LED questions

[lunarose]

Hi All,

I would like to add some LEDs in my new greenhouse and have some questions. The greenhouse will be on my deck and the plants won't get enough direct sun light maybe only 3-4 hours so I'd like to add some LEDs the problem is which one? Now the market is flooded with UFO know offs and those cheap panels I have no idea what would be good. The greenhouse will be 4'x6' so I don't need a lot and I don't really want to spend $600 on a PROCYON. Any suggestions?

lunarose Reviewed by lunarose on 06-21-2009. LED questions Hi All, I would like to add some LEDs in my new greenhouse and have some questions. The greenhouse will be on my deck and the plants won't get enough direct sun light maybe only 3-4 hours so I'd like to add some LEDs the problem is which one? Now the market is flooded with UFO know offs and those cheap panels I have no idea what would be good. The greenhouse will be 4'x6' so I don't need a lot and I don't really want to spend $600 on a PROCYON. Any suggestions? Rating: 5

[the image reaper]

a 4' x 6' grow space, and don't want to spend $600 ? ... I would suggest LEDs ain't for you ... if it's a longtime indoor-grown strain, it may be OK with 4 hours of direct light ... I have some that thrive in the shade ... :smokin:

[oldmac]

Hey lunarose,

Image reaper has it correct, LEDs are probably not for you...at least in this application.

Four hours of direct sun and the balance indirect may be more then enough, but if you need to supplement light then HPS would be a better choice both for your budget and your needs.

[lunarose]

Thanks guys. I guess I better start saving up the money. The reasons I want to go LED are that one heat can be an issue and more importantly I do not want to light up my deck at night.

Who do you recommend for the space? Procyon? UFO? How can I avoid cheap knock offs?

[Weezard]

Thanks guys. I guess I better start saving up the money. The reasons I want to go LED are that one heat can be an issue and more importantly I do not want to light up my deck at night.

Who do you recommend for the space? Procyon? UFO? How can I avoid cheap knock offs?

Dunno if you've seen a good led gro-light in person, but "light up your deck" it will!

Bound to draw lots of attention.

And I. R. knows what he's talkin' about.
Most strains have a very wide tolerance to light intensity and duration.

Most useful hint I have 'bout growing on the deck or in a greenhouse is to use wheels and save your back.

When I'm a week from harvest and subject to bud rot, it's almost guaranteed to rain.

I roll my ladies under an umbrella for the duration and the buds stay dry.
Then roll 'em back out when the sun returns.
Makes it a lot easier to bring the girls in when the neighbor's gardeners do their thing, too.

Aloha nui,
Wee Zard

[stinkybudz]

her grows are also mainly autoflowers so they need all the light they can get, hey luna maybe ask weezard some good specs, since he has an awesome 45w led setup he built himself

[lunarose]

Hey Wee zard! How are you our magical scaley friend I am hoping to be able to grow year round in the GH both AF's and regular strains. Having on the deck will allow me better temp controls. Which LED systems do you like? I didn't think the LED lighting light didn't carry too far into the night. I wish they made the t5 or t8 replacement LEDs in the reds and blues that would work wonderfully in there.
Stinkybudz I am not particularly handy so I don't think I could build my own.

[stinkybudz]

ive seen your catproof box which is impressive, i have cats too and boy i swear they always figure a way in :stoned:

[Weezard]

Hey Wee zard! How are you our magical scaley friend

Finer n a frog hair split three ways
Life is bein' good to dis ol' 'zard.

I am hoping to be able to grow year round in the GH both AF's and regular strains. Having on the deck will allow me better temp controls. Which LED systems do you like? I didn't think the LED lighting light didn't carry too far into the night. I wish they made the t5 or t8 replacement LEDs in the reds and blues that would work wonderfully in there.

You might do better with t5s or t8s in a greenhouse.
There are usable led arrays around but they are still quite expensive. My UFO knock-off was $220 but for a decent sized greenhouse you would want 3 of them.
Or 2 Procyons.
Much as I enjoy playing with leds personally, I'd advise waiting about a year before jumping in. Unless you are paying over 30 cents per KWH, that is.

We pay over fiddy cent here.

Stinkybudz I am not particularly handy so I don't think I could build my own.

If you can choose the glass for your greenhouse, see if you can find some "solar-glo", I think it's called.
Has corner reflectors molded into it that gather more sunlight than glass or flat plastic by gathering light from low angles and bending it to shine straight down.
Roofed a shed with it in the '80s and it worked a treat.
The shed looked brighter inside than outside because of the lensing and it colorshifted to the blue end also because of the plastic used.

Happy growin'
Weeze

[lunarose]

Weezard, I value your opinion and think you are right I should stick with the fluros for now. Maybe I'll mount some onto the sides. I am not sure what the panels are made of but in the pictures they don't look smooth or clear.
Stinkybudz, My boys do love their greens. This new GH will be cat proof It has the hard plastic panels. I am so excited.