The cannabis lighting industry is rife with misinformation to confuse new buyers into making less than ideal purchases. FOHSE has compiled several myths we have heard too many times in order to provide new cultivators in our industry with the right information they need to get growing.
Myth #1: LEDs Have Low Output
One common perception in controlled-environment agriculture production is that crop yield responds proportionally to increasing LI; i.e., the so-called “1% rule” whereby 1% more PAR equals 1% greater yield (Marcelis et al., 2006). While LEDs might have started on the softer side, the myth that LED grow lights are less intense than High-Intensity Discharge (HID) systems is false.
When FOHSE introduced the A3i Grow Light, LED lighting leaped forward past whatever light level HID was ever capable of achieving. Running at a max of 1500w, more energy than any other LED on the market, the A3i Standard Model is capable of a max PPF of 4,200 µmol/s, almost double what the competition puts out.
Myth #2. You Don’t Need High Powered LEDs
A common myth we hear at FOHSE is that 4,200 µmol/s is too much light for cannabis, and 1500 watts is too much power. This simply isn’t true. First, scientists still haven’t found the point at which cannabis plants will have a diminishing yield. That is, we still don’t know when more light won’t produce larger healthier yields. By increasing CO2, water, and nutrient levels to match the rate of photosynthesis, cannabis plants can grow well beyond what we once thought was their limit.
But, even if you lack the resources to add more CO2 into your grow area, or to keep up with the water demand of highly photosynthetically active plants, features on FOHSE fixtures make sure you can finely tune your light levels to deliver exactly as much light as you want. While the A3i can be run at 1500 watts, controls were added to allow it to be run at specific energy intervals, from 30%-100%, so you could run the light at, say, 1000 watts, which is the ceiling for a lot of our competitors light fixtures, but never be running the light at full power. This extends the purported lifespan of the A3i, meaning that the light can deliver more photons without fading out as fast as the average 1000 watt light would, even while running at the same power.
Myth #3. LEDs are Expensive
One of the biggest myths is that LED lighting products are more expensive than HID lights. Start-up costs can seem steep, but many factors lower your overall price for owning and operating an LED light fixture. HPS rooms typically need additional HVAC to control temperature and humidity, which typically entails adding other infrastructure to the grow facility, increasing the cost of cooling on every run. LEDs often require little to no extra pieces or additional HVAC systems within a retrofit HID room; they never require bulb replacements. Their superior efficiency and long life spans will ultimately save growers money in the long run. That’s because LEDs don’t burn out but slowly fade over time.
For example, the FOHSE A3i Standard Model starts with a PPF of 4,000 μmol, with select models up to 4,200 μmol, higher than any other light on the market. In 10 years, that will fade to about 3,780, still higher than any of our competitors. After 110,000 hours of use or about 25 years, the fixture’s output will have diminished to 2,940 μmol/s, which is still 40% MORE POWERFUL than a fresh-out-the-box 1000W double-ended HPS bulb. In that time, an HPS owner will have cycled through countless bulbs and still would have never met the output of the A3i.
Myth #4. LEDs are Extremely Fragile
HID systems like high-pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide (MH) lights can have multiple parts and pieces. Each separate part is a pressure point in which bacteria, dirt, dust, and debris can hide and, as a result, will need to be taken apart and cleaned to prevent the growth of bacteria and mildew. With more parts come more disassembly, reassembly, labor costs, and a higher risk of fracture. (HID lights are hazardous, with mercury etc.)
Leading HID, and HPS manufacturers often outsource manufacturing and white label fixtures without rigorous testing and quality control. FOHSE manufactures in-house with a controlled process that dictates the quality of the final product throughout every stage of its inception – leading to a highly efficient and powerful product that lasts. The A3i flagship fixture has an impressive IP67 rating and can withstand the intense conditions of your grow. FOHSE LEDs are also twice-protected from electrical overload scenarios with surge protectors for electrical failure and lighting strikes. Add on a 5-year conditional warranty, and it’s easier to see LEDs as a guaranteed, long-lasting investment.
Myth #5. Lensing Reduces Light
Manufacturers forgo lensing on their diodes in order to achieve a higher level of photons to the canopy. While they redirect light downwards towards your canopy, lenses also absorb a fraction of light. This means two identical fixtures will have different PPF levels if one has lenses and the other doesn’t. LEDs without lenses may have a higher PPF, however, the light with lenses will redirect more light to the canopy than a lensless fixture would. The measurement of how much light reaches the canopy is PPFD. With lenses, you are guaranteed to see a higher PPFD on your plants than without lenses. That means more light on your canopy, even though you lose a small portion to the lense.
Myth #6. Different Cultivars Need Different Lights
It’s a common myth that different cultivars must be grown under separate lighting systems. This is simply not true. First, cannabis is considered a photoperiod-dependent plant. Because of its equatorial varieties, grown either closer or further to the equator, Indica or Sativa can require different light levels during the grow process.
LEDs can easily adjust light levels and spectrum depending on the plant’s unique needs, all within one lighting system. The FOHSE A3i is designed to grow cannabis and adapts easily to the plant’s individual needs. Its spectral distribution output can easily switch between spring, summer, and autumn modes as your crops mature through their life cycle. With custom integration options available and wall-mounted network control, cultivators can grow several cannabis species under the power of LEDs.
