Under-Canopy LEDs: Are They Worth the Investment?

Many growers constantly seek new methods to boost their yields and improve crop quality. As lighting technology evolves, you might be asking yourself about new techniques like supplemental lighting.

This brings up an important question for both hobbyists and commercial cultivators. Are under-canopy LEDs worth the investment? This blog will explore how this supplemental lighting strategy works and its pros and cons, helping you decide whether it’s the right choice for your indoor garden.

What Is Under-Canopy Lighting?

If you’re unfamiliar with under-canopy lighting, it delivers supplemental light to the lower sections of plants. These systems use LED bars or strips installed beneath or within the plant canopy, providing targeted illumination to areas that traditional overhead lights cannot reach.

What Are the Advantages of Using Under-Canopy LEDs?

Adding under-canopy LEDs to your setup unlocks unique advantages. These systems have the potential to transform your grow operation in several key ways by ensuring no part of your plant gets left in the shadows.

Increased Yields

One advantage of under-canopy LEDs is that they ensure lower bud sites on cannabis plants and developing vegetables receive the direct light needed to reach their full potential. This targeted illumination encourages denser growth.

With extra light reaching every productive node, you extend the active growth area on each plant, maximizing every square inch of your canopy. Growers also notice more consistent yields from one harvest to the next.

Better Crops

By extending quality light to the lower canopy, you help all parts of the plant produce high-quality flowers and fruits. Expect better cannabinoid and terpene production in cannabis, along with richer flavors and improved nutritional value for vegetables.

More Uniform Ripening

This targeted illumination promotes more even ripening. For example, tomatoes ripen more uniformly, resulting in a more attractive and marketable product. At the same time, you’ll notice a higher fruit set on lower branches that would typically be underdeveloped or missed. In vertical farms, under-canopy lighting enables every tier—top to bottom—to mature properly, resulting in faster growth cycles and more consistent quality across the entire crop.

Reduced Risk of Mold

Delivering extra light to the lower canopy promotes a drier microclimate underneath the dense foliage. This change helps lower humidity around stems and leaves, reducing the risk of mold and mildew.

LED bars installed low in the canopy help discourage fungal growth, so you avoid common headaches like bud rot and leaf spot that often thrive in shadowed, moist areas. A well-lit lower canopy means fewer lost harvests and less time spent battling diseases with treatments or environmental adjustments.

What Are the Disadvantages of Using Under-Canopy LEDs?

Although we have seen that under-canopy LEDs offer great benefits, growers should be aware of some drawbacks before investing. Understanding these challenges helps you make better decisions for your operation.

A Substantial Initial Investment

Adding under-canopy LEDs requires an extra investment beyond your main lighting setup. You’ll need to budget for high-quality, durable LED bars that can handle the unique environment beneath the canopy.

The upfront cost may seem high, especially if you’re running a small space or just starting out. However, you should weigh this investment against the potential for dramatically larger harvests over time. Growers often find that the lights pay for themselves within a few cycles.

Heat Management

Even efficient LEDs put out some heat, especially when you cluster them within the canopy. Without good airflow and extra cooling, this added heat can strain your plants and disrupt your environment. Grow rooms that already run warm may require upgrades to ventilation or air conditioning when under-canopy bars are added.

If your airflow is restricted, hot spots can develop, stressing plants or leading to poor growth. Careful canopy management and routine monitoring will help catch any temperature spikes and keep your environment dialed in for peak plant performance.

Increased Setup Complexity

More lights mean more wires, more mounting steps, and a greater need for careful positioning. Managing multiple fixtures within your canopy increases complexity, requiring more time and attention to detail. You’ll need a plan for routing power cables safely and adjusting bar height as your plants grow.

More Ongoing Maintenance

Extra lighting also brings more maintenance chores, from cleaning fixtures to adjusting height and direction as your plants grow. Keeping LEDs dust-free and correctly oriented is essential to delivering even results across the whole canopy.

If your garden runs on automation and you prefer minimal hands-on intervention, consider whether you’re willing to adjust the lights’ positions or clean the fixtures periodically. Although the effort pays off in health and yield, those extra steps may not be for everyone.

What Should I Look for in Under-Canopy LED Lights?

If you’ve decided that under-canopy LEDs are worth the investment, choosing the best products will make all the difference in your satisfaction. Focus on lights that offer superior design, safety, and performance to maximize results and protect your plants.

Slim, Low-Profile Design

Look for LED bars that are slim and compact. This style fits easily between the branches without blocking air circulation or crowding your grow space. A slim profile helps you easily maneuver the lights as your plants develop and gives you flexibility in placing fixtures exactly where extra light is most needed without interfering with routine plant care.

Durability and Water Resistance

Select fixtures that carry a minimum rating of IP65. A higher waterproof or water-resistant rating keeps your lights safe from splashes and humid conditions common beneath dense canopies. Since the lower canopy regularly experiences exposure to watering and has higher humidity, investing in rugged, sealed fixtures protects your lighting investment and prevents electrical hazards.

Optimal Light Spectrum

Consider LEDs that offer a balanced, full-spectrum light or that emphasize red and far-red wavelengths. These specific light spectrums drive more robust flowering and fruiting in both cannabis and vegetable crops.

Full-spectrum LEDs mimic natural sunlight, ensuring every leaf gets a wavelength mix that supports healthy, consistent growth from top to bottom. If you’re looking for peak harvests during the flowering or fruiting stage, opt for fixtures with enhanced red and far-red output to trigger bigger buds and fruits.

Easy Installation and Versatility

Choose fixtures with flexible mounting options and straightforward installation. This lets you fine-tune your setup and move lights as your plants grow taller or wider. Look for bars with magnetic, clip-on, or adjustable bracket systems for hassle-free customization. The easier it is to adapt your lighting as the canopy changes, the better results you’ll see from one crop to the next.

For growers aiming for top-tier results, this supplemental lighting is a worthwhile consideration. Under-canopy LEDs offer a solid path to higher yields, uniform ripening, better quality, and an efficient use of space.

If you’re ready to take your growing operation to the next level, contact LED Grow Lights today. We offer an excellent selection of high-quality vegetable grow lights to help you grow strong crops.