2 Grow Lights, 1 Winner: Purple vs. White Grow Light (Part 2)
There’s no denying that grow lights are a godsend to growers.
Depending on the type of grow lights you purchase, you can cultivate a wide array of indoor plants all year round. But here comes the challenge. You have lots of grow light options on the market. Hence, making it harder to get a hold of the best one!
Look no further because I’ve got the ultimate guide about growing lights! Like you, I am also curious to see the performances of different types of grow lights on my hydroponics set-up. Hence, I decided to make a series of grow light experiments! In this series, I’ll be testing two grow lights to see which is better in growing hydroponic plants.
For the first part of the series, I tested out White and Purple LED Lights. In case you missed it, the Purple LED lights yielded better results in that experiment. To see how the two lights work, I suggest you check my video below.
But the question here is this. Will the Purple LED Lights stand against an actual dedicated growing light?
That’s the goal for the second part of this series. I’ll put the Purple LED light to the test against the infamous Sansi White Grow Light. Are you curious to see which works better for cultivating plants like lettuces? Then, scroll on to see the victor! Or better yet, you can check my video below to see how each product works in action!
Table of Contents
Types of Grow Lights
Let’s be honest. LED lights are the most popular option for growers nowadays. That’s why I chose to feature them in this series! But, aren’t you also curious about the other types?
One of the questions a lot of growers have about indoor grow setup is what are the different types of lights they can use. No worries because this section has the right answer for that! For starters, you can choose among 4 types of grow lights on the market. Let’s start with the most affordable one!
Incandescent Lights
I’m pretty sure you have a bulb or two of this type lying at home. As you know, incandescent lights generally come in frosted or clear bulbs. I can see why a lot of beginning growers turn to this type because it is so inexpensive! The main downside with this, though, is that it usually gives out high heat output which may burn plants. This is the absolute worst types of light you can use for growing. Dont even try it.
Fluorescent Lights/ CFL
Fluorescent light is another popular option for beginning growers. Unlike incandescent lights, this has a lower heat output. Not to mention, it features just the right spectrum of light for growing. In case you’re wondering, this comes as a tube light or compact fluorescent (CFL) light. Another thing worth mentioning is that it’s a bit more expensive than an incandescent light. It also consumes much more power for the same lumens as LED light.
LED Lights
If you’re looking for the most advanced grow light technology, then get yourself a LED light. Like fluorescent lights, LED lights are energy-efficient. Moreover, they give out an extremely low heat output, even lower than that of fluorescent lights. But here comes my favorite: they feature a fuller light spectrum range. They’re available in a wide array of colors to satisfy your plant’s growing needs.
Those are just some of the reasons why a lot of growers choose to use LED grow lights. Hence, for this experiment, I am going to test a white LED light and a purple LED light.
High-Intensity Discharge or HID bulbs
HID bulbs are pretty much the gold standard in indoor commercial growing. Although they are quite expensive, you’ll never go wrong with using this. They produce extremely high light output while giving off just the right heat for your plants. in my opinion, these are going out of style because of LED light technology.
And if you’ve come across grow lights with Metal Halide, Ceramic Metal Halide, or even High-Pressure Sodium bulbs, don’t be surprised because those are also considered High-Intensity Discharge Grow Lights.
The Hypothesis on the Grow Lights Test
Wait! Before we dive into the setup and results, I think it’s only fitting that I share with you my hypothesis on which grow light fares better in the experiment. Will the Purple LED Light win again?
Here’s my guess. For this experiment, I think the Purple LED light will yield better results than the White Grow Light. I know what you’re thinking. This is completely different from my previous hypothesis! Why the change of heart?
To recap, I hypothesized in the previous experiment that the white household LED light will yield the best results because it has a full-color spectrum. To know more about the concept of lumens and color spectrum and how these aspects affect our plant growth, I suggest you check my video below. But, as per the result of the previous experiment, the Purple LED light worked better.
But, hear me out! This time, I arrived at such a guess because of two things. Firstly, the purple LED lights have higher wattage than the white grow light. In case you’re wondering, most seedlings need about 32 watts per square foot of growing area. This means that the higher wattage you have, the higher chance you get a lusher plant yield. Upon checking both lights, the Purple LED light has more or less a 10-watt difference from the White Grow Light.
Not to mention, I also considered the results of my previous experiment. In terms of taste, I remember that there’s not much of a difference between the two. Both are yummy! But when it comes to weight and lushness, no one can deny that the Purple LED side yielded better results.
You see, if we consider these aspects, there’s no doubt that the Purple LED side will reign victor on this round.
But this is where the exciting part begins. Will the Purple LED Light yield better results in this experiment? Or will the White Grow Light prove us otherwise? Let’s test it out!
The Setup for the Grow Lights Test
Who says we can’t use the Kratky Method for this test? Surely not me!
As you can see, my setup was pretty simple. I prepared my DIY grow containers filled with nutrient/water mix. In case you’re wondering, the nutrient/water mixes that I used were made from the same batch to ensure the accuracy of the result. I also added air bubblers for aeration.
Grow Lights
On the right side, I popped in my Sansi White LED light onto the lamp. While on the other side, I hanged the purple LED lights. As for the placement, I just placed them directly above the growing containers. I also made sure that they are at the same distance away from the plants. In case you’re wondering, I made sure to keep the distance of the plant and the grow lights at around 8 inches. I find that this is just the perfect distance to ensure that my plants get the right amount of light/lumens. We don’t want any of the lettuces to burn, do we? Luckily for you, I made a video about how close to keep grow lights on your plants. Hence, you won’t have to worry about them burning in the future!
Indoor Plant
Let’s switch things up a bit. In my previous test, I used a Lollo Rossa lettuce variety. But this time, I went ahead and transplanted my two buttercrunch lettuce seedlings. I find that this variety is more tolerant to heat. And most importantly, they taste more buttery and yummy!
Hytekgro LED Grow Light 45W Plant Lights Red Blue White Panel Growing Lamps for Indoor Plants Seedling Vegetable and Flower (2 Pack)
The Results of the Grow Lights Test (SURPRISING!)
Lushness
As you can see in the photo, both lettuces are similar in lushness. Hence, I measured the diameter of each plant to ensure we get accurate results. On the Purple LED side, the plant diameter measures around 11 inches. Meanwhile, the plant under the Sansi White Grow Light has a diameter of around 10 inches. This is not bad, considering the results I had in the previous experiment. It also proves my hypothesis that the Purple LED side may get a lusher yield, thanks to its wattage usage.
Weight
But when it comes to mass or weight, the result from the White Grow Light did not disappoint. Surprisingly, the plant under the Sansi White Grow Light is heavier than the one on the Purple LED side. As you can see in the photo, it weighs 0.7 grams heavier!
Energy Consumption
No questions asked. The Sansi White Light is more efficient in growing leafy greens like lettuces. Not to mention, it’s less costly to use because you get to save more energy.
Taste
Surprisingly, there’s not much of a difference between the two plants in terms of taste. Both have a soft and buttery texture. Not to mention, they’re yummy too!
Which grow light is the winner?
Cheers to the growers that bet on the Sansi White Grow Light! The results, especially in the aspects of weight and energy consumption, point out to Sansi Grow Light being more efficient. It’s a great choice for growing leafy greens like lettuces.
Pros and Cons:
White vs Purple LED Lights
To make things easier for you, I rounded up my positive and negative observations about these two products. So, check them out!
White Grow Light
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Energy-efficient
- Easy-to-setup
- Ultra-low heat output/ cooler temperature
- Fuller light spectrum (red, green, and blue)
- Ideal grow light for leafy greens
Con
- Might not be the ideal grow light for flowering plants.
Purple LED Light
Pros
- Ultra-low heat output/ cooler temperature
- Easy to set-up
- Might be an ideal choice for flowering plants
Cons
- Might be too harsh for the eyes
- On the pricier side
- Does not feature a full light spectrum
- Might not be an ideal choice for leafy greens
- Not as energy-efficient as White Grow Light Bulb
Frequently Asked Questions on Grow Lights
Here’s the thing. It’s not enough that you know which type of grow lights work well in your gardening system. It’s also important to know where to place them as well as how long you should leave them on. No worries, I answered those questions in this section! So, check this out!
Q1. Should I get grow bulbs or grow light fixtures?
Again, it all boils down to your preferences and growing needs.
If you’re looking for a cheaper option, then you can go for grow light bulbs like the LED one I used here. Not to mention, they’re convenient and can be easily set up. Just like what I did, you can just take an old lamp and pop in the grow light bulb.
If you’re willing to shelve out a few more bucks for a holistic solution to your grow light needs, then go ahead and order a grow light fixture. It’s great because a single light fixture can illuminate multiple plants. You’ll see that the light and heat are equally dispersed throughout your plants.
Q2. Where to place the grow lights?
I’m pretty sure you know my answer to this question. But for those who are still starting, grow lights should be placed overhead or directly above your plants. This enables grow lights to provide efficient illumination to your plants.
But another thing you should take note of is the distance. In case you’re wondering, incandescent lights are pretty hot. Thus, I suggest you place it at least 24 inches above your plants. While for fluorescent lights, you can inch them closer to your plants by at most 12 inches. As for LED lights, you can go ham by keeping them close to about 6 inches. Again, to know more about how close you need to keep your plants from grow lights, I suggest you check my video.
Q3. How long should I keep grow lights on? Should I turn them off?
The answer to this depends on a lot of factors such as the type of plant and the grow light you have. I find that keeping them on for 12-16 hours works best.
As for the second question, grow lights and plants also need rest. Tons of it, actually. When it comes to growth, darkness is as important as sunlight. If sunlight allows plants to produce energy during the day, the darkness allows to break the energy down for your plant’s growth. Hence, it’s important to let your grow lights take a rest once a day. And besides, this is a great strategy to save up on electricity bills!
Q4. Are blue LED lights bad for humans?
I won’t necessarily agree that blue LED grow lights are harmful to humans. But there are some potential dangers that you might get from it, especially if you don’t take precautions.
As experienced by many with mobile phones and gadgets, exposure to blue light negatively affects our sleep patterns. We’ve all heard about this. It has been a very hot topic amongst parents and kids!
Another potential danger is retinal damage. Studies have shown that frequent exposure to blue light may affect our eyes which may result in vision loss.
Again, I’ve been using my purple LED lights for a while now and I find that they’re pretty safe to use. I have not had problems with my sleep pattern and vision. I believe this is the case for me because I make sure that I don’t get too exposed to the LED lights.
Hence, as long as you stay away from too much exposure to blue light, then I’d say you are safe from those potential dangers. Or better yet, you can wear nice sunglasses as another protection.
Conclusion
We all know it. Grow lights are essential to keeping your plants healthy and happy. As you know by now, LED lights are the most popular choice for growers. That’s why I made an experiment where I tested two types of LED lights: White vs. Purple.
Based on the second experiment, the Sansi Grow Light performs more efficiently than the Purple LED Light in growing leafy greens like lettuce.
But wait… there’s more! As mentioned, I’m going to make this a series. You’ll be able to get an exclusive glimpse of how different types of grow lights perform in my hydroponics system. To give you a hint, I’ll also be testing out these lights on flowering plants like tomatoes.
Oh and before I forget, do check out my ultimate guide to growing room air conditioners. As you know, grow lights might make your grow room a little too hot. Thus, I suggest you check my article out and invest in an efficient air conditioner to avoid that!
So, what other types of grow lights would you like me to test out? I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments section!
You can check out other blogs at Rudd’s Home Farming to learn more tips and tricks in hydroponics gardening.
