The Power Couple: Combining Hydroponics and LED Grow Lights
Topics Covered:
- How to get success with growing in hydroponics using led growlights
- Growing crops in a closed environment using led growlights and hydroponics
Hydroponics gives you control over the roots. LED lights give you control over the environment.
When you combine them, you enter the world of Controlled Environment Agriculture
(CEA). But simply buying a light and a bucket isn’t enough. You need to balance the energy
equation.
The Fuel Concept
Think of your plant like a high-performance car.
The LED Light is the accelerator pedal. It drives photosynthesis.
The Hydroponic Nutrient Solution is the fuel.
If you press the accelerator (high-intensity LEDs) but don´t provide enough fuel (nutrients and CO2), the engine stalls (the plant bleaches or shows deficiencies). Conversely, if you flood the plant with nutrients but use a weak light, the plant can´t process the food and develops nutrient burn.
Key Steps for Success:
1. Match PPFD to Growth Stage: Don´t blast seedlings with 100% power. Use a
dimmable LED driver. Start at 200 PPFD for seedlings, 200-600 for vegetative
growth, and 800-1000+ for flowering/fruiting.
2. Monitor EC Daily: Because LEDs emit less radiant heat than old HPS bulbs,
plants in hydroponics under LEDs drink less water but eat the same amount of
food. This can cause salt buildup in the root zone. Check your EC (nutrient
strength) every day. If the water level drops but EC spikes, your nutrient mix is
too strong for the current light level.
3. Spectrum Matters: For vegetative crops (lettuce, basil), a spectrum heavy in
blue light keeps plants compact. For flowering crops, you need full-spectrum
light with added Far-Red to stimulate biomass.
Where to start?
Getting the balance right requires precise equipment. For high-efficiency LED fixtures that
pair perfectly with hydro systems, we recommend looking at the selection on
nordichydro.com. They offer lights with the correct PPE (efficacy) ratings to ensure you
aren´t wasting electricity.
