The LED grow lights market abounds with a plethora of different colored and spectrum LED grow lights. As you are cordially associated with indoor gardening, you must have heard the most asked but confusing question” Are white LED grow lights good for growing plants“.
Plants call for blue light and red light for precise growth instead of green and yellow color. But what about white LED grow lights? Do the white LED lights are efficient like the other LED grow lights?
Ultimately, if I answer in a word, the answer will be yes. The white LED lights are good for better plant growth. But you can`t only rely on white LED grow lights. There are some issues.
The content will try to carry away all your ambiguity regarding the white LED grow lights.
So no more time-wasting. Let’s get to the answer of the question ” Are white LED grow lights good for growing plants?” extensively.
White LED grow lights bulbs: At a glance
There is no existence of white color in the spectrum of light. White color is a combination of different colors; red, green, and blue. The white LED grow light bulbs act following the activities of human eyes.
The former white LED light bulbs are conducted in this way. They were a mixture of RGB colors. And because of the cone cells’ stimulation, our eyes observe it as white color.
But nowadays, the white LED light bulbs we see in the market are normally phosphor-coated blue light followed by the principle of fluorescent light bulbs. In the fluorescent, the tube produces UV lights. Then a powder coat converts it into RGB colors and appears in green and yellow wavelengths. Which we see conbindly in white.
The present white LED bulb`s diode produces blue light. Then the phosphor powder coat helps to emit the blue light into a yellow light which is made of red and green. Then the yellow light and rest blue light emit as white light.
So what we see in white LED light bulb is not the white light rather a mixture of several lights, mostly the red and blue light.
White LED lights: Color Spectrum
If the grow lights are the lifeline for indoor gardening, the color spectrum will be its heart. It provides food and temperature to plants ensuring proper growth. So ensuring the full spectrum will be your 1st duty.
Now let’s talk about the white LED color spectrum. White LED was rearward. Currently, its color spectrum is quite similar to the other LED grow lights. As mainly it is a combination of red and blue light, The white LED provides a 390nm – 700nm wavelength which is quite a resemblance to the full spectrum LED grow lights.
Read More: Full Spectrum LED Vs Red And Blue
Types of White LED lights: Color Temperature
Color temperature is the color of the light. For LED grow lights we see four types including warm, cool, natural, and daylight. Each temperature contains different colors, feelings, and looks.
Color temperature is measured in the kelvin unit. The scale ranges from 2700k to 7000k. Higher temperature speaks of cool color light. Cool light contains more blue light. On the other hand, lower temperature refers to warm LED lights and they contain more red light.
Let’s lookout types of white LED lights and their color temperature following the LED color temperature scale,
- Warm white LED light: 2700k-3500k
- Natural white LED light: 3500k- 4500k
- Day-light white LED light: 5000k-6000k
- Cool white LED light: 6000k-7000k
Our focus will be on warm white and cool white LED lights. These two types are closely related to the veg stage and flowering stage.
Warm White LED grow Light
Already mentioned that warm white LEDs mean lower temperature. For this type of light, the ranges remain 3000k-3500k.
If we see the spectrum, it shows that the LED bulbs emit red light wavelengths. The red color wavelength is eminent for the flowering stage. It is 620 nm-750 nm.
Mostly, for all grow lights the range is 2700k-3000k. But you will not find 2700k in LED bulbs.
Eventually, you can conduct warm white LED grow lights for flowering. It also assists in normal growth like natural LED grow light 3500k- 4500k).
So you will get two in one features in warm white LED bulbs. Warm LED lights are efficient for flowering. The extended temperature also transmits wavelength for the plant`s natural growth. Isn’t it amazing?
Read More: 5000k vs 6500k for plants 3000k vs 4000k Grow Light
Cool White LED spectrum
Though we see only the white light in our eyes, cool white LEDs transmit high color temperature. The range stays from 6000k to 7000k. Cool white LED bulbs are vegging specialists. A high blue light remains on the top of the spectrum in cool white LEDs.
The wavelength is 450nm – 495 nm. This light spectrum is mostly used not only in the vegetative stage and cloning but also in normal plant growth.
These lights also have two in one features. You will enjoy day-light white LED light 5000k-6000k) along with cool white light.
6000k is for growing plants and the cool white LED spectrum or 6000k-7000k temperature is for the vegetative stage.
To sum up, for vegging and cloning, a cool white LED spectrum is the best.
White LED grow light strip
LED grow light strip is welded to the copper wire and pliable circuit board which is connected to the power sources.
White LED grow light strips are strips used in white LED lights. It boosts the plant`s growth in an unusual but handy way. These LED lights strip the problem of limited spaces. They are super flexible. You can set it up virtually at any place in any location.
The light strips for white LEDs are convenient for soft and curl behavior. They are strong weather-resistant and wrapped in ductile plastics. So don’t worry about safety.
Most of the white LED light strip`s life span is nearer to 5000 hours but depends on the manufacturer.
In addition to flexibility and durability, you will get the perfect lighting for small vegging, clone, or seeding tents.
Usually, LED strips are one step onward than the fluorescent bulbs. But the white LED light strips are more prominent because they take less area, are long-lasting, and consume half-power features.
White LED light strips are useful but they are less powerful. So you can use it as adjuncts.
White Grow light for Plants
Without lights growing plants indoors is impossible. A grow light confirms the plant’s growth. It is an electronic light to impart food, temperature, and growing ambiance. Grow light cooperates with the plants providing a light spectrum analogous to the sun or the spectrum required for the plant growth.
Various types of grow lights are dominating the indoor gardening field. White grow lights were somewhat backward because of the vast use of the red and blue light combination.
But white grow lights are getting famous for their work on large developments in growing plants and containing the full spectrum of light.
Though red and blue light is important, plants utilize all spectrums of light. And only white growing light offers you all wavelengths.
Many studies show that mixing while light with red and blue accelerates the photosynthesis rate and plant growth. Only using red and blue bulbs will be misleading.
Let’s think of natural sunlight. Besides those two wavelengths, in sunlight, you will get all color`s wavelengths. And all color combinations come to us as white.
At present white grow lights also offer a full light spectrum. This is why indoor gardening enthusiasts are tending to white grow light for full-spectrum light sources rather than quitting specific indoor grow lights.
Are white LED lights good for growing plants
So long we have known what is white LED lights are, how they work, warm white LEDs, cool white LEDs, and so on. Now it’s the time to get the answer, “are white LED lights convenient for plant growth.
Yes, you can conduct white LEDs for better plant growth.
Here you can ask a question. Plants mostly take blue and red light. Others like a green light and yellow light are not used in photosynthesis.
But white light emits wavelengths near to green and yellow. Alas! Is using white light going in vain? Be sure that white light will not disappoint you.
Green wavelengths have penetration access into the deep plant’s canopy. This interfusing augments healthy growth than any other color`s wavelength. Ultimately, white light assures dynamic plant growth.
Warm white light comes to massive yields. Hence a warm LED bulb emits a great amount of red color wavelength. And you know that red light wavelength is indispensable for flowering.
Cool white light confirms proper vegging and cloning. You will get a healthy amount of blue light from cool white LEDs. Again, it will not keep you behind worthy productivity.
A study by Chiba University shows that after using white LEDs along with the mixture of red and blue light, their tomato yields increase up to 12%to 16%. The scholars say that it was because of the white LEDs bearing over 50% green light which have a high entrance into the canopy.
Another research was on lettuce grown comparing red and blue spectrum with a combination of red and blue along with white LEDs spectrum.
Here also the result was optimistic. High levels of sugar and nitrate appear for the white LEDs combination. It also provided higher shoot, root freshness, sweetness, and finally perfect plant structure.
White LED grow lights are well-known for their 40% light absorption. Your plants will grow with burn-free leaves.
In photosynthesis, plants use multiple pigments. The two most significant pigments green chlorophyll A and B use blue and red light. But additional pigments like carotene and xanthophyll rely on a green light that you will get properly from white grow lights.
White LED grow lights: Drawbacks
The main problem of this type of light is intensity in the same wavelength. As white lights are just blue lights wrapped with a phosphor powder coat. At the time of converting blue into another color, the intensity decreases. So there are chances of losing more electricity.
For main chlorophyll absorption, trees don’t require green and yellow light.
Despite its limitations, currently, people are more interested in using white lights for growing plants. This may be for its other characteristics which have covered up all the limitations. For an efficient result, you can use white LED grow lights along with red and blue LEDs.
Final Outcome
White LED grow light is a full package product. It is simply a blue LED light in conjunction with phosphor powder. The phosphor coat helps to convert blue light into green, yellow, and other wavelengths.
The wavelength also depends on the light source, in a word, color temperature. Warm white LEDs eject red wavelengths and assist in flowering. Cool white LED disperse blue wavelength which is ideal for vegging.
Though a little bit of energy will be lost, white grow lights will provide you with exact plant growth using the full spectrum and its other features. So without any hesitation, you can rely on a white LED grow light.
This was our little attempt to grant you the explanation “ are white LED lights good for growing plants”. Hope you have got your desired answer. We are seeking your admiration and valuable suggestions in the comment section below. Best wishes for your indoor gardening!
People also ask
Can white light grow plants?
Yes, white light is the perfect choice for plant growth. Its entrance into the deep canopy ensures perfect plant growth. Though red and blue light is in leading roles, plants use all wavelengths of the spectrum. The while light can serve you with all ranges of wavelength.
Read More: How Well Would a Plant Grow Under Pure Yellow Light
What color LED light is best for plants?
For the worthiest growth, a plant requires every color of the spectrum. But blue and red are most used. In photosynthesis, chlorophyll absorption, budding, and flowering red and blue lights are unavoidable. But the tree also uses a healthy amount of green and yellow light. For plants, any specific colored light will not be a wise decision.
Read More: What Color Light is Best for Plant Growth
Do white LED lights work for growing plants?
Yes, white LED lights are better for growing plants. Present white lights are developed in such a way that they will provide a full spectrum. Though the intensity will be a little bit low, the green wavelength penetration will grow your plants better than any other light.
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