As you know, I am a keen gardener and work hard to ensure my plants are healthy and thriving.
Well, it's not as easy a task as you might think, especially when it comes to taking care of indoor plants. And that's where LED grow light strips enter the picture. These little products have boomed in popularity over the past couple of years as they have a fuller spectrum and are more efficient than HPS lamps.
Lately, I have been looking to get myself a couple of them for my indoor plants. And that’s when I came across the five best LED grow light strips on the market today.
Hi! I'm Stacy, and today I'll be sharing my experiences with these products to help you choose the right one for your indoor garden. So, without further ado, let's jump straight to the good stuff.
Top 5 LED Grow Light Strips
1. Mosthink LED Plant Grow Light Strips
This full-spectrum grow light strip from Mosthink is easy to install and affordable; hence, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it is one of my top recommendations. Additionally, it is equipped with a slew of pragmatic features, so let's dig a little deeper, shall we?
Product Highlights
Like actual sunlight, this grow light emits at wavelengths ranging from 380 nm to 800 nm, promising to be highly effective at accelerating photosynthesis and promoting indoor plant growth. Naturally, this makes it an instant hit among homeowners and gardening enthusiasts alike who want an adequate substitute for sunlight.
On top of that, I found it relatively easy to install. Not to toot my horn, but I could put it together within a few minutes. Also, the double-sided tape and screws deserve special mention as these little tools truly helped make the installation process easier.
Moving on, the product has four adjustable brightness levels of 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%, allowing users to meet the lighting requirements of different plants at various stages. Last but not least, it comes at an incredibly affordable price, ensuring it delivers exceptional value for money.
What's There To Like About It?
I must single out the budget-friendly pricing as the main highlight of this full-spectrum grow light strip, making it a top choice among the masses.
Apart from that, what caught my attention right from the get-go was its compact and sleek design, ensuring an ideal fit for various surfaces and fixtures. And how can I forget the massive 78-inch long power cord, which made it easier for me to use the product on different plant shelves without any hassle?
What's There Not To Like About It?
My only gripe with this product was its timer options. Don't get me wrong, it is, of course, a great feature to enjoy, especially considering the economical price point. But the timing choices are eight hours, four hours, and two hours. Now, eight hours is understandable, but the two and four-hour options are not sufficient in my opinion.
Pros and Cons of Mosthink LED Plant Grow Light Strips
Pros
Cons
- Full spectrum grow light - It emits all the wavelengths from 380nm to 800nm – just like natural sunlight. It has proven effective at promoting indoor growth as it accelerates photosynthesis. SAVE YOUR DARK INDOOR PLANTS with IT ! (50,000 hours lifetime.)
- Auto Turn On / Off Timer Everyday - This led grow light strips can be set up to turn off after 2H/ 4H/ 8H. After you set up the hours, do not manually turn off the light or cut off the power supply, the light will automatically turn on at the same time the next day- TAKE CARE OF YOUR PLANTS EVERY DAY
- Bright Grow Light with 4 Adjustable Brightness Levels - 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% - to meet each plant's lighting requirements at different stages .2x 7.5W & 48 LED chips, just put out enough luminosity for all stage of plant growth without worrying about burning your plant
2. Cholas 1
Next, let me introduce you to a quality product from the house of Cholas. This is an excellent option if you are looking for a set of high-performing grow light strips to ensure healthier and faster plant growth. Just like my previous pick, it has a lot of things on offer, so keep reading.
Product Highlights
To begin with, this grow light is easy to install. It comes with three robust and waterproof double-sided tapes and 12 screws that allow you to choose the most convenient installation method.
Additionally, the product is made from PVC and lightweight aluminum, thereby enabling it to dissipate the heat of the circuit operation and the LED chip easily. Thus, it effectively prolongs the lifespan of the unit and enhances the user experience.
Now, as far as the quality of lights is concerned, I am pleased to inform you that it doesn't disappoint. In fact, each strip sports high-quality LED light-emitting diodes that are capable of rendering color up to 95 CRI, which in my opinion, is more than decent.
On top of that, this Cholas grow light is equipped with five-level dimming, meaning you get to adjust the brightness to suit your requirements. But what impressed me even more were the three switch modes that allow users to set the number of lights for their plants.
What's There To Like About It?
Firstly, I'll have to commend the manufacturer for using quality materials to build this product. Frankly speaking, I was pleasantly surprised to find how durable it looked and felt.
Apart from that, I loved how painless and uncomplicated it was to install this product. Having installed it myself, I can assure you that even people with terrible DIY skills can set it up in a jiffy. What's more, you get 12 screws and three strong double-sided tapes out of the box. So, you can install it the way you want without issues.
What's There Not To Like About It?
Some dissatisfied customers have complained about the lights flickering at higher brightness, which can be frustrating. An easy fix would be to order and supplement the device with an adapter designed to handle the lights when they are at full power. Even though I didn't encounter any such issues in my experience, I thought it was worth mentioning.
Pros and Cons of Cholas 1
Pros
Cons
- Sunlight Full Spectrum: 3 pcs light bar brighter than other plant grow light and lower heat.High performance and efficient features make your plants grow faster and healthier,promotes photosynthesis, increases growth rate,Ideal for all stage of plant growth.
- Upgraded Timing & Auto Turn On/off Function: Look no further,this is the best plant growing lamp! Two-way memory timing function.3/6/12 hours timer setting options according to plant needs.Set up once and it will turn on and off automatically EVERY DAY!
- 5 level dimming & 3 switch modes: You can adjust brightness to suit varied stages of plant growth,and 3 Switch Modes A Light On,B Light On and Both Light On.High quality led chips (50,000 hours lifetime),the wave of the light from 400nm to 840nm.Suitable for both home & office.
3. Barrina INWT504014650Dc
Are you looking to cut down on cultivation costs and extend the flowering period of your plants? If so, the INWT504014650Dc Plant Grow Light From Barrina could be your best bet as it delivers indoor plants with full-spectrum sunlight replacement.
Product Highlights
With 1,152 LEDs, the lights are indeed super bright. However, they consume only 252 watts, quite unlike those big 1,400-watt general plant lights. What's more, they have a high light efficiency, ensuring your plant can absorb more than 95% of the light energy produced. Thus, it means that you'll be able to reduce your cultivation costs by a lot with this product.
Beyond that, the lights are easy to install. With included cable ties, clips, and tape, you can install them yourself in a matter of minutes without hiring a professional and incurring additional expenses. Impressive, isn't it? Well, it doesn't just stop there.
The product is backed by a two-year warranty. So, you don't need to worry about spending money on repairs for the first two years — indeed, the brand has you covered. Suffice to say, this product is different from the other ordinary options on the market.
What's There To Like About It?
Coming to the good part, I liked the build quality; the superior PVC and top-quality aluminum make the product durable and long-lasting. So, you can expect it to serve your indoor planting needs for years to come.
Plus, I was pleased to find out that the product is backed by a two-year warranty. Thus, it clearly shows that the manufacturers have faith in their products. Usually, warranties are not offered on grow lights, but that's not the case with this unit from Barrina.
What's There Not To Like About It?
Without a doubt, these LED grow lights are one of the best out there, but it may not be for everybody, as it comes with a hefty price tag. Also, I didn't like the brand packaging of the product. It seemed that the product had been shoved forcefully to fit in the box.
Pros and Cons of Barrina INWT504014650Dc
Pros
Cons
- Full Spectrum: Barrina LED grow lights 4ft provide indoor plants with full-spectrum sunlight replacement. It provides the most reasonable grow light wave based on the ratio of the absorption of the plants
- Super Bright and High PPFD: Consuming only 252W with 1152 LEDS totally, replace 1400w general plant lights. Over 95% light energy can be absorbed by plants. The light efficiency can be increased by 17~20% with reflector. The shell of our light was made of 100% aluminum which provides the high-efficiency heat dissipation. Ensuring the longer service life of the led chips
- Easy Installation: With included tape, clips and cable ties, you could install the lights by yourself in minutes. You could link up to 6 led grow light strips in a series, saving your installation cost and time
4. Roleadro 60w Led Grow Light
The next product on my list is this fantastic piece from Roleadro, another excellent option you shouldn't miss out on. Want to know why? Well, keep reading to find out.
Product Highlights
There are quite a few things about this product that deserve mention. For starters, the four dimmable levels, ranging from 25% to 100%, allow you to set the brightness according to the different growth stages of plants. Thus, it clearly makes the product an ideal choice for gardening enthusiasts.
Apart from that, it sports a flexible design, allowing users to put the lights together in any way they want and wherever they want. You can install it on your plant shelf, cabinet, walls, herb garden, and various other places without breaking a sweat, which is no less than a bonus in my books.
Additionally, the product comes with an automatic timing function, allowing you to set it up for lighting as per your requirements. And the best part? The timer is equipped with a cyclic memory, which means once you set the time, it'll turn on automatically without any manual operation whatsoever.
What's There To Like About It?
You will be pleased to know that the product comes with a standard adapter that ensures there is no flickering, short circuit, or excessive heating of the lights.
Apart from that, I found the user manual quite handy, and I'm sure most first-timers will. It includes all the relevant installation instructions, ensuring that set-up is a breeze for newbies.
Another good thing about this grow light is that it can be used for multiple applications such as indoor hydroponics, plant propagation, and many more.
What's There Not To Like About It?
For me, the downside of this product is the blue/red light combination, which I think is a little too dim for the human eyes, even at the highest brightness. Therefore, if you want to take a proper look at the plants, you'll have to use another light in that area. Other than that, I couldn't find any other flaw.
Pros and Cons of Roleadro 60w Led Grow Light
Pros
Cons
- MORE EFFICIENT & SUPER BRIGHT: Our High PAR value indoor plant lights equipped with 96 full spectrum LEDs, 400nm-700nm high efficiency spectrum, high PAR value, luminous efficiency reach up to 98% without any waste. It provides the most important spectrum for veg, flower, succulents, verbena plants, etc. Efficiently shorten the growth cycle, also increase the yield to great degree.
- AUTO ON OFF & TIMING FUNCTION: LED Plant grow lights comes with automatic ON/Off & Timing Function switch and standard US AC adapter . Not only can you set it up for lighting every 3/6/12 hours, but you can also adjust the brightness of the light, according to plant needs. Set up once and it will turn on and off automatically EVERY DAY!
- 4 DIMMABLE LEVELS: The grow light bar for seedlings has 4 adjustable brightness level, range from 25%,50%,75% to100% according to different growth stages of plants. Best LED grow light strips for starting seedlings, germination, vegetative & flowering.Use it for hanging plants, planting in trays or small pots in your indoor home garden or hydroponics growing system.
5. GYTF T-4/8/12H
The T-4/8/12H LED Grow Light Strips from GYTF is an ideal choice for those in search of a quality option at an affordable price point. Easy to put together and known for delivering effective results, these light strips ensure that your plants stay healthy and thriving.
Product Highlights
If you ask me, the USP of this product is, without a doubt, its full-spectrum design. Sporting 75 white LEDs amalgamated with 15 red ones, the product delivers a 3,500K full-spectrum light just like a sun lamp to aid your plant's growth. Rest assured, whether in the greenhouse or the garden, these lights will keep your plants in good shape.
Moving on, each LED has an end-to-end connection, which is great because it allows you to connect the three light strips as per your requirements freely. The timer function also deserves mention as it enables users to keep the light on for twelve, eight, or four hours, depending on their needs. On that note, this feature is useful while traveling or at work.
Overall, the T-4/8/12H LED Grow Light Strips from GYTF is one of the best grow lights on the market.
What's There To Like About It?
I chose this product mainly because of the end-to-end connections of its light strips, which helped me fully satisfy my lighting demands easily. And since it has such an affordable price tag, I bought another set of these light strips and gifted it to my neighbor.
Apart from that, users will most likely love the aluminum construction of the light tubes that ensure top-notch heat dissipation. Hence, you will not find any issues related to excessive heating with this product.
What's There Not To Like About It?
This product is undoubtedly one of the best in the business, especially considering the features it brings to the table and the competitive price. Unfortunately, the lights are not as bright as I'd like at their highest setting, which is a bit disappointing. However, that didn't seem to have stopped it from doing its job, so I'd recommend it nonetheless.
Pros and Cons of GYTF T-4/8/12H
Pros
Cons
- 🪴Full Spectrum Grow Lights - 75pcs White bulb combined with 15pcs Red ones provide a like sunlight to fuel indoor plant growth, it is great chioce for indoor garden or small greenhouse.
- 🪴Daisy-Chain Designed - This plant grow light strips feature end-to-end expandable design, you could freely link up 3 light bars according to your needs. One power supply could be extended to a maximum of 4 light chains to meet your lighting needs.
- 🪴Timer & Dimmable Function - The growing lamp is designed 3 time settings - 4/8/12 hrs,when kept plugging in, it will Auto ON/OFF and no more manually operation everyday. The light intensity is also adjustable with a controller so you can make sure your plants survive.
Buyers Guide
Think you know everything about LED grow light strips? Well, knowing just the product details is barely enough, especially when you're on the hunt for the best LED grow light strips. But don't worry — in this section, I'll explain a few important factors that will help you make an informed purchase.
Also, make it a point to read through very carefully; otherwise, you might end up making a costly mistake and regret it later.
1. Timers
As you might already know, plants don't require sunlight all the time. So, naturally, you would want to turn off your light strips whenever needed. This is where an automated timer comes in handy as it enables you to program in a schedule that works best for you.
Thus, even if you forget to hit the switch, the lights will turn on or off, as programmed. So, before purchasing LED grow light strips, always ensure that they come with an automated timer, especially if you are trying to grow outdoor plants inside for the first time.
2. Coverage
Coverage is another important factor that needs to be considered. Hence, it goes without saying that you should always go with a product offering "full-spectrum" lights.
However, it's worth noting that they often mean different things depending on the model. So, make sure you do some research on the plants to ensure the light you are purchasing works best for them.
That said, if your plants aren't too fussy, most "full-spectrum" lights should work perfectly fine.
3. Power Consumption
Although LEDs are more efficient than HPS, they still need significant power to run. And leaving them on 24/7, especially if you have a lot of them, may have a significant impact on the environment as well as your power bill. So, it's crucial that you go with high-efficiency LEDs as they can provide decent amounts of light using only a few bulbs.
4. Dimmable
The first thing you need to know is that all LED grow lights are not dimmable (the ones I've handpicked are). While some LED grow light strips only have an on and off functionality, others come with five or even ten dimmable levels. Thus, the latter models ensure you are not using them at their peak brightness all the time.
So, when purchasing, ensure that your LED grow light strips have dimming options.
5. Light Intensity
Another crucial factor to consider when buying LED grow light strips is the light intensity because it directly affects your plant's growth. Now, it's worth noting that it is not how intense it appears to be, but rather the number of photons your plants can use for flowering and growth.
So, make sure you take into account the PAR chart of the manufacturer, the PPF reading, and most importantly, the suggested footprint from the manufacturer. All these things will most certainly help you determine the light intensity required for your plant's growth.
6. Price
I have seen that people often refuse to buy the products they had originally intended to because of their high price. But quite frankly, it's no excuse for settling for lower-quality products.
Don't get me wrong, I also think twice before purchasing a costly product, but I always ensure that I don't compromise on the quality because it doesn’t fit my budget. Remember that the cost of LED grow light strips is directly proportional to their lifespan, so going for a mediocre product is the worst thing that you can do.
Not to mention, you might even end up spending a lot more soon if your lights give up down the road. Therefore, I strongly recommend investing in the right product, which is not necessarily the most expensive one.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In this section, I've tried answering a couple of frequently asked questions to the best of my ability to help clear any further doubts that you might have.
If you leave the lights on 24/7, it can affect the growth of your plants. Plus, since LEDs emit heat just like HPS, they can dry out the plants.
There is no hard and fast rule for setting the distance, but it's highly recommended that the lights be placed 18" away from the plants.
My Final Recommendation
That brings me to the end of my guide. And I hope it has helped you select the best LED grow light strips for your indoor plants. However, before I sign off, I would like to let you in on my top choices from this list.
For me, the best overall is the Mosthink LED Plant Grow Light Strips simply because it is easy to install and is available at an affordable price tag. Moving on, the Cholas 1 is a perfect choice as it’s super bright and sports a durable construction.Â
But if you are looking for an option that is backed by a warranty, you can’t go wrong by choosing the Barrina INWT504014650Dc. Plus, it offers a high light efficiency, as a bonus. On that note, it’s time for me to call the curtains.Â
Until next time!