When it comes to growing indoor plants, more and more people are choosing LED lighting over traditional options such as fluorescent or HID lighting. Now, the most common question is this: how far should LED grow lights be from plants? And that’s what we’re going to be answering today.
When you’re trying to determine how far should you hang your LED grow lights, there are two factors to consider: the plant and the light. There are many types of LED grow lights available and since the plants go through many different stages, which means they will have different needs and requirements along the way.
The General Rule
The general rule for the placement of LED grow lights is that it should be 18 to 42 inches above your plants. However, this general rule is only to give you an idea. The distance will actually depend on the type of LED grow lights you’ve decided to purchase. For example, LED lights of 1000 watts are recommended to be placed 36 inches away from the plants.
The lights can be lowered to 24 inches during the vegetative stage of the plant, and to 18 inches during the blooming or flowering stages. This is why it’s so important to consider the type of light you’re using and the stage your plant is going through. Plants have different needs during different stages, so you need to be aware of that and make changes to the distance of the LED grow lights as you go along.
Pay Attention to the Manufacturer’s Recommendations
No matter what kind of LED grow light you purchase for your plants, the best thing you can do is follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. They’ve designed the LED lights to cover a certain area, so they will need to be installed at a certain height. Some LEDs are wider, which means they need to be hung closer to the plants because the light is more spread out and less intense. Other LEDs have a more focused angle, which means the light will fall more intensely on the plants.
If your LED grow light has a fixed power level and you’re not able to dim it, the only way to adjust the intensity is to raise or lower the light as necessary. But if you can dim your LED grow light, then you can set it up at whatever position you want and control the intensity of the light with the controller.
If It’s Too Hot for You, It’s Too Hot for the Plants
Because LED grow lights are available in such different intensities and wavelengths, following the manufacturer’s recommendations is key. However, there’s an easy way to check if your LED light is being kind on your plants or not. Simply place your hand under the light once you’ve installed it! If your skin can’t bear the heat, then the intensity is at a dangerous level for your plants. This is a great way to tell if you need to make adjustments to the distance!
The chart below shows how the distance between the lights & plants needs to be adjusted based on the wattage of your lights:
Related Posts
Pesticides for Indoor Plants: Beginner’s Guide
How to Get Rid of Aphids on Plants?
How to Select the Best Greenhouse LED Grow Light?
Should Growers Move Outdoor Plants Inside For Winter?
What Can Growers Do to Grow Healthy Plants?
How to Choose the Best Grow Pot for Your Plants?
FAQs
FAQs about How Far Should LED Grow Lights Be from Plants
How far away from plants should LED grow lights be? ›
As an unofficial rule of thumb, many growers work on the basis that: You need 20-40 watts of power per square foot. Lower wattage LEDs of around 200 watts should sit between 12-20 inches from the top of the plant. Higher wattage LEDs of 1000 watts and above should sit between 36-46 inches from the top of the plant.
How far should a 300 watt LED grow light be from a plant? ›
On the other hand, lower-intensity LED grow lights, such as 300 to 400 watts, are suitable for seedlings and young plants. Research suggests that placing these lights at a distance of 12-18 inches ensures sufficient light intensity for healthy development.
How to tell if your grow light is too close? ›
Leaf burn: If LED grow lights are placed too close to plants, the intense light can cause leaf burn. This is when the leaves become white or yellow and crisp, eventually dying off.
How do you space LED grow lights? ›
Generally speaking, LED grow lights should be placed around 12-36 inches away from your plants. While this range can be a helpful starting point, remember that each plant species and setup is different. We recommend carefully experimenting with distance to determine what gives you the best results.
Can LED lights be too close to plants? ›
LED grow lights emit heat, and the distance between the lights and your plants can affect temperature regulation. Placing the lights too close may raise the temperature around your plants, leading to stress or heat damage.
Can plants get enough light from LED? ›
Yes, plants can definitely grow and thrive under LED lights.
Plants of all kinds, including vegetables, flowers, and herbs, respond well to LED lighting during all phases of growth, from the seedling stage to maturity.
How far should a 1000 watt LED light be from plants? ›
For example, LED lights of 1000 watts are recommended to be placed 36 inches away from the plants. The lights can be lowered to 24 inches during the vegetative stage of the plant, and to 18 inches during the blooming or flowering stages.
Is 300W LED enough for one plant? ›
So under 300W, you can grow about 1-6 plants.
How far should a 60w grow light be from plants? ›
As a general guideline, LED grow light should be hung closer to the plants during the vegetative stage (around 18-24 inches) and raised slightly during the flowering stage (around 24-36 inches) to provide the optimal light intensity for each stage.
Common problems with LED grow lights include inconsistent light output, flickering or flashing lights, unusual light colors, and overheating.
Do grow lights count as full sun? ›
While grow lights offer controlled climate conditions and extended periods of light, natural sunlight remains more powerful. Plants grown under sunlight receive sunlight for around six to eight hours each day, while they can sit under grow lights for 10 to 12 hours.
What is the difference between LED lights and LED grow lights? ›
While general-purpose LED lighting will give off white-light illumination, grow lights will produce greater amounts of red and blue spectrums which are ideal for stimulating photosynthesis in plants.
How close should LED lights be during flowering? ›
During the vegetative stage, the LED grow light can be placed further away from the plant, around 18-24 inches. During the flowering stage, the light should be closer, around 12-18 inches.
Can a grow light be too far away? ›
Hanging your lights too low can burn your plants, but hanging them too high can leave them stretched and weak. Some grow lights need to be hung far away from plants so they don't get bleached, but some lights are too weak to hang more than 10 inches away- so what do you do?
Do grow lights need to be directly above plants? ›
Grow Light Placement Tips
TIP: Place grow lights directly over plantings to mimic natural sunlight. As a rough guide, incandescent grow light bulbs should be at least 24 inches over your plants. Fluorescent and LED lights have a lower heat signature, so they can be placed 12 and 6 inches over plants respectively.
Can I leave LED grow lights on all night? ›
It is important for Plants to have some hours with no 'sun' light, and you should not leave your Grow Lights on 24/7. The plant will become stressed, and it can lead to stunted growth and can create mutations. The plant will also be weak and it's ability to produce flowers and or fruits will be greatly reduced.
