Optic grow light: cultivation technology at another level

The advances and technological research on grow lights does not stop, and since we know that you love to be at the forefront of crop lighting, we have brought interesting information about one of the most recent and efficient advances within the world of LED lighting for crops: optical technology. The optical grow lights will give a plus to your indoor crops, thanks to a combination of: high power + high efficiency.

There is no doubt that LED grow Lights have dominated the world of indoor cultivation in recent years, not only for their high performance, but also for their efficiency and energy savings, the little heat they produce, the complete spectrum of colors they provide, their dimensions and easy installation, as well as the economic savings in the medium and long term,  make them today the favorites of every grower. In that sense, optical grow lights will allow you to enjoy all those benefits, but at a higher level.

In the next lines, you will find everything you need to know about optical grow lights, their most outstanding characteristics and benefits so you can select the one that suits you best, depending on the type of crop you have and the growth stage in which your plants are.

Optic grow light takes crops to their limit

You may be wondering what makes the optic grow lights different from traditional LED grow lights? The answer comes directly from the COB optics (on-board chips) which are formed by a set of LED chips that are connected to the base and thus make up a single module of lights.

That's right, these chips have been designed and placed in the most suitable way possible, so that they occupy less space while producing a much higher lumen output per square inch than traditional lamps, all this, thanks to the fact that they contain many more light sources in the same area.

All these particularities translate into a high luminosity. In addition, the optical grow light thanks to its structure and assembly, also reduce the production of heat (variable that can affect your crop in a great way, and that thanks to the improvements in the transfer of heat from the substrate itself to which the chips are fixed), together with heat sinks, the optic grow light will guarantee an ideal operation in cold,  without affecting the temperature of your grow room, so you will not have to invest in cooling systems as with other types of bulbs and grow lights.

Before you know more about the optic grow light, you should know that the adjective "optic" is allusive to the optics that have this type of grow light, which are mainly responsible for collecting light and increasing its level of intensity towards a particular area, since LED lights, as can be seen in their structure,  they only illuminate directionally, unlike 360-degree bulbs.

But how do optics work in LED grow lights? the type of optics is determined both by the proximity to the LED, and by the function it fulfills. In this way, LED lights have a primary optics, which protects the chip but is not enough to focus all the light that leaves the diode towards a certain area and thus take advantage of all its intensity.

Therefore, secondary optics are generally incorporated into optical grow lights, which allow you to increase the light intensity by filling the light rays in a controlled way and directing them towards the desired area for the benefit of your crop. All this through various elements such as lenses, made of different materials (polycarbonate, acrylic, polystyrene).

For indoor crops, symmetrical diagram optics are usually used, which are those that direct light towards a well-defined area, unlike asymmetrical ones that are more used in outdoor spaces, such as street lighting, since they allow the beam of light to be wider.

The lenses will also help you calculate the most suitable height to hang your optic grow light, depending on the degrees reached by the lens, for this you just have to ask your supplier or read in detail the specifications of the product. For example, for lenses between 90 and 120 degrees, you must place it between 24" to 30" approximately, depending on the growth phase in which your crop is located, remember that if it is in the seedbed phase it must be at a higher height.

Now, join us to know some of the characteristics of optical grow lights.

Novel features of optic grow light

In this section we have summarized some of the most important characteristics of the optical grow light for your indoor cultivation:

• The optical grow light presents the full spectrum of light (white and orange/red light), so you will not have to invest money in other complementary lights to illuminate your crop.
• They have fewer failures because they use a single circuit and require fewer welding points (even some lack them), this significantly reduces the damage that your lighting system may present.
• Thanks to the optics the loss of light is reduced and the angle of visualization increases, all this will allow your plants to obtain all the benefits of the photons of light they need for their photosynthesis.
• The color temperature can vary between 3000k and 5000k, this indicates that the color of the light of your optical grow light can range from a warm white, to neutral or cold.
• The light of the optic grow light is characterized by being extremely bright.
• They have a much longer service life: between 50,000 and 100,000 hours of continuous use.
• Higher opening angles on COB LEDs (can reach 160 degrees).
• They have a better Color Rendering Index than other grow lights, this becomes a higher quality and better perception of colors.

Why are LED grow lights at the forefront?

There are many reasons why every day more and more growers choose LED grow light for their crops, whether it is a domestic or commercial grower, this type of lights can provide the necessary conditions for your plants to receive all the benefits of light, just as they would in an environment of natural light,  and even better, thanks to the conditions that can be easily controlled in an indoor crop.

In addition, thanks to the power, efficiency and adaptability of the optical grow light, they are the most suitable to accompany your crop in all its growth phases, from the seedbed to the flowering or fruiting stage without suffering damage or lack of lighting, and the best, without the need to replace bulbs or lamps.

On the other hand, the optics help to focus the light towards the desired area of the crop and many models, of the most updated, even allow you to control the spectrum of lights, so if, for example, you want to add more blue or red light, you can do it without any problem, and in this way you will enhance your crop depending on the growth stage in which it is.

The combination of diodes that work at the same time significantly improves the spectrum needed for your plants to perform photosynthesis.

In addition to the wide coverage of spaces and the long duration and performance of the optical LED grow lights, some of these lamps have incorporated ultraviolet and infrared lights that will make your plants grow like no other crop light has done so far, while providing the necessary protection so that they do not suffer burns.

Among the benefits provided by optical grow light, like LED grow light, is that they are more sustainable, guaranteeing a profit for everyone: the grower, the crop and the planet.

The improvement in the performance of optical grow lights lies in their ability to improve the beam of light thanks to the optics, which also prevent glare.

As we have mentioned, depending on the model you acquire, you can adapt the lighting depending on the growth stage of your crop, or if your plants are in bloom (different colors for different stages). This special feature is possessed by many of the current models of optic grow light, through attenuators that allow recreating the spectrum of natural light.

Know your plants and update your technology

Optical grow light definitely represents a very cost-effective, appropriate and sustainable option for indoor crops, especially for those who are looking for greater efficiency and yield at a lower cost.

As LED technologies for crop lighting advance, new benefits emerge for your plants that they can access at a lower cost and with countless benefits, without needing to be an expert.

Updating the lighting technology in your crops will bring benefits not only to your crop, but also to your pocket, this translates into a higher yield of your crops in a shorter time. 

However, as we always mentioned in our articles, the selection of any grow light should always be based on the type of crop and its needs.

With the optic grow light you can get the benefits of any LED grow light in a much more efficient and powerful way, so do not forget to consider them on your wish list.