Watch This BEFORE You Buy A Grow Light (Guide For Beginners)

Read more about grow lights:
geekygreenhouse.com/grow-ligh...
In this video, we explain grow light basics. You'll learn when a grow light is necessary for growing plants, what to look for when shopping for a new light, and a few of the different form factors available to gardeners.
Whether you need a grow for your houseplants, seedlings, or indoor garden, there's a light for you. We focus primarily on LEDs, but there are other options like HIDs and fluorescent lights. Enjoy!
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RECOMMENDED GROW LIGHTS:
2x4' (74W) LED light (Best for seed starting shelf):
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3x3" (100W) LED (Best budget):
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3x3' (150W) LED (All-around top pick):
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Migro array (120W):
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Bendable grow light:
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(Affiliate links)
DIY grow shelf video:
• How To Make a SEED STA...
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Reputable manufacturers:
• ViparSpectra
• Spider Farmer
• Vivosun
• Mars Hydro
• Migro
• Growealth
• Atreum
• California Lightworks
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Timestamps:
0:00 Do you need a grow light?
2:35 Types of grow lights
3:58 How to choose the right grow light
8:08 How high should I hang my grow light?
9:05 How many watts do I need?
9:54 How long should you run grow lights each day?
10:38 Shopping for grow lights on Amazon
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🖥 geekygreenhouse.com
🌱 USDA Hardiness Zone: 6A
🌶 / peppergeek
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Thanks for watching Geeky Greenhouse!
#gardening #plants #vegetables

[@j.thorgard]

Fantastic info. Commenting because a like didn't feel like enough. Thanks for the video.

[@cjmc52758]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge I was able to find the correct solution for my needs!

[@bhumphries1360]

Wow, what an informative video! Thank you! You got a subscriber in me!

[@VeggieSlayer]

Thank you for this very informative video! the past two years I've had so many issues growing my tomatoes outside with the inconsistent seasons in the UK over recent years, it makes it really hard to give my growing veg what they need. I'm thinking about trying to grow my tomatoes indoors this year and looking into an indoor grow light to help aid them, even though I have a good south facing windows, i didnt want to not have any beautiful beef steaks this year!

[@nathaniverson]

I have a setup similar to the 4x2 metro rack in the video. I deployed a Spider Farmer SF600 which I use for overwintering peppers on one shelf. I use Valoya 18W LED clone bars for starting seedlings. Both lights work great. The Valoya clone bars are nice since they can be chained together - meaning they only need one wall socket. I use Kasa WiFi smart plugs for on/off automation, they are inexpensive and easier to schedule than mechanical timers.

[@beckyford9193]

Thanks! Very helpful.

[@79PoisonBreaker]

My rule of thumb is about 12w-25w per square foot of grow space, so a 100w grow light would hang high enough to cover 4(2ftx2ft)-8(just under 3ftx3ft) sqft area in light for starting plants. different plants and different light will need adjustment for best results but a great starting point to plan with.

[@elizabethraworth64]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@geekygreenhouse]

Glad it was helpful ☺️

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

I am a lighting guy from college, and spent quite a good deal of time learning Kelvin and Colour Temp, as well as W=VA. I REALLY like the information you give to your viewers! Well done. The basics, Daylight Colour Temp and Wattage are the two big ones you hit on! AGAIN, well done. Getting as close to the 5500-6500K colour temp that is typical Daylight, is ideal and the units you recommend are PERFECT. I totally agree that if the budget can swing it, moving to LED is the way to go. Over time, you save so much money, in operating costs. Thanks again for a great video.

[@geekygreenhouse]

That's awesome! Glad you approve and enjoyed the video, and appreciate the tip on 5500-6500K. Cheers!

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

be a shame to waste that awesome Technical Theatre degree, @@geekygreenhouse so, I use it where I can. Maybe I can try adding some sound systems for my grow light shelves? Or, is that maaayyybeee too much?

[@WisGuy4]

I have had very good success for several years starting seeds using LED shop lights with two LED tubes per fixture that cost about $12 per fixture buying in quantity off of Amazon. The primary feature that LED shop lights require is the correct color, which should be between 5000 kelvins and 6500 kelvins. While fancy “grow lights“ that cost much more might do a slightly better job for raising plants to maturity indoors, there’s no need to spend that kind of price, 3 to 10 times more than the price of a shop light, just for seed starting.

[@gordonp6469]

Can you start the seeds in dirt. Then, transfer them to a hydroponic setup ?

[@edinelsonramirez5656]

Thank you!

[@MeaganW4]

What grow bulbs would you recommend? I’m looking to get something to help my large indoor potted plants to grow more!

[@michaelmullens6801]

incredibly helpful video looking at the spider farmer 2x4 but it is delayed til May do you recommend similar option on amazon?

[@TressilynPerry]

This was very informative. I have a question on something that wasn't as touched on as much. I have already established plants a friend gave me and I don't want them to die. Some sit in windows which they are doing good but I have a few larger ones and some that sprouted in water with rocks and such that I don't have anywhere to put them to get enough light. What type would you recommend for already grown plants (a couple single small, then some med-to slightly larger ones)? My apartment is a corner apartment and has nice shading but doesn't catch enough good sunlight. My friend also expressed when giving me her plants that these are INDOOR only (go figure). I just want to make sure I have some good lights throughout the apartment where I sit these to keep them growing and green. What do you recommend? Sorry for the novel explanation.

[@stevendobson9626]

I have used inexpensive LED shop lights for years to grow seedlings in the spring as well as herbs and greens in the winter. They have worked extremely well. I have not used full spectrum lights, so I can’t compare them, but these have worked very well and I don’t thinks they should be discounted.

[@kutmulc]

Great video! I just bought that VIPARSPECTRA light (with $20 coupon!) last week, so far so good. The dimmer switch has been a game changer compared to my other lights since I don't have much room to move the lights up and down.

[@geekygreenhouse]

Awesome, they offer some of the best performance for the cost on the market, and so far they've shown good longevity for us. Best of luck!

[@sirveyer]

What's the difference between the VIPARSPECTRA P1000 and V1000?

[@davidniemi6553]

Fluorescent lights are the OPPOSITE of full-spectrum -- they produce ultraviolet, and then use 3 different phosphors to turn it into the visible range, so there are 3 narrow peaks in their spectrum. A lot of seed catalogs still feature them, I would guess by inertia rather than for any better reason. The only possible advantage for fluorescent is that they can be very cheap to buy initially -- they are less efficient, a less favorable spectrum, less durable, less bright, and shorter-lived than a good LED-based light. I started out putting LED standard-base grow light bulbs in a couple of pole lights shining down on a table. Pretty crude, but I still use it for early stages of seed starting. I have two Viparspctra P1000s for later stages but still like keeping my plants on a table because I have the space and they are easier for inspecting and watering. The P1000s are strong enough that I could seldom get them all the way up to 100% output without causing sunscald, even 4' above the tables I'm using. Those 3.3" Bootstrap Farmer pots look very familiar -- I don't have an plants ready to go in them quite yet -- how do you like them?

[@HoutarouOrekiOsu]

6:45 that a hydroponic pepper? cool!

[@geekygreenhouse]

It was actually basil, but we have grown a few peppers in hydroponics. Kratky works well on a larger scale for sure

[@jeffgood6441]

In all honesnty iv had amazing results with bigger cfls 300 watt dual spec has been amazing iv also had good results with utilitech 65 watt cfls 2700 k for flower three of them exact i love them cauwe i can keep my light 1.5 to two inches away from my plants and flowers yep that 300 dual spec has been the best yet puting out like 15000 to 20000 lumens also it's 2700 k 6500 k in one

[@user-wf1fi6mu7i]

Is mars ok for the price if full spectrum?

[@ASarcasticDuck]

I'm am finding some of the VIPARSPECTRA brand that are not stating they are using Samsung diodes. Do they always use Samsung or should I assume if they are not stating the brand then it is not Samsung? Thanks! Great video, thank you for your help :)

[@geekygreenhouse]

I wouldn't assume they aren't, but you should be able to find the brand. You could try reaching out to their contact/support team to get the specs on a specific model. Our experience with Vipar has been great!

[@christophertucker1503]

Are the Viparspectra lights harmful for the eyes whenin a smaller room ? Specifically the ambient light not the direct light that is underneath it.

[@kbm4409]

What about grow bulbs?

[@davematthews7686]

It would be good if the manufacturers would specify the output in terms of a unit used to measure light. Watts is pretty close to meaningless in this instance. The LM301B LEDs in the VIPARSPECTRA unit you feature are .2 watt parts. From the picture on Amazon it appears to be a 12x15 diode matrix that isn't fully filled in - about 180 LEDs. That means that the maximum power the LEDs can handle is 36 watts, the 100 watt input includes heating the room with the LED drivers and a safety margin on the driver. This is not as blatant as some of the manufacturers that call out hundreds of watts for something that draws 20 watts from the power lines. Lumens in each light band would be a good starting point.

[@superkoopatrooper4879]

Smh, they do have a standard called PPFD and DLI. Almost every grow light comes with a ppfd chart on the store page. It measures the actual photons. The tool that measures this is made by a 3rd party called Apogee. The president of Apogee works for NASA and Utah state.

[@davematthews7686]

@@superkoopatrooper4879 And those standards are not published on the Amazon page linked for his first choice. From the comments some people have found a PPFD number and measured it. Like I said, put the specs in the ad, the magic watts number cooked up by marketing is useless.

[@Chris-op7yt]

here in australia when you want to buy growlights, there's not much alternative but to deal with shops that mostly supply hippies growing weed. however, these horticultural supply stores are professional, and there's no need to talk about that. they supply the growlights for growing from seed, all plants.

[@luisislas5678]

If my LEDs are 6500K could we say they are full spectrum?

[@dmo848]

Still mad at myself. Paid$15 for some cheap haun and guan led full spectrum light. I go to buy it again and of course, no where to be found. The light kicks butt for 15$. Now i wished i bought 4 of them. Remember when u see a deal. Don't think just buy and return later. Apparently the company doesn't make lights anymore jus HVAC stuff 😢. I honestly think it's better than mars hydro lights

[@xJuiCYxxJaYx]

Some of these lights discharge UVA UVB and UVC. Make sure to wear eye protection

[@bobroberts9306]

Agreed, wear eye protection and limit skin exposure. Definitely safer to turn off when working around any UV exposure. Most lights don’t include any diodes that emit UV light due to cost. Those that do, only have UVA which is ineffective. Supplemental UVB, which works, is provided using separate fluorescent bulb fixtures. UVC, as far as I know, isn’t available yet UVC exposure is extremely dangerous and can cause harm with only limited exposure (10 minutes, more or less?).

[@billyyank5807]

​@@bobroberts9306 then don't go outside ever 😂😂 These lights aren't hurting you

[@sumanchhetri1809]

I have a small cabinet about 4ftx2ft. N I m planning to turn it into a grow cabinet for tomatoes n other similar plants. I was looking at a 75 watt of LED grow light. Will the light be enough or will I need a higher wattage?

[@dmo848]

100 watt is what your looking for. Ts600 mars hydro is good

[@sumanchhetri1809]

They r not available in my location

[@HoutarouOrekiOsu]

Also the DIY shelf link links to this video.

[@geekygreenhouse]

Thank you - fixed!

[@SteveJ619]

If your pairing your viper spectra up with the AC infinity controller 69 you want your light to turn all the way down with the controller the light light comes with .. The viper spectra led I just bought is the same one you have with the magnifying bulbs .. That will not work properly with the controller 69 .. When You're scheduled off time is off .. That light won't turn all the way off only down to the lowest setting .. But your green viper spectra that turns all the way down.. That will work with the ac infinity controller 69 ...it's off time will turn it off .. That's the benefit of getting a light that turns all the way down on its own controller and has an ethernet plug on it. Then you can use it with the controller 69 and it will turn it all the way off on its scheduled time for off ... I have to use a kasa wifi plug for my new viper spectra... But it's still a really nice light for only $100 I bought it as a backup because I have a plant going in the flower by accident and I have nowhere to put it and it's handling that job no problem ... For pairing certain lights with certain controllers you want them to turn all the way down on their own factory installed switch

[@ddoggall]

I have: [Spider Farmer SF2000Pro LED Grow Lights with LM301B Samsung Diodes & Dimmable Lights Full Spectrum Hydroponics 3x3] for five tomato plants. I brought them indoors in September to produce throughout the winter. Their leaves are small and growing grey, yellow and shriveled. The cherry tomatoes grow only to marble-size and are sparse. Lights are about 18"-24" above two-foot plants and on 18 hrs/day on full. What am I doing wrong? Help please.

[@geekygreenhouse]

For fruiting, I’d suggest reducing the amount of light to 12 hours on, 12 off. You might need to address temperature and humidity as well, and soil nutrients if you haven’t already

[@ddoggall]

Thanks partner, will do.

[@curiousbystander9193]

any positive changes?@@ddoggall

[@tiffany7023]

Okay, but can we get a poor people version of seed starters? How or if using a heating pad is safe as a seedling heating mat and if desk lamps are sufficient enough.

[@2lotsill]

I’m using a heating mat for dogs bed. It runs in 12 hour cycles, PIA because I have to keep on extending it. So using a heating pad that shuts off. 3-4 hours would be worse.

[@tiffany7023]

@@2lotsill Good on you! My seedlings are all going to have a late start unfortunately.

[@bryanengland2466]

There are many gadgets out there to measure light, acidity, and moisture in the garden. Are these able to tell what brightness or height to use for your plants?

[@Bob-gn8ph]

❤John 3,16 ❤

[@mistersmith8962]

The Sun is the oldest known grow light