Flexible LED strips as grow lights?

[seaj]

I have no knowledge about LEDs, or about lights in general, but I have recently discovered LED strip lights and I would like to know if/how they can be used to grow plants, specifically as an alternative to T8 fluorescent bulbs. I have seen strips available in warm white, natural white, and cool white as well as other colors, and the LED chip size that sounds the most suitable would be 5630 size, with 60 lights per meter. I think something similar is used in Ray's LED bulb?

These LED strips seem quite versatile since the strips can be cut and combined to any shape. These lights would be mostly for my African violets. The standard light set up for those is a simple 2 bulb T8 or T12 4' fixture placed about 12" above the leaves, often times with one cool white bulb and one warm white bulb, so those are the light conditions I would like to replicate with the strips. LEDs seem like a potential way to save money on electricity and replacement bulbs, and to also light up my grow shelf more evenly. Any suggestions?

This is the video that put the idea in my head (he's using 5050 LEDs which aren't as bright at the 5630 LEDS I'd like to use). http://youtu.be/G-ZLcAF3ar0?t=23s

[Gravelsack]

From what I understand, these low powered led strips do not put out enough light in the right spectrums to be useful. If you want to go the low power route you'll do better with the blue/red ones because they target spectrums that plants use for photosynthesis, but they look weird.

I'm personally using a Maxspect Razor r420r, 16,000k model. It uses 3w Cree emitters in a range of spectrums including blues, uv, soft white, and cool white. You can look at the colors used in the pic of the light in my build thread titled "LED humidity tent". Even with the full spectrum represented, the light is extremely blue, but it grows plants like gangbusters.

[naoki]

5630 seems to put out fair amount of light, so you can definitely use it for orchids. Planted aquarium people use it. For some reason, they don't seem to pay attention to the efficiency, though. But it will cost you quite a bit more in a long term due to low efficiency. The 5630 diodes by itself can be fairly efficient (I checked the data sheet of Samsung 5630, but I couldn't find the info about Chinese copy, 5730, which is more likely to be used on the cheap strip light). However, the design of light influences the overall efficiency, and I haven't seen 5630 which is targeted for high efficiency.

There is a trade off among total light output, cost, and efficiency in LED lighting. For the light which will be used continuously (like growing plants), it is best to maximize the efficiency part. With this regard, Philips XF-3535L is a much better choice than current 5630, and it is super easy to assemble. See msg #20 in this thread.

It will be at least 50% to 200% more efficient than 5630. It is difficult to find the spec of 5630 based strip light. Some of them show only 50 lumen/W, which is below T5HO or T8 efficiency. XF3535L can be around 140-150 lumen/W.

[seaj]

Thanks for the input everyone! I still bought some anyways just to play with in the house, but I'll be looking into both suggestions. Hoping to expand my growing area asap!

[PaphMadMan]

For any light not intended for plant growth you need to compare the wavelenth(s) to those needed by plants. An LED that appears red or blue to the human eye isn't necessarily at the peak wavelengths for photosynthesis, and even if it appears white it isn't necessarily full spectrum. It can seem bright, but if it isn't the right wavelengths it would be useless to plants.

[Aluka]

You should get LED light strips targeted for planted aquariums. They tend to be look really nice and hit all the correct spectrums and range from 40-100 dollars. Still cheaper than replacement bulbs.

[seaj]

I'd really like to try the LED light fixtures for plants from BuildMyLED, but they're too powerful (and out of my price range) for my needs right now. My orchids do well enough with the large southwest windows in the kitchen. I know they make quality stuff for reef aquarists.

[Gravelsack]

BuildMyLED has some quality stuff although personally I think it's important that LED's be dimmable, and preferably controllable. I'm not certain that they offer those features on their fixtures.

I've had my eyes on the Kessil Amazon Sun for quite some time, although I don't think it is dimmable either.

[Aluka]

I have a finnex planted plus over my plants, seems to work great. It's not dimmable, but i can adjust the how height to compensate.

[seaj]

BuildMyLED does also sell dimmer switches for extra. You also get to pick the angle of the LEDs on the fixture as well.

The Finnex FugeRay is another quality aquarium light from what I've heard. I wanted one, until I was told that the no pet policy here even included fish.