Do Grow Lights Produce Heat? | If So, Does it Matter and What to Do About it?

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Do Grow Lights Produce Heat? | If So, Does it Matter and What to Do About it?

by Morgan

Last update:

August 29, 2023

How To Choose The Right Lighting For Your Marijuana Grow Room

Grow lights provide indoor plants with the light they need to grow. But do these lights also produce heat?

The answer is yes, grow lights can produce heat. However, the amount of heat produced will depend on the type of light being used. For example, incandescent bulbs tend to have more heat than LED light bulbs.

So, if you're using grow lights to grow your plants indoors, keep an eye on the temperature. If it gets too hot, you may need to adjust the LED lights or take other measures to keep your plants healthy.

🌿  Join my "growing" community 
of 5000+ happy
cannabis farmers! 👩‍🌾

Receive my weekly articles in marijuana growing,
from seeds to smoke! 
— Morgan, 420GreenThumb 🌱


How Much Heat Does a Grow Lights Produce?

Grow light produces heat more than the traditional lighting technology, especially if they are left on for a long time. It's essential to monitor the temperature carefully when using grow lights. If the temperature gets too high, you may need to adjust the lights or take other measures to keep your plants healthy.

Types Of Grow Lights and How Much Heat They Produce

There are many different kinds of grow lights available for indoor growers. The type of light you choose will determine how much heat is produced. Discussed below are the most commonly used types by indoor growers ;

  • LED grow lights are becoming increasingly popular due to their low heat output and high efficiency. LED grow lights work with less energy as LED bulbs produce very little heat, making them a good choice for growers who want to avoid overheating their plants.
  • Fluorescent lights produce less heat than incandescent bulbs but more heat than LED generates heat. Fluorescent bulbs are a good option for growers who want to provide their plants with bright light without generating too much heat.
  • Incandescent lights: These produce the most heat of any grow light. If you're using incandescent bulbs, carefully monitor the temperature to avoid overheating your plants.
  • Halogen grows lights produce less heat than incandescent bulbs but more heat than LED and fluorescent bulbs. Halogen bulbs are a good option for growers who want to provide their plants with bright light without generating too much heat.

What To Do If Your Grow Lights Are Producing Too Much Heat

If your grow lights are making too much heat, you can do a few things to cool things down. First, try moving the lights further away from the plants to help reduce the amount of heat generated.

You can also try using a fan to circulate the air around the plants. It will help dissipate the heat and keep the plants from getting too hot. Finally, if all else fails, you can always turn off the lights for a short period to allow the plants to cool down.

Monitoring the Temperature When Using Grow Lights

As mentioned above, it's essential to monitor the temperature carefully when using grow lights. If the temperature gets too high, you may need to adjust the LED  lights or take other measures to keep your plants healthy.

There are many different ways to monitor the temperature, as discussed below.

  1. A thermometer- This is the simplest and most direct way to monitor the temperature. You can use a digital or analog thermometer to take readings.
  2. A temperature controller- This is a more sophisticated way to monitor the temperature. A temperature controller will turn the lights off automatically if the temperature gets too high.
  3. A heat sensor- This is another way to monitor the temperature. A heat sensor will alert you if the temperature gets too high.

Monitoring the temperature is essential when using grow lights because it can help you prevent your plants from getting too hot. If the plants get too hot, they may suffer from damage or even death.

measuring temperature for marijuana geowing

How Does the Heat Produced by The Grow Lights Help the Plants?

While too much heat can be harmful to plants, the right amount of heat can be beneficial. The heat produced by grow lights can help plants grow faster and produce more fruit.

The heat produced by lights also helps to keep the air around the plants warm. It's important because plants need warm air to photosynthesize. If the air is too cold, the plants will not be able to photosynthesize appropriately, and they will not grow as well.

So, while too much heat can be harmful to plants, the right amount of heat can be beneficial. Be sure to monitor the temperature carefully when using grow lights so that you do not overheat your plants.

Below are the Benefits;

  • Helps plants grow faster
  • Produces more fruit
  • Helps to keep the air around the plants warm
  • Increases photosynthesis

What Too Much Heat Will Do to Your Crops

  • Can cause the leaves to turn yellow or brown
  • Can cause the flowers to fall off
  • Can kill the plants
  • Reduces photosynthesis
  • Reduces plant growth

From the above, we can see that heat has more cons than benefits, and thus it's essential to have the grow lights that produce light and heat at a distance from the plants and have a temperature sensor to help monitor the temperature. You should also have a fan to help with air circulation. If the temperature gets too high, you may need to turn off the lights for a short period to allow the plants to cool down.


Growing Plants at The Optimal Temperature LED Grow Lights

The ideal temperature is between 68- and 77-degrees Fahrenheit. It's the optimal range for photosynthesis.

The plants will stop photosynthesizing and wilt if the temperature gets too high. If the temperature gets too low, the plants will not be able to photosynthesize appropriately, and they will not grow as well.

So, it's essential to keep the temperature in this range if you want your plants to grow well. There are a few ways to do this, as discussed below.

Managing Indoor Grow Room Heat with Air Conditioning

You can do a few things to avoid overheating when using grow lights. First, try moving the LED lights further away from the plants to reduce the amount of heat generated.

  1. Using Fans- One way to use fans is to manage and cool the heat from the lights. You can use a fan to circulate the air around the room and help keep the plants cool. You can also use a fan to blow the hot air out of the room. It will help to keep the temperature down in the room.
  2. Install an air conditioner- If you find that the temperature in the room is getting too high, you may need to install an air conditioner. It will help keep the temperature down and protect your plants from overheating.
  3. Ensure Adequate Ventilation- Proper ventilation is essential when using grow lights. It would be best to ensure that the room has enough ventilation so that the hot air can escape. If the room does not have enough ventilation, the temperature will worsen, and the plants will suffer.
  4. Install the LED lights away from the plants- You should also try to install the lights away from the plants. It will help to reduce the amount of heat that is being generated reaching the plants.

Which One Is the Best for Your Plants?

The answer to this question depends on a few things. First, you need to decide what type of plant you are growing. If you are growing heat-sensitive plants, you will want to choose a grow light that does not produce much heat.

If you are growing plants that do not require much light, you can choose a grow light that uses less energy and produces less heat. However, if you are growing plants that need a lot of light, you will want to choose a grow light that produces more LED light.

Second, you need to decide how much heat you are willing to tolerate in your grow room. If you can handle a little bit of heat, you can choose a grow light that uses less energy and produces less heat. However, if you cannot tolerate any heat, you will want to choose a grow light that uses more energy and produces more heat.

Finally, you need to decide what type of plants you are growing. If you are growing heat-sensitive plants, you will want to choose a grow light that does not produce much heat. However, if you grow plants that do not require much light, you can choose a grow light that uses less energy and produces less heat.

growing plants indoors

FAQs

Will Grow Lights Heat a Greenhouse?

No, grow lights will not heat a greenhouse. However, if you use HID lights, you may need to use fans or an air conditioner to keep the temperature down.

Does LED Grow Lights Produce Heat?

The LED lights produce some heat, but they do not produce as much heat as HID grow lights. It makes them a good choice for growing plants indoors.

Do T5 Grow Lights Produce Heat?

T5 grow lights produce some heat, but they do not produce as much heat as HID or LED grow lights. It makes them a good choice for growing plants that do not require a lot of light heat production.

Do I Need to Water My Plants More If I Use Grow Lights That Produce Heat?

You do not need to water your plants more if you use lights. However, if you use HID lights, you may need a fan or an air conditioner to keep the temperature down.

Do I Need to Use a Timer with My Grow Lights?

You do not need to use a timer with your grow lights. However, if you use HID grow lights, you may need a fan or an air conditioner to keep the temperature down.

marijuana growing

Grow lights can produce heat, be careful!

Grow lights can produce a lot of heat, but there are ways to manage the heat. When choosing a grow light, you need to decide what type of plant you are growing and how much heat you are willing to tolerate. If you are growing heat-sensitive plants, you will want to choose a grow light that does not produce much heat.

However, if you grow plants that do not require much LED light, you can choose a grow light that uses less energy and produces less heat. We have got you covered to know more about heat produced by grow lights or other insights about growing plants such as cannabis at 420 Green Thumb. Please browse our website for more information.

🌿  Join my "growing" community 
of 5000+ happy
cannabis farmers! 👩‍🌾

Receive my weekly articles in marijuana growing,
from seeds to smoke! 
— Morgan, 420GreenThumb 🌱

Related posts

About the author 

Morgan

I discovered the benefits of Cannabis at a young age in 2002, with years of trial and error, my knowledge grew just like my plants. As my love for cannabis unfolded I began to teach and learn, trying to gain as much information and practical growing experience.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}
>