I’m in the market for a new LED light as I’m adding a 4’ x 4’ grow room. Most of the plants will be greens- kale, chard, spinach, etc., but I may occasionally want to grow a tomato plant in there. I’ve been using a full cycle Solar Flare (200 w) for the past 2 years for cukes with good results, but in the reading I’ve done, it seems that greens only use the blue spectrum and all the red light portion of the full cycle LED goes to waste.

A couple manufacturers have lights with veg and bloom switchable, others with veg or veg/bloom combined switchable. The latter offers power savings when the plants are starting in that only the veg (blue) lights are on. When they get larger, then the veg/bloom combined feature comes into ply. OK, I understand that, but my question is whether the cukes and tomato plants need the red spectrum or is that only a requirement for those trying to grow weed?

Thanks.

Most plants need more than just one spectrum so I don't believe the people that claim that they only use blue. They might ues less red than flowering plants, like tomatoes, but they still need more than just blue. It was once thought that plants didn't use the green spectrum, for example, but now we know that they do; they just use less of it. I would avoid any light that only has blue. You want primarily blue and red but not only, imho.

MMasz wrote:I’m in the market for a new LED light as I’m adding a 4’ x 4’ grow room. Most of the plants will be greens- kale, chard, spinach, etc., but I may occasionally want to grow a tomato plant in there. I’ve been using a full cycle Solar Flare (200 w) for the past 2 years for cukes with good results, but in the reading I’ve done, it seems that greens only use the blue spectrum and all the red light portion of the full cycle LED goes to waste.

A couple manufacturers have lights with veg and bloom switchable, others with veg or veg/bloom combined switchable. The latter offers power savings when the plants are starting in that only the veg (blue) lights are on. When they get larger, then the veg/bloom combined feature comes into ply. OK, I understand that, but my question is whether the cukes and tomato plants need the red spectrum or is that only a requirement for those trying to grow weed?

Thanks.

plants flowering and fruiting stages require different spectrum.