Over the past few years, LED for the horticulture sector has been the solution for many commercial growers looking to expand and develop their business. LED grow light systems offer several benefits, including a high degree of controllability, increased product quality, energy savings, and a dynamic spectrum that enables production optimization and scale-up. But to utilize the overall efficiency of LED grow lights, it’s important to install an LED setup that fits your production and the specific cultures and requirements of your crops.
In this guide, you’ll get an overview of which LED lamps to choose for different types of cultivation – so you can find the optimal LED grow light for your production.
FL300 and FL100 from DGT by Senmatic
FL300 and FL100 are LED lamps from DGT by Senmatic and are available in several different types.
FL300 is an efficient toplight LED lamp with 254 diodes. With 100-550 watts, it is a powerful replacement for the traditional SON’T light. The powerful lamp is ideal as a toplight for plants with high light requirements. For example, lettuce that requires 150 micromol.
FL100 is a smaller 150 watt grow lamp – suitable as a top light for cultures with lower light requirements. This will typically be potted plants with a low demand of 40-60 micromoles. In addition to the FL100’s capabilities as a smaller top light, it is very efficient for growing in layers in a vertical production. Less light and heat is produced due to the smaller grow lamp and therefore it is possible to place plants closer to the lamp to create space for more than one layer.
Both lamps are available in three different types:
- Grow
- Grow white
- Sunlight
Here you can download a leaflet that describes the difference between the different lamps and how they can be used. You can also read more about the different types below.
Grow
FL300 Grow and FL100 Grow both contain a spectral distribution with a primary intensity of red and blue light and a very low intensity of white light. This makes them particularly suitable for commercial greenhouses where there is also natural sunlight.
When you adjust the light on this grow light, you adjust the concentration of blue light. A culture like herbs requires a high intensity and controllability of blue light to affect the oil content and flavor, which makes the Grow lamp very suitable.
Grow White
FL300 Grow White and FL100 Grow White also contain a spectral distribution with a primary intensity of red and blue light, but they have a higher intensity of white light compared to the Grow lamp. Grow White is thus more effective in greenhouses and production areas with special light requirements where natural sunlight is limited due to long winters. A culture such as cannabis has a higher demand for white light, making the Grow White grow light a suitable match.
The choice between Grow or Grow White thus depends on the type of culture and the amount of natural sunlight in your greenhouse.
Sunlight
FL300 Sunlight and FL100 Sunlight replicate natural sunlight with a higher concentration of white light, making the grow lights suitable for climate chambers without natural lighting. FL100-Sunlight can also be suitable for layered production in a vertical grow setup where the amount of natural light is low.
When you adjust the Sunlight lamps, the intensity of the light is controlled, but not the spectral distribution. Therefore, Sunlight is relevant for indoor cultivation of all cultures where there is no natural light. Because the spectral distribution cannot be controlled, Sunlight lamps should be used as a supplement to other LED lamps if the high degree of control is still required. Thus, the primary purpose of Sunlight is to provide a similarity to natural sunlight in climate chambers or other indoor productions without natural sunlight.
Take full control of your LED installation with an LED Light Controller
With an LED Light Controller you can maintain full control of your LED installation through easy adjustment of light intensity and spectral distribution. The LED Light Controller enables monitoring, optimization and energy savings due to a precise match between the LED settings and the requirements of your specific cultures.
Light sensors are placed between the plants at all levels, signaling the optimal light intensity to the Controller. Depending on the different levels of natural light entering a greenhouse throughout the day, the sensors ensure that the Controller optimizes the light intensity to match the requirements of the specific culture and to use as little energy as possible.The LED Light Controller can easily be combined with your current climate control, or it is possible to purchase a complete setup customized for your production.
“The best solution will always be context dependent and linked to the specific culture, geographical location and additional lighting conditions.”
Johnny Rasmussen Key Account Manager at DGT by Senmatic
Contact the DGT by Senmatic experts today
At DGT by Senmatic, we are experts and first-movers in LED growth lights tailored to the needs of each culture. We can advise you on the optimal setup for you and your production, as a combination of different lamps may be the best solution for your needs – contact us today and learn more!
