The obvious question about LED grow light bulbs is how can LED be both a diode and a bulb? The answer is simple. The LED “bulb” is simply a conversion for LED use through traditional bulb formats. LED grow light bulbs use the same light emitting diodes that a bar or panel LED system would use but formatted to fit either a typical Edison thread or as a fluorescent bulb replacement.

What Are Advantages of Using LED Bulbs?

An LED lighting system in a bulb format enables you to do a quick and inexpensive upgrade to an existing traditional lighting system. A grower can simply replace an Edison thread HPS/MH or a fluorescent bulb with LED technology. This enables the indoor grower to utilize both upgraded LED technology and their existing grow light system.

There Are Drawbacks of Using LED Bulbs

In most cases using the LED bulb over an LED grow lighting system itself is that you’re going to be restricted in the available wattage. In other words, there isn’t the wide selection of wattage available in bulb format as with conventional LED grow lights. These bulbs are going to be mostly a lower wattage LED system which is fine for a small grow room but not for full use on any large scale operation. Some of these bulbs are great for tent use with cloning and seedlings but aren’t going to generate the spectrum or wattage for mature plant growth.

When used in combination some other of the types LED grow light bulbs will work well for mature plants but you want to be careful that they’re producing the spectrum for your type of grow. A blue spectrum is more desirable for veg growth while the red is preferred for the blooming stages.

The Final Verdict On LED Bulbs

LED grow light bulbs are a great introduction to the technology and excellent for an inexpensive upgrade to an existing system as well as supplementing other types of lighting like HPS Grow Lights or CMH Grow Lights but they are not a long-term replacement for a quality LED grow light system.