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Recently, a client shared his experience and data with me after using under-canopy grow lights of different wattages.
He found that the flowers’ yield improved as the lights’ wattage increased.
Does higher wattage lead to higher yields?
At first, without using under-canopy grow lights, the flower yield was 1.5kg per tray. This was under traditional top lighting, with no additional artificial light source.
To boost the yield, he decided to use 140W under-canopy grow lights in the first grow room, specifically installing 2 lights, each 70W.
The result was that the flower yield increased from 1.5kg to 1.7kg per tray. While the increase wasn’t huge, it was still a 13% improvement.
This data shows that proper artificial lighting can have a positive impact on crop growth, but the improvement wasn’t as significant as expected.
Next, he made another investment in the second grow room by using 400W under canopy LEDs, specifically 4 lights, each 100W.
At this point, the flower yield jumped from 1.5kg to 2.3kg per tray, a 53% increase! The result was very significant, clearly surpassing the improvement from the first attempt. It shows that as the wattage of the lights increased, the growing environment for the plants improved, leading to a major boost in flower yield.
Based on the success of the second attempt, he plans to further increase the light power in the third grow room by using 800W under-canopy grow lights, which means 4 lights, each 200W. They want to see if continuing to increase the wattage will lead to an even bigger boost in yield.
The main role of supplemental lighting is to feed the plants — the stronger the light, the more efficient the photosynthesis, and the more nutrients the plant can produce for flowers and fruits.
But why were the results so different between the first two upgrades? The key lies in whether the light intensity breaks through the plant’s threshold of need.
1) First upgrade (140W)
The total light intensity was about **1/3** of natural sunlight, which was just enough to get the plants out of a “starving” state.
The 13% increase in yield shows that the original light was seriously insufficient, and even a small boost in lighting could make a big difference.
2) Second upgrade (400W)
The total light intensity was close to **2 times** that of natural sunlight, which pushed the plants into a more balanced nutritional mode.
Under sufficient light, the plants accelerated blooming and fruiting, and might even extend the flowering period, resulting in a huge 53% increase in yield!
3) Third experiment (800W)
The total light intensity reached more than **5 times** that of natural sunlight, theoretically pushing the plants into “overclocking” mode.
If the plants can handle this intensity, the yield could break records again (for example, surpassing 2.8-3kg per tray).
From the client’s data, doubling the power (400W → 800W) also brings an increase in yield. Especially when the light intensity breaks through the plant’s light saturation point, the yield boost can be dramatic.
However, there’s one important condition: you must carefully control the light intensity and duration.
Your choice depends on whether your plants lack light or require a scientifically balanced light formula.
From custom light planning, to tailored quotes, and everything in between, our team of horticulture experts are always ready to assist.
Vanten LED
Guzhen, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
WhatsApp: +86 180 2409 6862
Email: info @ vantenled.com
We are a professional LED plant light manufacturer, committed to using technology to enhance the maximum potential of the lamp, continuously maximizing the benefits for growers, and saving energy for the planet.
