Posted on 09/03/2017 11:29:17 PM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
As a self-confessed science geek I am fascinated by technology. Yet in the world of gardening this is often synonymous with the gimmicky (fiberglass meerkat solar light, anyone?) or the hugely complex and costly – think hydroponic growers that require a degree in electrical engineering to install. So it was with trepidation that I started experimenting with LED grow lights last winter in my tiny flat.
Nine months down the line I am a total convert, eulogizing about them to all my gardening mates. They are something I feel could be a gamechanger to many modern gardeners, if we could only get over our preconceptions. This is why…
Once upon a time grow lamps were massive, ungainly things – fluorescent tubes more than a meter long that required complex and hideous systems of stands, cables and reflectors. They were real power guzzlers, too, so not exactly great for the planet, or your wallet – which would already have taken a pretty eye-watering hit from the price of all the kit. They even kicked out quite a bit of heat, which apart from raising safety issues, could also damage the very plants you were trying to grow.
However, recent breakthroughs in LED technology have created a new generation of effective, cool-running grow lights that cost a fraction of the old-school behemoths both to buy and to run, consuming (according to some manufacturers) 90% less energy. Crucially, they have shrunk down enough to be easily incorporated into average living room decor, some seamlessly integrated into planter-cum-lamp designs.
Others are light and thin enough to be fixed pretty much invisibly into standard flat-pack shelves, turning existing pieces of furniture in my house into instant growing units. These LED lights are becoming increasingly widely available online and even at a certain Scandinavian home store.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Made in, and imported from China.
Along with all computers, cell phones, tablets, and air conditioners.
(I know not every one, but most)
Everything in every Walmart in America. Everything in every K-Mart. Everything in every Target in the USA.
(again I know not literally everything, but most, and it’s always increasing.)
90% for computers.
This is what North Korea is about, in my view. China is setting up North Korea, so we won’t do anything about China itself.
If I use a grow light, can I still sell my marijuana as ‘organic?’
Hmmmm... Endica or Sativa?
-PJ
I once tried to find a single light fixture in Home Depot not made in China. I would have settled for Indonesia.
No luck.
Yep. I switched out all our Incandescent Recessed Spotlights with one piece LED’s.
Bought them at Costco and they ended up costing about four bucks each. The was an Energy Rebate included in the Price.
Made in China of course, but from an American Company.
Brighter white light, reduced Energy consumption and they have a much cleaner look than the Recessed Spots requiring those spring loaded Metal Rings that cover the edges.
Do these LEDs, tuned to the light temperature most beneficial to plants, give off that purple cast into the room? I have seen the ones in my local hydroponic shop and the light they throw out is most irritating.
I’ve got LED flood lights on the outside of my house that are on from dusk to dawn. I can’t remember the last time I replaced one. They’ve certainly lasted longer than the box said they would.
“Everything in every Walmart in America. Everything in every K-Mart. Everything in every Target in the USA.”
Yeah, but they’re returning all that money we send the by buying our real estate, stocks, and most importantly treasuries so we can use that money to pay welfare to people whose jobs we sent over there.
So basically, we send them jobs and they give us inexpensive products in return, plus they pay for our unemployed. Sounds like a great deal for us.
Just call it LED photon enhanced organic culture and charge twice the price.
I do not agree.
America needs to make things again.
We need to stop importing everything.
CFL’s were a joke but LED’s are the real deal. I like light and I like it bright but warm. 90% of the lights in my home are now LED. An incandescent or CFL dies and it is promptly replaced with a LED with higher lumen output. Have not needed to replace a single LED yet. I even tried a 400 watt incandescent equivalent in the garage but it was way too cool a light. It glared way too much being a 1500K temp. Way prefer 2300 to 3000K.
On the grow light thing, cops looked for unusually high electricity bills and thermal signatures to spot pot growing operations. With LED grow lights their job got pretty near damned impossible.
I live in Spain where it is legal to grow marijuana for personal consumption. We have 2 grow shops in our town that sell everything you need to get the best out of your plants. I don’t grow any but my next door neighbors have 3 plants on their terrace in plain view. My specialty is growing superhots, peppers of 1 million Scoville units or higher. If you go to the latest weekly gardening thread you will see a picture I posted of one of my Carolina Reapers.
“America needs to make things again.”
That’s simple to do...
1. get rid of most welfare, except for the truly needy
2. get rid of minimum wages
and you will suddenly see all those jobs we sent to china coming back here.
And as a bonus you will also have a much more virtuous society.
Grew some Jigsaws last summer. 3ish million SCU.
“I live in Spain where it is legal to grow marijuana for personal consumption. “
Curious...
Have you seen any serious societal effects there as a result of the legalization of pot? Have you noticed increased usage of pot and other drugs? Any impact from that?
Recently did the same in my kitchen remodel I did. replaced ancient fluorescents and a couple recessed lights with 2 - 1 x 4 LED’s. They are fantastic.
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