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Setup 11 min read 2026-03-20

Choosing the Right LED Grow Light

Indoor LED grow shelf illuminating trays of lettuce and microgreens with full-spectrum panels

PPFD, PAR, watts, kelvin — every grow light spec sheet reads like an engineering exam. Here's what actually matters when you're buying for an Indian apartment.

Match light to crop

Microgreens: 100 PPFD. Leafy greens: 200. Herbs: 300. Tomatoes and peppers: 500+. Underbuying is the #1 mistake — a Rs 2,000 light won't fruit anything.

Wattage cheat-sheet

Rule of thumb: 30 watts of quality LED per sq ft of canopy. A 4x2 ft shelf = 240 W minimum.

Hand holding a PAR meter under a full-spectrum LED grow panel showing PPFD reading

Full spectrum vs blurple

Full-spectrum white LEDs make plants look natural and your eyes happy. Blurple panels are cheaper but you can't spot pest damage under them.

Brands to consider in India

Spider Farmer SF series, Mars Hydro TS, and Krishi LED Co. Avoid no-name Amazon panels under Rs 3,000 — wattage claims are usually 3x inflated.

Side-by-side comparison of full-spectrum white and blurple LED panels over identical lettuce trays

📌 Next steps: Try the Autonomy Simulator or browse crop guides.

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Frequently asked questions

How many hours should grow lights stay on?

Leafy greens: 14-16 hours. Fruiting crops: 12 hours with a strict dark period.

Will grow lights spike my electricity bill?

A 100 W LED running 14 hrs/day costs ~Rs 250/month in India. A bag of supermarket basil costs Rs 50 — math wins.

Can I use regular tube lights?

No — visible brightness does not equal photosynthetic intensity. You'll get pale, leggy plants.

Is LED heat dangerous to plants?

Keep at least 12 inches between LED and canopy for high-wattage panels; check leaf temperature with the back of your hand.

How long do LED grow lights last?

Quality panels: 50,000+ hours (about 10 years at 14 hrs/day).

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