Want to make 2020 your best-ever year for cultivation? Then it’s time to make the switch from HPS to LED grow lights. Grow light technology is evolving fast. While high-pressure sodium bulbs were once the heroes of indoor cultivation, their development has not kept up with that of LEDs. Thanks to innovative design, LED grow lights have forever changed indoor cultivation. Just look to major players like Swell Farms to see the undeniable value of swapping out those old HPS bulbs for LED lamps.
Of course, if HPS lighting has been your standby for a while, switching to LED may not seem so simple.
Rest assured, it’s a much easier transition than you might expect. LED grow lights are made for simplicity and accessibility. They also come with major benefits that will change the way you approach cultivation from here on out.
Here are the five best reasons to switch from HPS to LED grow lights this year.
LEDs Provide a Higher Quality Light Spectrum
There was a time when switching from MH to HPS bulbs between veg and flower counted as tailoring your light spectrum to your plants’ needs. Now, with advancements in LED grow lighting, you can do far, far better than that.
First of all, high quality LED grow lights feature a full spectrum that closely mimics the sun’s natural radiation. While MH bulbs provide a blue spectrum and HPS radiate red, LEDs cover the entire visible spectrum.
When you switch from HPS to LED, your plants receive the blue hues they need for sturdy growth and root development. They get the red they need for serious blooms and high yields. They even get white to increase potency and green to promote penetration through the canopy.
Plus, advanced LED grow lights like the California Lightworks’ SolarSystem series go one step further with spectrum control. That means you can adjust and program spectrum settings to optimize the spectrum at every stage of growth.
The Switch from HPS to LED Increases Yield and Product Quality
Did you know quality LED grow lights provide just as much light intensity as your HPS bulbs? When you consider the added benefits of a comprehensive light spectrum, it’s no wonder you can expect a better-than-ever harvest when you make the switch from HPS to LED.
For one thing, a full light spectrum ensures your plants receive the exact light they need for every stage of development. And if you use variable spectrum LED grow lights, you can even adjust the light spectrum to manipulate your crop. Using intelligent, strategic light recipes, you have the ability to heighten flavor and increase potency.
High quality LED grow lights also produce higher yields. This is especially true in the case of variable spectrum lights that allow you to usher your crops through the grow cycle more quickly. When you adjust the light spectrum, you signal a change in season. Your crop responds accordingly, budding and flowering at a faster pace. The result is higher yields per harvest cycle and more harvest cycles per year.
LED Grow Lights Have a Much Longer Life
One of the most common reasons growers put off the switch from HPS to LED is the price tag. It’s true that you can’t find a quality LED fixture for a lower purchase price than an HPS bulb. But operational and replacement costs . . . that’s another matter.
The truth is, most LEDs are more economical in the long run. One major aspect of cost savings is the much longer lifespan of an LED grow light. High end LED grow lights last upwards of 50,000 hours and can even operate efficiently for up to 100,000 hours. Over the course of that lamp life, there is very little depreciation in lumen output.
HPS bulbs typically must be changed every 5,000 hours to maintain the spectrum and light output.
Save Energy Costs by Making the Switch
If there is one thing LED grow lights are most famous for, it’s probably energy efficiency. You can expect to save at least 50% on your lighting-related energy costs by switching to LEDs.
But it doesn’t end there.
LEDs also emit very little heat compared to HPS lamps. When you switch from HPS to LED luminaires, you cut down significantly on supplemental cooling and ventilation. Plus, less heat means less evaporation. So, you don’t just get to back off your energy consumption. You can also get your plants to thrive with less irrigation.
Easier Installation and Maintenance with LED Grow Lights
Growing is complicated enough as it is. You already deal with environmental controls, monitoring temperature and photoperiod, and calculating the perfect nutrient balance. This is why innovators in the field of LED technology strive to design lamps that are efficient, effective, and easy.
Mission accomplished.
LED grow lights typically have a built-in driver and super simple plug-and-play installation. You don’t have to fuss with ballasts or costly bulb changes, which is the standard experience for HPS growers. When it’s time to replace your LED luminaire (and we already discussed how rare that is), the switch-out is fast and easy.
Sound like it might be time to switch from HPS to LED lights? We recommend checking out California Lightworks’ SolarXtreme series for home grows or variable spectrum SolarSystem series. We’re also here to answer any questions you may have about making the switch.
Here’s to a bountiful 2020.
