LED Grow Lights Aboard

[tomperanteau]

With regards to growing sprouts and herbs aboard I have been looking at LED grow lights. There are some out there that use a scant 12 watts of power. They could also be used in place of turning on other lights, so the power consumption might not impact too badly.

Has anyone had any experience with the LED grow lights?

[ingasguns]

check with the guys in calif and colorado... they grow lots of "stuff"

[lickingcardboard]

Lol

[Nautichthys]

LED growlights still seem to be in the "try it and see" phase. LEDs in general tend to have very tight spectrum outputs, with peaks in places that plants don't necessarily use. A bank of LEDs tuned for photosynthetic wavelengths will look like hell as a light source for anything else.

Some plants are a lot less fussy than others. A hydroponics shop would actually be worth a visit; a lot of the crops their customers grow are very demanding. Effective LED growlights are the holy grail for this crowd and they tend to figure out very quickly what works and what doesn't.

Disclaimer: I worked on aquatic plant culture for a while and used hydroponics shops for supplies and equipment. Nothing I grew could be smoked though.

Too soggy.

[KeelHaulin]

Why do you need indoor grow lights??!! Southern California is not sunny enough for you??

[tomperanteau]

Originally Posted by KeelHaulin

Why do you need indoor grow lights??!! Southern California is not sunny enough for you??

I'm talking about for inside the boat.

To be self-sufficient it will be necessary to grow certain foods, sprouts and the like, to supplement the diet. Most foods you grow will need direct sun light. Grow lights will enhance growth, which is needed if you consider that you will have very little space to grow in and need that space to produce as much as possible.

[KeelHaulin]

Photosynthesis primarily utilizes light that is in the near-UV spectrum. The best light I can suggest would be an "actinic" fluorescent bulb. These are used in saltwater reef aquariums to stimulate growth of corals and macroalgae. I don't think that there are LED's that produce a similar wavelength of light but it's possible that there are lighting products now that produce this spectrum with LED's. Search for aquarium lighting and you might find something.

I don't think sprouts require much more than warmth and water. There are commercially produced 'herb gardens' for growing a small collection of herbs you could try, but I don't know how much wattage the lights draw.

Remember, the USCG does not recognize California law when it comes to growing or possession of certain 'herbs'...

[lickingcardboard]

here is one just a fast Goggle and ,63W Penetrator LED Grow Light | LED Growing Lights | Hydro Grow LED have fun reading and growing

[P35juniper]

Most of the LED grow lights I've seen are a variety of different " color " LEDs you can have anything from UV to allmost low reds, most use RGB or RGYB in differing numbers.

[zeta]

Good way to make a little cash while cruising, until the Federales step in :0) Seriously if Coast Guard boards you and sees grow lights and herbs, expect to have your boat torn apart.