Frequently
asked questions

At ALDgreen, we are fortunate to work with some of the agriculture industry’s leading cultivation facilities - both indoor and mixed light, where the focus is always how can we best deliver efficacious light that will maximize yields. Our success with cannabis growers stems from ongoing in-depth lighting research to include key factors. These include spectrum, intensity, cooling, infrastructure, electrical distribution, and more.

Below are some frequent questions related to cannabis LED grow lighting. Whether your goal is to maximize yield, improve flower, increase THC, terpenes and flavonoid results, or improve on reducing cost per gram to produce -  we are available to help.

ALD has conducted many year-long high intensity light studies using different lighting intensities and diodes as well as varying spectrums using multiple different growing areas of canopy space. Working with both commercial growers and academia, our findings prove that spectrum plays a huge role in plant morphology, while intensity plays a huge role in photosynthesis. Further, there is a direct correlation of the impact on flower yields and terpene content that can be accounted for based on light intensities and spectrums. ALD’s core competency is developing high intensity lighting technology that delivers the downstream grow performance results that premium growers seek.

Without a doubt, one of the key benefits of switching to LED fixtures is cost savings. With a keen focus on further driving improved operating efficiencies, replacing a 1,000-watt fixture with a 300-watt LED can sound like an easy decision, especially given that lower power consumption means lower monthly electric bills, with the savings going straight to the bottom line.

What you will want to be aware of however, is that a 300-watt LED is not likely to produce the plant’s much desired higher light intensity even though the plant is likely to tolerate this level of light throughout its growth cycle – this is to say that with a 300-watt LED you are not likely to achieve optimum yields in flower that one might expect in replacing a 1000-watt fixture.

So instead of trying to simply replicate the 1,000-watt HPS fixture with a lower wattage LED, growers should instead be focusing their attention on choosing an LED with wattage that will assure a level that meets an optimal targeted PPFD. For example, a mixed light environment may benefit greatly towards achieving 400+ μmol utilizing a 600-watt LED, as the LED is providing supplemental light. Or an indoor grow environment might need an 800-watt LED light intensity to deliver a targeted PPFD. Maximizing growth in each stage remains of key importance, while the extra power consumption costs are key to reducing operational costs yet those will argue these costs can be outweighed by the extra dried flower yields, and ultimately, revenue.

These are all areas of concern and merit discussion around how best to meet your objectives. We suggest you reach out to us at ALD…just call us or email to schedule a time – we’ll be happy to review your project and help determine the most cost-effective options.

Most growers have formulas for nutrients and irrigation. However, far fewer follow a lighting formula. Light is the plant’s primary energy source, so it is critically important that growers devote more research towards developing and determining optimal lighting conditions throughout their grow cycles.

ALD regularly assists cultivators how to best design lighting layouts within each specific growing environment for optimum performance and lighting levels. We prefer to collaborate with clients early on to identify critical variables that lead to high performance metrics such as yield, terpenes and potency.

Cannabis cultivation is a multi-variable equation. You cannot simply change X and expect Y without impacting Z. Very few agricultural products are as meticulous or delicate when it comes to setting optimal growing conditions for the highest quality product. While lighting is a massively important variable, it is far from the only one.

If you are considering making lighting changes, especially in your prime cultivation space where premium product is destined for sale, it is best to make slow, incremental changes with R&D-dedicated plants and closely observe the results. Based on ALD’s lighting research trials, we’ve determined that small changes in lighting variables can lead to some pretty dramatic changes—both positive and negative—in both yield and plant characteristics, as well as nutrient deficiencies, humidity and more. While some results become apparent overnight, others take a full harvest cycle or even multiple cycles to confirm.