If you are going to invest in LED growing lights, do your research before you buy.

LED grow lights have become increasingly popular, creating a surge in the market. This has led the way for cheap imitations from China that don’t provide the same sustainable quality as other LED lights. If a price tag seems too good to be true, it usually is. When it comes to LED growing lights, you get what you pay for.

LED technology takes some initial investment. Recent technological advancements have brought down some of the prices, making some smaller LED lights as cheap as $50 to $100. This is considerably more expensive than a CFL Grow Light which is usually only a couple dollars a bulb, but becomes all the more economical when you consider how long-lasting LED can be. A typical LED light lasts 10 times as long as a fluorescent light, as long as 20 years even if it is used every day. These lights will keep shining long after the fluorescents have burned themselves into the ground. They are a benefit to the environment, as well as your indoor garden as they probably won’t ever need to be replaced. The high initial cost may not be for everybody, but if you are planning to grow an indoor garden for more than a season or two, the investment can pay off in the long term.

There are a wide variety of wattages available depending on your needs. Keep in mind that LED lights are 85 percent more efficient than HPS Grow lights, so even a light of relatively low wattage can deliver high performance. LED light has an optimal frequency for growing. The wavelengths of LED light are the same frequency of light that plants use for photosynthesis. The light is completely absorbed by the plant for maximum enrichment. While only a portion of fluorescent lights can be absorbed by the plant, the entire spectrum of the LED light is instilled in the plant for a strong vitality.

Avoid cheap imitations. LED grow lighting is an investment, and you want to be sure you are buying top quality for your money. The investment needs to be weighed with the benefits. LED will last considerably longer, never having to be replaced in most cases, and they use a fraction of the energy. If you are going to be growing vegetables for more than a few seasons, it’s probably worth investing in LED lighting technology.