LED grow lights for succulents are growing more popular each day. And if you’re new to indoor gardening or are considering upgrading your grow lights, you might wonder if they’re good for your plants or if it’s just a lot of hype.
Also, can you use any LED grow lights, or how can you choose the most appropriate ones?
This article has everything you need to know about using LED grow lights for your succulent plants, including some top picks of LED grow lights.
Do You Need to Grow Lights for Succulents?
Succulent plants don’t necessarily need to grow under grow lights. After all, most of these plants can survive under low-light conditions.
That said, you likely prefer that your plants have a favorable growing environment rather than one where they barely survive. That’s where such lights come in.
Grow lights can help your succulent plants grow faster, primarily because they provide light to supplement growth.
Also, some succulent plants love light. And with grow lights, these plants don’t suffer etiolation, a condition prevalent in indoor plants.
Thus, you’ll notice your plants don’t develop a weak and pale appearance as they struggle to grow in the direction of the minimal light they’re receiving.
A sunlight supplement mimics the natural photosynthetic spectrum, improving the plants’ food-making ability.
It’s especially during winter that sunlight supplements come in handy. Typically, during such periods, daylight may be shorter than usual.
And a light supplement allows the plants to compensate for the shorter periods of daylight.
How to Choose Grow Lights for Succulents: Factors to Consider
Spectrum
Succulent plants need both visible and invisible light. Now these lights must be present in a light spectrum.
And such a light spectrum must fall between 400 to 700 nanometers, a range that supports photosynthesis in plants.
Your grow light must produce light colors that are essential to your plants. For example, many plants thrive under blue light, growing larger and wider; white-red lights stimulate flowering.
Also, scientists have proven that white light supports healthy plant growth. So as you can see, you need a full spectrum to provide all essential light ingredients for your succulent plants.
(Caption: Color spectrum)
Efficiency
A light’s wattage determines the amount of power the light produces.
However, wattage does not contribute to plant growth. It’s the lumens that matter.
Therefore, purchase lights that efficiently give you the most lumens per watt.
That way, you save on power consumption. Also, it’s environmentally sustainable as it limits the amount of waste produced.
Light Output
Lumens refer to the measure of a light’s brightness, and the perfect light lumens for your plants should be 300 to 800 lumens per square foot.
But this is hard to detect with your naked eye. Thus, it’s vital to read the specifications of the bulb’s manual to ensure you have the right one.
Now the sun produces an average of 2,300 to 9,300 lumens per square foot. And the grow lights you choose must provide adequate light intensity close to normal daylight.
More importantly, the light should make light intensity similar to that of the succulent native environment. That way, the plant grows as if in a natural habitat.
Color Temperature
The cool or warm aspect gets measured in Kelvins for a light’s color temperature. Usually, a lower kelvin reading indicates warmer flights, such as red color.
On the other hand, cooler light, mainly blue, has a higher kelvin value.
While the normal visual temperature falls between 2,200 to 7,500K, succulent plants do well at 3,000 to 6,000 K.
How to Use LED Grow Lights on Succulents
Note that before using LED grow lights, it’s essential to understand the placement areas of the lights.
Also, you should know how much light the plants need, which will depend on the number of plants. The following are the two factors to consider:
How Far Away Should You Place the Light?
The distance you place the LED grow light depends on how much brightness you want for your plants.
Usually, you can have flights closer to the plants to brighten a small area. And if you want less light intensity over a larger area, place the grow lights higher.
For example, a 10 to 18-inch distance from the plant will cover the same diameter as the plants. Generally, you need to place the lights about 6 to 12 inches from the pants.
How Many Hours of Light?
You might not know that a typical plant requires daylight plus a period of darkness.
So expose your succulent plants to 12 hours of LED light followed by 12 hours of darkness. The light enables photosynthesis, while the darkness allows the plant to absorb carbon dioxide.
That said, it’s essential to regularly check on your plants for any signs of overexposure or underexposure to light and adjust accordingly.
The light is insufficient if the leaves turn red, yellow, or orange and the plants etiolate.
And if the light is in excess, the plants will develop beige patches or close their rosettes.
5 Best LED Grow Lights for Succulents
Here’s our pick of the best LED grow lights for succulents:
1. Ankace Grow Lights
These lights have both blue and red spectra. For this reason, they can cover both flowering and foliage formation.
Also, they have a timer that turns the light on and off at the required time. Thus, you can use this light even when you’re not at home.
More importantly, its dimmer switch allows you to adjust the light to required levels that mimic natural light.
(Caption: Dimmer switch)
2. Gooing Top Grow Lights
You’ll find this type of grow light in red and white color lights (ten red lights and 74 white lights).
Also, it gives you three timing options depending on your plants’ needs.
Additionally, the light has five dimming options; you can be sure your plants get the light intensity they need.
Further, it has two flexible stands that allow you to move the light in any direction.
3. Sowinski Plant Lights
This light is full-spectrum and does not overheat. Also, it has four heads that tower over plants, ensuring all your plants get adequate light.
4. LED Grow Light Bulb Full Spectrum
Now this grow light bears the closest resemblance to natural sunlight in the market. And you can be confident that it supports the color formation of your succulent plants as it should.
5. Diboys LED Grow Lights
This is another full-spectrum grow light designed to diffuse light at the broadest range angle possible.
For this reason, if your growing area is at least 3 square feet, this is the best grow light for you. You can place the lights 6 to 10 inches from your plants without scorching them.
(Caption: LED light diffuser)
FAQs
Do LED Grow Lights Work for Succulents?
While succulent plants can survive on low light intensity, LED grow lights allow the plant to grow faster.
Therefore, you can use LEd grow lights to supplement your plant’s light requirements, especially during winter-like conditions.
What Color LED Is Best for Succulents?
Now blue light is the most essential color for succulent plants, although red light also plays a crucial role.
Thus, combining the two is the best as it increases blooming and foliage growth.
White light also plays a crucial role in enhancing plant growth. Therefore, a full light spectrum is the best to meet all your plant needs.
(Caption: Blue LED light)
How Many Lumens Grow Light for Succulents?
What’s adequate is lumens close to what’s found in sunlight. But generally, 300 to 800 lumen will support succulent plant growth sufficiently.
Conclusion
That’s it about LED grow lights for succulents. Now you understand better why these LED lights are good for succulent plants.
Also, you know exactly what to consider when buying them, and some of the best LED grow lights in the market for succulent plants.