Introduction

Today, more growers are moving traditional outdoor growing to indoor. Thus, the led grow lights are popular in the market. People love to buy sorts of grow lights according to their room space and plants heights. But people don't know which type of led grow lights they should buy and don't know how far they should control grow lights far from plants. Our article intends to introduce types of led grow lights, list factors you need to consider when buy grow lights, such as height and width of your plants. You need to calculate how much area you will cover, then you will know which type and size of grow lights you should buy. Meanwhile, It is important to also understand how optimal grow light distance impacts the different phases of plant growth. As long as you know how to avoid too much led light that would hurt plants and understand how far you should let led grow lights reach. You will grow robust plants.

Six Common Types of Led grow lights

1. Hanging Grow Light

Pros:

Efficient Coverage: Provides an even distribution of light over a larger area, ideal for bigger setups or multiple plants.

Adjustable Height: Can be hung at various heights to customize the light intensity and distance for plant needs.

Versatility: Can be used for a variety of indoor plants, from seedlings to mature plants.

Cons:

Installation Required: Typically requires installation or mounting, which may be difficult for beginners.

Fixed Position: Once hung, it’s not as flexible in terms of positioning or direction of light.

Space: Requires enough overhead space, which may not be ideal for smaller rooms or spaces with low ceilings.

Review Summary: Ideal for large grow areas but requires proper setup. Highly effective for consistent, broad coverage.

2. Clip Grow Light

Pros:

Space-Saving: Clips easily onto shelves, desks, or any available edge, making it perfect for small spaces.

Portable: Lightweight and easy to move around to direct light exactly where needed.

Affordable: Generally more affordable than other types of grow lights.

Cons:

Limited Coverage: Not as effective for covering large areas or multiple plants.

Stability Issues: If not clipped properly, it can be prone to falling or shifting, especially on uneven surfaces.

Lower Power Output: Typically less powerful than hanging or strip lights, making it more suited for smaller, low-light plants.

Review Summary: Great for small spaces or single plants but not ideal for large, expansive setups.

3. Strip Grow Light

Pros:

Slim and Compact: Ideal for narrow spaces or areas with limited height, such as shelving or countertops.

Customizable: Can be connected together or installed in a series for wider coverage.

Energy Efficient: Often uses less power compared to larger lights.

Cons:

Lower Light Intensity: Not as powerful as larger options, so may not be suitable for high-light plants.

Limited Flexibility: Fixed installation, though some come with adhesive backing for easy mounting.

Spot Coverage: May not cover the entire grow area evenly, so placement is key.

Review Summary: A good choice for small-to-medium areas, especially in tight spaces or for smaller plants.

4. Grow Light with Stand

Pros: 

Height Adjustment: Allows for adjusting the height of the light to match the growth stages of plants.

Convenience: Easy to set up without the need for mounting, making it beginner-friendly.

Sturdy: Provides stability, especially useful if you have heavier or larger light panels.

Cons:

Bulkier: Can take up more space compared to clip or strip lights, making it less suitable for small spaces.

Less Portability: Once set up, it’s not as easy to move compared to clip-on options.

Cost: Can be pricier than simpler, smaller options like clip lights.

Review Summary: Great for dedicated grow stations or setups that need adjustable light positions, but may not be the best for small areas.

5. Gooseneck Clamp Grow Lamp

Pros:

Highly Adjustable: The gooseneck allows for a great range of motion, making it easy to direct light to specific plant areas.

Compact: Space-saving design, suitable for small spaces, desks, or tabletops.

Affordable: Generally priced well for the benefits it offers.

Cons:

Limited Light Coverage: Best suited for individual or smaller plant setups. Not ideal for large-scale grow areas.

Gooseneck Durability: Depending on the quality, the gooseneck can wear out or become loose over time, reducing its flexibility.

May Lack Power: Typically has lower wattage compared to larger models, meaning it may not provide the intensity needed for larger or more demanding plants.

Review Summary: A versatile option for smaller spaces or single plant lighting but may not meet the needs of more intense plant lighting requirements.

6. Pot Clip LED Plant Light

Pros:

Convenient: Easily clips onto pots or containers, offering localized lighting.

Energy Efficient: LED lights are known for being energy-efficient while providing sufficient light for plant growth.

Compact: Great for small or tabletop plants that require focused lighting.

Cons:

Limited Coverage: Only works well for single pots or small setups.

Fixed Position: Once clipped on, it’s less adjustable in terms of coverage area compared to gooseneck lamps.

Lower Light Output: Generally not as powerful as larger, stand-mounted grow lights.

Review Summary: Best for small, personal plants or a few pots, but not suitable for large-scale growing needs.

Factors that Affect the Height

·  LED Light Type: Different types of LED grow lights offer varying levels of intensity, which affects how far above the plants the light should be positioned. Always refer to the manufacturer’s recommended hanging distance for best results.

·  Plant Growth Stage: The optimal height for placing LED grow lights will vary depending on the plant’s growth stage. Different stages require different amounts of light and distances.

·  Light Intensity: Higher-intensity LED lights need to be placed further away from the plants to prevent damage like leaf burn or stunted growth, whereas lower-intensity lights can be placed closer to the plants.

Recommended Height for Different Growth Stages

Seedlings: For seedlings, place your LED grow lights about 6-12 inches above the plants. If the light has adjustable intensity, start by lowering the power to around 30%. If you can't dim the light or it’s too intense, position the light higher at first, then gradually lower it as the seedlings adjust to the light's strength and spectrum.

Vegetative Stage: As the plants grow, you can raise the LED grow lights to about 18-24 inches above them. You can also increase the light intensity, since larger plants can absorb more. Typically, the light will be set to around 50% power during this phase of growth.

Flowering Stage: During flowering, position the LED grow lights about 18-30 inches above the plants, depending on the light’s output. At this stage, the light should be running at full or nearly full intensity to support flowering.

The height of your LED grow lights plays a key role in your plants' health and growth. Be sure to consider the light type, the plant’s growth stage, and the intensity to determine the right height for optimal results. 

Can Too Much LED Light Hurt Plants?

If the plant is always under light conditions, the following situations will occur:

1. If the light exposure time of photosynthesis exceeds 12 hours continuously, photosynthesis will stop even if photosynthesis exceeds respiration at the beginning. This is because the photosynthetic products of the plant are consumed due to the long light exposure time, and photosynthesis cannot continue.

2. Long-term light exposure will cause premature aging of plant leaves, which will lead to the aging of the plant as a whole. This is because photooxidation reactions will produce free radicals, which will destroy the cell structure, causing cell damage and death.

3. Continuous light exposure under strong light will cause damage to plant leaves, and supplementing far-red light can reduce this damage. This is because far-red light can promote plant photosynthesis and increase the production of photosynthetic products of plants, thereby reducing the damage of light to plants.

4. The extension of light exposure time will also cause the proportion of blue light in plants to be too high, which will aggravate the premature aging of plants. This is because a high proportion of blue light will cause premature aging of plant leaves, which will lead to the aging of plants as a whole.

5. In a high temperature environment, light exposure will cause more serious damage to plant leaves. This is because high temperature will intensify the photooxidation reaction, resulting in more free radicals and more serious damage to cells.

6. If the light time is not continuous, but there is a day and night alternation, the photosynthesis of the plant will stop at night, but the photosynthetic products of the plant will be stored at night for use during the day. This can ensure the continuous photosynthesis of the plant, and also prevent the plant from being damaged by long-term light.

In general, if the plant is always under light conditions, it will lead to the cessation of photosynthesis, premature aging of leaves and overall aging of the plant. Therefore, it is necessary to reasonably control the light time to avoid excessive or insufficient light causing damage to the plant.

How Far Do LED Grow Lights Reach?

The distance of plant fill lights from plants varies depending on the plant species, growth stage and light intensity. Generally speaking, for most plants, the fill light should be 15-30 cm away from the plant surface. But the specific distance needs to be adjusted according to the actual situation.

Factors affecting the use distance of plant fill lights

1. Plant species: Different types of plants have different requirements for light. Some plants prefer strong light, while others prefer weak light. Therefore, when using plant fill lights, it is necessary to determine the appropriate use distance according to the plant species.

2. Plant growth stage: Plants have different requirements for light at different growth stages. For example, in the seedling stage, plants need weaker light, while in the growth and flowering stages, they need stronger light. Therefore, when using plant fill lights, it is necessary to adjust the use distance according to the growth stage of the plant. 

3. Light intensity: The light intensity of plant fill lights will also affect the use distance. Generally speaking, the higher the light intensity, the farther the use distance should be; the lower the light intensity, the closer the use distance should be.

How to determine the best use distance of plant fill lights?

1. Observe the growth of plants: When using plant fill lights, you can observe the growth of plants to determine the best use distance. If the leaves of the plants are bright and growing vigorously, it means that there is sufficient light; if the leaves of the plants are yellow and growing slowly, it means that the light is insufficient and the use distance needs to be adjusted.

2. Refer to the manufacturer's suggestions: The manufacturer of plant fill lights usually gives a recommended use distance range in the product manual. You can refer to these suggestions to determine the best use distance.

3. Gradually adjust: When using plant fill lights, you can start from a farther distance and gradually approach the plants to observe the plant's reaction. If the leaves of the plants turn yellow and grow slowly, it means that the light is too strong and you need to stay away from the plants; if the leaves of the plants are bright and growing vigorously, it means that the light is moderate and you can maintain the current distance.

Generally speaking, for most plants, the best use distance of plant fill lights is 15-30 cm from the surface of the plant. However, the specific distance needs to be determined based on factors such as plant species, growth stage, and light intensity. Therefore, when using plant fill lights, you need to flexibly adjust the usage distance to ensure that the plants receive sufficient and appropriate light.

 

Distance from Plant Canopy	Intensity	PPFD / PAR	Coverage or “Light Footprint”
(meters/inches)	(Lux)	(μmol/m-2/s-1)	(m² / ft2)*
2m / 79 inches	955lx	670	7.6m2 / 81.8ft2
1.5m / 59 inches	1692lx	1170	5.0m2 / 53.8ft2
1m / 39 inches	3663lx	1670	3.0m2 / 32.3ft2
0.5m / 20 inches	12,500lx	2170	1.5m2 / 16.1ft2
0.2m / 8 inches	50,300lx	2670	0.5m2 / 5.4ft2

 

Table 1: Distance of LED Lighting from Plant Canopy (600W LED Grow Light)

Factors that affect the reach of LED grow lights

Type of LED light: Different LED grow lights have different intensities and coverage areas, so it is important to choose the right light for your plants.

Distance from the light: The reach of LED grow lights decreases as the distance from the light increases.

Reflective surfaces: Using reflective surfaces can help increase the reach of LED grow lights.

Guide to the Best Distance Between LED Grow Lights and Plants

Determining the best distance between LED grow lights and plants is crucial for plant growth. Here are some practical suggestions and data support to help you find the ideal distance:

Light Intensity and Plant Type

Different plants have different needs for light intensity. High-light plants such as tomatoes require closer lights, while low-light plants such as lettuce can be placed farther away. Generally speaking, high-light plants require a light intensity of 600-1000 µmol/m²/s, while low-light plants 200-400 µmol/m²/s is sufficient.

Spectrum Selection

LED grow lights emit different wavelengths of light, including blue light (400-500 nm), red light (600-700 nm), and full spectrum. Blue light is very important during the growth stage of plants, so the distance of the lights should be kept at 12-24 inches (30-60 cm).

Lamp Power

The wattage of the lamp will affect the distance of the lamp. Higher wattage lights can be placed higher while maintaining the same light intensity. For example, a 400-watt light may need to be placed 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) above the plant canopy, while a 1000-watt light can be placed 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) above the plants.

Plant Growth Stages

Adjust the distance of the light based on the growth stage of the plant. Seedlings require lower light intensities, while mature plants require more light.

Seedlings: 24-36 inches (60-90 cm)

Vegetative growth: 12-24 inches (30-60 cm)

Flowering/fruiting: 18-36 inches (45-90 cm)

Light dispersion angle 

LED lights have different beam angles. Lights with wider angles can be placed higher. Lights with 90-degree beam angles can be placed 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) above the plants.

Monitor plant responses 

Watch your plants carefully. If leaves show signs of curling or browning, the light intensity may be too strong. Raise the lamp slightly. If plants stretch towards the light source and there are wide gaps between leaves, the light intensity may be insufficient. Lower the lamp height or increase the light intensity.

Temperature Control 

LED lights dissipate heat. Make sure the heat generated does not make the temperature around the plant too high. Maintain the ambient temperature at 70-75°F (21-24°C).

Experiment and Record 

Ultimately, the ideal distance may vary depending on your specific setup and plant type. Try different heights and see how your plants respond. Keep a growth log to find the distance and light intensity that works best for your plants.

Conclusion

After you read our article, you must know how to choose right led grow lights for your plants and control the distance between plants and led grow lights in different stages. Here we wish you grow awesome plants, vegetables or fruits.

See all available Grow Lights by BIOS

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0202386

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2012.00156/full

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-50783-z