Vertical farming is becoming exceedingly popular today than it was a couple of years back. One of the main reasons for the popularity is the introduction of highly advanced vertical LED grow light technology that creates the perfect growing environment for the crops. The advanced technology has seen the rise of large-scale vertical faring with higher yields from much shorter growing cycles.
Many indoor farmers are also converting traditional lighting systems to advanced LED grow technology. However, the price tag of some of the LED lighting sources might put off some of the farmers that would want to upgrade, but that could be because they do not know that the benefits of vertical grow lights adaption outweigh the initial costs of purchasing the systems. What role do vertical grow lights play in indoor farming?
The Benefits of Using Vertical Grow Lights
Vertical farming is a modern way of indoor farming that uses Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technology. The primary purpose of vertical farming is to use the limited space available and maximize yields with the help of CEA. The aim is to control humidity, temperature, gases, and light artificially to provide the indoor crops with the best growing environment.
Vertical farming is not different from greenhouse gardening that uses artificial lighting and metal reflectors to augment the sun’s natural light. Hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics are the three most popular vertical growing mediums, and one of their main requirements is natural light. Since they grow indoors, exposure to natural sunlight at all times is impossible.
Vertical farmers are, however, taking a step further and adapting the use of LED vertical grow light technology specially designed for the style of farming. The lights mimic the natural sunlight; ensuring crops get what they require. Moreover, the light system provides lighting day and night, meaning the crops continue growing, thus shortening the cycle.
Benefits derived from using vertical grow lights include:
1. Provide natural-like sunlight
Vertical farming involves growing crops in stacked towers and layers to maximize space. Maintaining natural lighting for this type of structure is not easy. Farmers combine vertical grow lights with natural sunlight to improve the efficiency of lighting. LED grow lights distribute lighting evenly across all the crops, ensuring consistent growth with maximum yields.
2. Cuts down on energy costs
Using traditional lighting houses in vertical farming accelerates energy consumption leading to high electricity bills. Vertical LED grow lights consume less wattage and deliver more PAR per watt of electricity to the plants. LED grow lights also emit less heat, which is another reason for high-energy consumption. LEDs, unlike HID bulbs and other traditional lighting systems, do not burn to produce heat.
3. Provides crops with full-spectrum lighting with even coverage
The best vertical grow lights provide crops with the exact light they need and nothing beyond that. The lights come with control options that allow you to provide the crops with the specific wavelength they need in their particular growth stage. Furthermore, the LED grow lights produce full-spectrum light that offers full coverage for the crops at every stage of their growth.
4. Healthier and happier Plants
Plants with dried-up and burn leaves look sad and unhealthy. Furthermore, the burn and dry look are all symptoms of lacking enough variable light. LED grow lights do not emit IR and UV rays that are counterproductive to crops. Instead, they produce light with limited harmful wavelengths and heat, thus ensuring healthier and happier plants.
Wrapping it up
Vertical LED grow lights are the future of vertical farming. Even though they might come with a few drawbacks, the benefits outweigh them that it is almost impossible to realize any negatives.
The only disadvantage of changing to the highly efficient vertical grow lights is their high cost, which you acknowledge as cheaper than the traditional lights after using them. The best part is that LEDs are environmentally friendly, so you do not have to worry about any toxic substances affecting your crops.
