Trouble reading today's article? Click
here: Issue #308 - Sunday, March 11, 2018
Dear Fellow Grower,
In today's issue... - What are "LEC" grow lights and how good are they when it comes to growing cannabis? Find out below!
- Are LECs a threat to the
current grow light heavy-hitters like LEDs, and HPS'? Good question...
- A grower sent in a picture of a huge handful of bud. Awwwww, I guess it's actually an armful because he's holding the bud like a it's a
baby!
Nebula Haze & Sirius Fourside (founders of GrowWeedEasy.com) "Every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into an innovation."
~Dean Kamen
Are "LEC" Grow Lights Good
for Growing Cannabis? by Nebula Haze |
What is an LEC grow light? The first time I saw one of these labeled as an "LEC grow light" was in a hydroponic grow store in late 2015.
At the time, the clerk at the store told me that LEC stands for "Light Emitting Ceramic" but even
the clerk wasn't exactly sure what allegedly made it better than other grow lights. However, he told me that LECs were far better than any LED grow lights and that LEC grow lights were going to be the wave of the future!
Talk about piquing my interest!
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What is an LEC grow light?
LEC grow lights operate a lot like regular metal halide (MH) grow lights except instead of using quartz they use a ceramic arc
tube, very similar to what's used in HPS grow lights. This is why they're often called "ceramic metal halides", and they have some distinct advantages! Compared to regular MH bulbs, LEC lights give off a more natural color, produce more light per watt, and last longer.
I know it can be confusing but I'll try to help clear up all the terms that talk about Ceramic Metal Halide grow lights for growing
cannabis:
- Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) - Metal Halide light that uses a ceramic arc tube
- Ceramic Discharge Metal Halide (CDM) - Different term for the same technology
- Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC) grow
light - "LEC" is a brand name (trademark) for a model of grow light that uses ceramic metal halide technology. However, the term "LEC" is starting to become interchangeable with the term Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) since they're both referring to the same technology.
It's more common to see these called CMH grow lights, but LEC is starting to become a lot more popular, probably because it's reminiscent of "LED" grow lights which have
been hailed as the grow light of the future, until now!
"LEC" and "CMH" both refer to Ceramic Metal Halide grow lights.
The LEC 315 model is currently the
most common size LEC grow light and yields about 4-9 ounces on average. 315W LEC grow lights are kept about 18" from the tops of plants. This style of grow light is becoming increasingly popular for indoor marijuana growers. When it comes to growing cannabis, what advantages do LEC grow lights have over traditional grow lights?
- Ceramic metal halide lights produce UV-B rays, like the sun. This may be contributing to increased trichome development and smell in cannabis buds grown under LECs. However, UV-B rays get blocked by glass, so there needs to be a clear path between the plant and the light for this to be effective. Also, always wear protective glasses that block UV light so you don't damage your
eyes!
- LECs produce a natural spectrum of light that lets you see your plants in full color. Unlike grow lights which produce purple (LED) or yellow (HPS) light, the light from an LEC won't distort the color of your plants. Not only is it just plain nice to be able to really see your garden in all its vibrancy, having natural colored light also makes it a
lot easier to diagnose problems which can sometimes go unnoticed under unnatural colored grow lights. An LEC is also much less suspicious looking if light accidentally spills out a window.
- Many LEC grow light
models come with a built-in ballast which makes them "plug-and-play" (you plug the light directly into the wall) like an LED, as opposed to most HID grow lights which need a separate ballast.
- LEC bulbs last longer and keep their brightness for longer than regular MH grow lights, so bulbs don't need to be replaced as often.
Increased trichome production under LEC Grow Lights
What disadvantages do LEC grow lights have over traditional grow lights?
- Unfortunately, LEC grow lights don't quite get the same yields as HPS grow lights of similar wattage. However, they do get significantly higher yields than a
similar wattage Metal Halide bulb would get in the flowering stage, but also with all the added benefits as stated in this article!
- Price - As of now, LEC grow lights have a pretty high cost, starting around $500 for the smallest size.
Another example of LEC-grown cannabis buds -
sparkly!
Quick Reference for Grow Light Efficiency
(how much light produced initially compared to electricity for the most common cannabis grow lights)
- CFLs - 50-70 lumens/watt
- Standard
MH - 80-90 lumens/watt
- CMH / LEC - 90-105 lumens/watt
- HPS - 105-150 lumens/watt
- LED (unfortunately lumens aren't a good measure of LED brightness)
LEC Grow Lights Produce UV-B Light
On the spectrum of light, UV-B is below blue/violet (that's why it's called "ultra-violet") and outside of our range of vision. However, even though we can't see UV-B light, it still has a big effect on both humans and plants! But it's not just any kind of light, UV-B light is bad for humans (we use sunscreen to protect ourselves from UV light from the sun) and can actually hurt plants, too. In fact, we believe trichomes may help protect the plant from
UV-B rays, kind of like how humans get a tan.
This could be why increasing UV-B exposure seems to increase trichome production. However, because of the danger of UV-B light, always make sure to protect yourself and your skin from exposure and never look directly at the light! It's a great idea to always wear protective glasses that block UV light so you don't damage your eyes.
Supplementing your flowering plant with UV-B light using LEC grow lights may increase potency and smell production by triggering a natural stress
response!
However, glass blocks UV-B light, so if using an LEC grow light, you will get the best results by making sure there is a clear path from the light to your plants!
Learn more about...
LED vs LEC vs HID grow lights |
Now that we've gotten better acquainted with the LEC grow light, a nagging question remains...
Can LECs compete with LEDs and HIDs as the grow light of the
future?
Unfortunately the jury is still out, but growers are testing out the technology as we speak! Until then we have to decide for ourselves based on what we know!
What type of grow light reigns supreme in your opinion? Let us know! |
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I'll be honest with you, when I first started growing, I struggled. Now, it is my mission to
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Sirius Fourside:
Sirius Fourside is a hobbyist grower who has gained the bulk of his experience growing in water as a medium (deep water culture, bubbleponics).
"Growing cannabis can be a relaxing hobby in and of itself, but it also saves you money and keeps you from having to deal with shady characters. Cannabis is much easier to grow than people give it credit for, and growing in water
doesn't increase the difficulty much, if any. But whether you want to grow in water, coco, or a different medium, we'll show you how easy it can be!"
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