.1
$20
$23.5 $25.1
$21.3
$USD BILLIONS
$13.2 $18.4
$14.9
$10 $11.6
$7.4
$11.0 $12.8
$0
2019 2020e 2021e 2022e 2023e 2024e 2025e
Growth projections from New Frontier Data; Cannabis in America for 2021 & Beyond: A New Normal in Consumption and Demand.
LED GROW LIGHTS: POWER, SPECTRAL OUTPUT, AND YOUR ROI EXPLAINED.
When LED-equipped grow lights were first introduced to the Relative Cost for LED 800 Im A19 Lamp
commercial horticulture industry, there was incredible interest in 1.00
the low-power consumption, decreased heat output, safety, and
other benefits. However, the cutting-edge technology was too 0.80
expensive, and the investment required eliminated any chance of
turning a profit in a large-scale commercial setting. 0.60
A decade later, mass production of LEDs for residential use along 0.40
into the light spectrum effects on plant growth has improved our
understanding of photosynthesis and light absorption, improving Articles and publications comparing HID grow lights
grow light efficiency and efficacy. It is now feasible to equip a to LED grow lights are easily found on the internet (3)
commercial grow op with LED lighting and have an ROI within (4) and will not be repeated here. Any well-managed
months, not years. comparison will conclude the only advantage to
using HID is the initial start-up investment. That
advantage is quickly eroding as LED technology
matures and manufacturing costs decrease.
Power
A business cannot waste its’ resources if it expects to turn a profit. For cannabis growers, light is a resource. The light
that does not land on a plant is a waste of resources because it will not be used for photosynthesis. Often overlooked
is that light touching the plants but beyond what they can efficiently use for photosynthesis is also wasted. The amount
of spectral radiation a plant can process into photosynthesis over 24hrs is measured as the Daily Light Integral (DLI)
(5). Cannabis is a PAR thirsty and high DLI plant, but to truly take advantage of that thirst requires a tightly controlled
environment.
LED GROW LIGHTS: POWER, SPECTRAL OUTPUT, AND
AND YOUR
YOUR ROI
ROI EXPLAINED.
EXPLAINED.
Power
Outdoors, cannabis can thrive in climates that receive less DLI GUIDELINES FOR DIFFERENT PLANT SPECIES
than 30 DLI from the Sun’s rays. Indoors, a successful
commercial cannabis crop requires just 700PPFD – 40
Cannabis
equivalent to a DLI of 30 during a 12-hour flowering session.
In a controlled environment which includes measured CO2 35
Tomatoes
injection and the perfect climate, cannabis crops can process
more than 1500PPFD – nearly double the base rate (6). 30
Peppers
However, the equipment, electrical expenses, and grower Cut flowers
experience required to achieve this limit the profitability of 25
operating such a complex system on a commercial scale. Strawberries
20
higher temperature.
Higher CO2 concentration;
lower temperature.
Lower CO2 concentration;
lower temperature.
Intensity of light
The rated PPF output listed by manufacturers represents the maximum output under ideal operating temperatures.
The manufacturer provides the PPF, and fixture testing height will range from six to twelve inches. This measurement is
irrelevant in practice. The radiant heat produced by the high-intensity grow lights will stress, if not cook, the plant canopy
at six inches distance. Also, the vast majority of horticulture grow lights use a chip with 120 degrees light distribution. The
grow light fixture’s square-foot coverage is severely reduced and the PAR spectrum recipe compromised at such a close
distance.
The rated input in watts comes into play when considering the grow room environment and the PPF required for maximum
plant growth. By suspending other vital factors considered when investing in LED grow lighting, such as PAR spectrum,
warranty, and build quality, the selection dramatically decreases. Selecting a fixture that can meet the required PPF is the
first step. Next is knowing where the grow lights mount in the cultivation area.
LED GROW LIGHTS: POWER, SPECTRAL OUTPUT, AND YOUR ROI EXPLAINED.
The closer the lights can be mounted to a crop’s canopy, the less power will be required to drive the nourishing PAR
photons to the plants. The further away the lights must be installed, the more power will be required to accomplish the
same goal. Whether the considered grow light has an output of 1200ppfd or 2100ppfd, the amount required for the crop
is likely between 700 – 900uMol/s. The logical choice is which grow light can deliver the PPFD required by the crop at the
crop’s installed distance, with the least amount of power (Watts)?
$3,800
$3,300
$2,800
$2,300
$1,800
$1,300
$800
$300
California Michigan Mass
600W 650W 700W 800W
LED GROW LIGHTS: POWER, SPECTRAL OUTPUT,
OUTPUT, AND
AND YOUR
YOUR ROI
ROI EXPLAINED.
EXPLAINED.
Spectrum
1. 2
1. 0
0. 8
0. 6
0. 4
0. 2
0.0
380 480 580 680 780
PAR spectrums for horticulture growth vary among manufacturers. Information gathered from designlights.org.
The PPFD and watts used are not the only LED grow light features that vary significantly across commercial grow lights
used for cannabis production. Even more confusing is the number of different spectral outputs promoted as the ideal PAR
spectrum for indoor growing and cannabis specifically.
Early research in artificial lighting and photosynthesis It would be accurate to state that everything has changed
led to a popular misunderstanding; the 400-500nm in the last decade. Advances in horticulture research and
(Blue) and the 600-700nm (Red) wavelengths were knowledge sharing have returned the focus to what had
solely responsible for photosynthesis in plants (8). been confirmed decades ago; that higher plants can
By ignoring the details and popularizing an easy-to- process a wide range of wavelengths into photosynthesis
comprehend but inaccurate summary, unscrupulous (9). More recent studies have demonstrated the physical
lighting manufacturers created a secondary market effects of emphasizing the ratio of specific wavelengths
for themselves. Meanwhile, horticulturists and indoor over others, with positive and negative results (10).
gardeners spent the next few decades using primarily
Blue and Red spectrum lighting on their crops. Reconfirming and popularizing the role the 500-600nm
(Green) wavelength plays in photosynthesis (11) has
Cannabis cultivators adapted this research and led to significant improvements in the science and
developed a successful strategy. The Blue end of the affordability of horticulture lighting. It has also created
spectrum would be emphasized to increase leaf growth some chaos within the industry.
during a plant’s vegetative phase, most commonly with
high-intensity discharge (HID) metal-halide lamps. The On the one hand, Blue chips with phosphors added to
flowering phase would be reversed, receiving more light create lighting for humans were mass-produced, and
from primarily Red light sources like HID high-pressure these chips cover a broad spectrum from 400-700nM.
sodium lamps, which helped increase height and flower With some modifications to the chip layout and selection,
development. This strategy involved an elaborate room they can create an optimal plant growth spectrum recipe.
and lamp swapping system to compensate for the plant’s
growth stage and photoperiod. Production costs were On the other hand, opportunistic lighting manufacturers
high; The high-powered HID systems were electrically created chaos by flooding the market with high lumen
inefficient and costly to operate; The excessive amounts warehouse lighting not designed for horticulture. Though
of heat they generate would create climate issues within warehouse lighting delivers a strong PPF reading, the
the crop; Heating, ventilation, and air cooling costs were skewed B:G:R ratio of the PAR spectrum produces slow-
high. However, the effective LED grow lights of this time growing plants with poor development. These products’
remained too expensive for use on large-scale crops. The flaws are less noticeable for hobbyist growers but are
underpowered but affordable red/blue fixtures sold to devastating for a commercial cultivator’s investment.
the public were as effective as the proverbial Snake Oil.
LED GROW LIGHTS: POWER, SPECTRAL OUTPUT,
OUTPUT, AND
AND YOUR
YOUR ROI
ROI EXPLAINED.
EXPLAINED.
Research on indoor plant growth through artificial For the cannabis plant, the optimal spectral recipe varies
lighting increasingly demonstrates there is no perfect like any other plant species. Achieving that perfect plant
PAR spectrum recipe. growth spectrum for a specific strain requires multiple
trials under repeatable conditions. Maximizing production
The optimal light recipe varies between output while reducing costs should be on the list of every
species, sub-species, and cultivars. The successful business. However, testing and evaluating
plant’s ability to absorb and process luminaires can take months, if not years, and is not
different spectral wavelengths is strongly always economically feasible for a commercial cultivator.
influenced by the cultivation environment,
the chosen production method, the nutrient Fortunately, optimal is not necessary to be profitable. A
schedule, and a plethora of other factors (12). sealed growth chamber with high-power LED grow lights
fine-tuned to the cultivar’s genetic DNA is not required.
Optimizing LED lighting for the horticulture industry is still By including quality grow lighting specifically built for
in its infancy. An optimal strategy for using high-quality horticulture and a reliable spectral recipe that benefits
LED lighting in horticulture is to select the best spectra cannabis, a successful harvest is achieved.
for a specific crop or cultivar, offering improved quality
in the most energy-efficient way. While photosynthetic
responses are similar among the various plant types, a
morphological response is more species- and cultivar-
specific.
LED GROW LIGHTS: POWER, SPECTRAL OUTPUT, AND YOUR ROI EXPLAINED.
Blue and Red light are the driving force behind chlorophyll absorption and photosynthesis (8). Under monochromatic
light, either Blue or Red, natural plant growth suffers. Research suggests that a minimum of 7% Blue light is required to
produce near-natural growth (13). In practice, a 25-35% Blue to Red light balance will grow a healthy plant. In tandem,
they cover Chlorophyll A and Chlorophyll B’s absorption peaks and are the base to creating a successful PAR recipe.
As previously stated, the importance of the 500-600nM (Green) spectrum for photosynthesis and plant growth is confirmed.
However, problems with excessive Green in the spectral ratio can stunt growth and plant morphology. At 24% or less of
the spectrum, Green enhances plant growth. When Green is dominant at greater than 50% of the PAR spectrum, research
shows that growth is slowed and stunted (14). More pertinent to the cannabis industry, experiments (15) where the
G:R ratio was higher than 50% showed decreases in THC levels (10) (16). Natural plant growth and a healthy crop are
achievable by balancing the B:G:R and the G:R spectral wavelength ratios.
The image below demonstrates the average plant response to different wavelengths based on McCree’s studies (8). It is
clear that plants respond to wavelengths outside of the 400-700nM (B:G:R) range. Horticulture scientists and ambitious
growers are experimenting with these wavelengths, pushing the boundaries of plant lighting in search of the optimum
growth spectrum to produce super plants. The cannabis industry remains at the forefront of these experiments, with
incredible anecdotal results presented daily via social media.
Chlorophyil a
Chlorophyil b
Average
plant
response
300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800
Spectral range in nanometers
The addition of UV, Violet, Far Red, and other wavelengths outside of the 400-700nM can have beneficial or disastrous
effects on a crop. Results are dependant on the species and grow environment. Stunted growth or excessive elongation
for some, improved dry weight, or increased plant oils for others. A consensus for optimizing plant growth through
spectral manipulation is to use these wavelengths at specific growth phases as the plants mature, but the results are not
uniform or conclusive.
Until more research is complete and trials run in the field, the risks outweigh the benefits for a cultivator to include
significant amounts of these wavelengths in the fixed light recipe. For best results, a grow light should include a PAR
spectrum with a balanced B:G:R ratio designed for high DLI plants.
LED GROW LIGHTS: POWER, SPECTRAL OUTPUT, AND YOUR ROI EXPLAINED.
The purpose of this paper is to simplify and explain two key factors to consider when investing in horticulture lighting and
how they affect a business’s return on investment. The additional positive factors affecting an ROI, such as fixture lifespan
and maintenance costs, are not considered here.
First, determining Power and establishing the crop’s true lighting requirements provides a base for selecting a suitable
grow light.
Segregating the grow light system helps to determine the exact specification requirements for production. This method
should apply to all cultivation equipment involved in the planning. Accurate production requirements established for all
grow room parameters simplify selection and procurement, reduces layout and design changes, and lowers marketing
and peer influence.
There are numerous factors involved in the layout and design of a legal cannabis cultivation facility. On the subject of
horticulture lighting, the information contained here should be considered along with, and not in place of, those factors.
Selecting horticulture lighting with the complete plant growth environment in mind ensures cost savings, improved
production, and a quick return-on-investment.
LED GROW LIGHTS: POWER, SPECTRAL OUTPUT, AND YOUR ROI EXPLAINED.
“Jeffrey is an experienced medical plant grower and controlled agriculture consultant. His background in the greenhouse
and legal cannabis industries includes sales, procurement, marketing, and product development. Jef specialises in indoor
cultivation troubleshooting and optimizing plant grow lighting. Currently, he is the Sales & Technical Manager for Grow Elite LED.”
Email: jefs@etissl.com
References
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Troy : s.n., 2018.
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