SolarOasis LED Grow Lights Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does the Lumen output of the SolarOasis Ruby Grow Light compare to other grow lights?

Lumens and Lux are measurements of how bright a light source appears to the human eye. Since the human eye is most sensitive to colors plants don't need, and least sensitive to colors plants prefer, Lumens can't be used to accurately compare the plant growing capability of grow lights. If a grow light manufacturer rates his grow light output in Lumens he's only telling you how bright his grow light will appear to you and light your room, not how well it will grow your plant.

The most accurate unit of measurement for comparing grow lights is the microEinstein, which measures how many photons of light strike an area per second. But while this is a much better way to estimate a lamp's plant growing ability than Lumens or Lux, it is still very difficult to directly compare two different types of grow lights. All grow lights except the SolarOasis Ruby Grow Light emit large amounts of light plants don't use very efficiently, so including that light output in a light's plant growing measurement is misleading.

How many lights will I need for my plants?

That depends on the size of your plant. Each Ruby Gro-Bar produces the equivalent light energy of 100-125 watts of HID type lighting. For typical plant growing needs, a single Gro-Bar will cover an approximate area of 1′ x 3′ in size when hung at the recommended height of 14″ - 18″ above your plant tops.

There are several issues to consider in determining lighting needs. Please feel free to contact us if you are considering purchasing multiple lights. This way, we can provide you with information specific to your growing needs so you can achieve optimal lighting in the most cost effective manner.

How warm should I keep my plant growing area?

The energy efficient SolarOasis Ruby Gro-Bar will not heat your growing area like traditional grow lighting products. In cooler weather you may need to compensate for this by raising the temperature of your growing area to between 70°F and 80°F if you wish to accelerate the rate of plant growth. If you can, monitor the temperature of your plant's root zone as this can also affect the rate of plant growth.

Should I water my plants differently when using the Ruby Gro-Bar?

Absolutely! Plants grown under the Gro-Bar plant lighting system use much less water than those grown under conventional (i.e., HOT!) grow lights, and so need to be watered less frequently. Be very careful not to overwater your plants, and check to see that the media is drying a bit before watering them again. The time between watering will vary with plant species. Overwatering will slow root development, stunt plant growth, and cause nutrient uptake issues.

How often and how much should I fertilize?

Your plants will need fewer nutrients when grown under the Ruby Gro-Bar. Start with a lower amount of nutrient, approximately half of the amount recommended by the manufacturer.

My plants aren't flowering like I expected. What can I do?

SolarOasis plant grow lighting is very gentle to your plants. In some cases you may need to introduce some stress to help your plants bloom. For example, turn your lights on for fewer hours each day, or allow your plants to dry out a little more than usual between watering cycles.

If your plants are grown indoors without supplemental light, some plants such as tomatoes, may benefit from the addition of a single 60 watt light places anywhere in the room with the plants. This provides a small amount of invisible infrared light, which some plants find beneficial.

How long should I operate my lights each day?

Remember, most plants need to sleep just like we do, except plants prefer that the room be totally dark at night. Check on the Internet or with a local nursery to find out the preferred light/dark period for the plants that you'll be growing.

Is it safe to look at the lights in a Gro-Bar?

The light emitting diodes (LEDs) used in this product are very high intensity. Never look directly into the light at a close distance, or for long periods of time.

Are there any special considerations for commercial growers?

In commercial growing, monitor your CO₂ levels. LED lights emit a large amount of absorbed light, which may require slight augmentation of CO₂ levels (300-500 ppm).

It looks like one of the LEDs in each cluster isn't working. Is this normal?

If you're using the professional type light bar (Model GBP) you may notice that one of the LEDs in each light cluster appears to not be lit. This is perfectly normal for this advanced product. Light comes in many flavors called wavelengths. People can only see a very narrow range of light wavelengths. The advanced technology used in this product, and in particular the professional type version, uses a very wide spectrum of light output. Over 60% of the light emitted from this light bar is not visible to the human eye. Plants have a preference for the light that we cannot see. Why do most plants look green to us? It's because the plant is reflecting the components of white light (green and yellow), and absorbing the rest of the light.

Do you want to learn more about SolarOasis LED grow lights?

Information sheets are also available on the References page.

Click here to order SolarOasis LED grow lights and accessories.