Sorry, but I don't have any answers for you... I am, however, also wondering the same thing. I feel like I should be buying some grow lights soon...? And I also feel like LED's are the way to go right now.

The issue with the lights you've linked to is poor coverage area. The beauty of a shop light set up is that you can cover a wider area and allow you to keep a bigger selection of cacti. Now granted the set up is not very pretty and space can be an issue.

When looking at the lights you've linked to I can see the coverage area is really poor. How many of your plants would you be able to fit under those lights? If you only have a handful of plants it can be done. If you have more you'll need an LED set up similar to setting up T5 lights under a shop lighting system.

sevenatenine

I recommend these lamps for succulents except for variegated ones. Although from a biological point of view the described results of their exposure are simply absurd.

Oksana.

I don't know if it this is an optimal set up for the $$, but i bought 4' lo g LED shop lights from Costco, on sale this past week for under 25$ if I remember correctly.

The brand is 'Feit', and I've seen similar, though higher priced at Walmart & BJ's.

I guess time will tell :)

Only took about 2 weeks of poor lighting (indoor natural, no supplemental) for my plants to begin to etiolate :/

I'm out of the house right now, waiting on a tow truck =P but when i get back, i'll post wattage, usage, etc.

I think i still have one of the boxes.

hookilau

It could have been a 'lemon', but I bought the same from Costco and one of the bulbs died within 1 season. Will not buy them any more - I am better off sticking with CFL bulbs (6500K) which I have been using for 3 winters...

Rina

I already wrote that white LEDs are not suitable for plants at all. Only red and blue phyto-LEDs. Russia is a zone of risky agriculture. So we have to study deeply the effect of different lights on the growth of different plants.

Oksana

Oksana

Thank you. I know you are knowledgeable about this subject. Always read your posts. I do not have LEDs, but will - one day :)

Oksana, can you tell me what happens with white LED's please?

hookilau

light spectra of the all white leds show they contains many green light. As you know the green light is reflected by leaves and not involved in photosynthesis

Rina

I am very satisfied with my led-fixture. And I'm glad you have the opportunity to have such fixtures )

Wish i was aware of that before I bought the lights :(

Thanks for the responses.

I guess something like this is more effective than the LED
bulbs.https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904296-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B00AKKUBDQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477444134&sr=8-1&keywords=SunBlaster+Nanotech+T5+HO+Lamp

Those T5HO's are what I'm using. They work quite well and are around $40 each here for the 4ft fixtures.

Heard good things about the Mars Hydro LED panels, but they are so expensive that I haven't dared experiment with them.

Also seen the retrofit bulbs at Costco... I'm a bit curious on the spectrum and actual output. But I've been so happy with my current setup it's hard to justify a change (even if I was going to put the LED tubes in my kitchen).

sevenatenine

believe me, leds are better and greener any CFL and LFL. But it's necessary to choose carefully the spectrum of light. Because different plants need in different spectra. Lamps on your first link are good for most succulents but not suitable for Crassula 'Coral' for example.

LED's are generally better, but they're not all equal.

Kevin if you're looking to experiment I found this for about $70.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mars-300W-LED-Grow-Light-Full-Spectrum-Hydro-Veg-Flower-Indoor-Plant-Lamp-140W-/291666162702?hash=item43e8a8740e:g:ZmIAAOSwTA9X6kg4

People who seem to understand supplemental lighting best are those in the cannabis community, they are continually applying new technology and experimenting w/ their grows. Many are abandoning mars LED's (from what I've read) for do it yourself COB builds which are amazing (and a bit pricey). Included a picture as an example.

Oksana I have to disagree with you that only blue and red LED's are suitable for plants. While we focus on the two most utilized colors blue for growth and red for flowering (im over simplifying), other colors while they might not appear to be as critical in our understanding of plant processes surely they have a purpose as we havent developed grow lights with the same benefits and quality as natural sunlight.

Reading up on this in a moderate fashion, yes, our weed growing brethren seem to have the concepts on lock :D

I gave up after a while to et things settle in the ol' noggin before pressing forward .

If i remember correctly, i chose the Feit lighs because it's output was 4700 lumens. i think I read somewhere that btw. 3500 & 6500 was optimal.

I'm merely looking to prevent etiolation until next March, as opposed to producing a crop.

To this end I'm hoping i can make it through with the bank of LED's I've set up.

I see my bluer succulents ave taken on a pink tinge to the tips of leaves & all are turning heir faces up to light source.

If they should start to take a turn , i guess i'll just go back to CFL, but was sure hopingnot to =)

Minty - COB are definitely the way to go. I suppose I have enough expertise to assemble something like that, but haven't yet felt inspired to take such a project underway.

Hookilau - The more lumens you can get the better. Each light of mine is 4860 lumens, but they are 54W versus 42W. Overall the lumens/watt is similar.

MintyLemonade

reread my posts above please. Is cannabis a succulent? Do you distinguish full-spectrum leds from special ones for succulents? I didn't recommend full-spectrum for succulents but i use it for my peppers and Crassula 'Coral' ('skinny fingers'). And I prefer to get pleasure from my hobby, opera and ballet, from reading, I enjoy nature walks, but no from cannabis.

hookilau

in a case with the leds for succulents a lumen quantity is not important. Their spectrum is more important. Especially if your plants don't grow in a grow-boxes, and grow on the windowsill. My fixtures are up to 12W on 1 m * 0.2 m but this wattage a lot for variegated Jades.