ViparSpectra 300W LED Grow Light Review: The Most Affordable Grow Light for Cannabis?

When a grower starts off with his or her journey of growing cannabis plants, they are often confused about what all they need and how much they should initially invest. This question is more common when one considers the needs of personal-scale growers than compared to the industrial-scale growers because they operate on a tight budget. In this article, we are going to provide you with a detailed review of one of the best and the most affordable grow lights when it comes to growing cannabis – the ViparSpectra 300W LED grow light. 

Over the course of this article, we shall give you a detailed look into this grow light and at all its features and components which make it a great option. We shall also discuss ViparSpectra the brand and why it is considered a top player in today’s markets. Besides that we will also take a closer look at grow lights in general and why they are important for your plants. However, the primary focus will be on the 300W ViparSpectra grow light. 

What makes us different from many other review websites is that we take a detailed look on each and every aspect of the grow light which gives the growers a complete insight into what they can expect if they purchase the light. We take a look at all the features ranging from design and durability to lighting spectrum to power consumption all the way to heat dissipation, brand credibility, cost and warranty details, and much more. While most reviews show you a biased perspective, we aim at giving you an all-around account of everything that there is to know about this grow light along with its benefits and flaws. 

By the time you reach the end, we hope that you will know whether this is the right grow light for you. Our ViparSpectra 300W grow light review is meant for beginners as well as experienced growers and we hope it helps you. Let us now start by first understanding why growers even need grow lights:

Why Do Plants Need Grow Lights?

The answer to this question is quite simple, plants cannot survive in the absence of proper lighting. They will either not grow, or if they are already grown plants they will shrivel away quickly if you do not provide them with light (and that too, the right kind of light). Nature takes care of all the plants by providing them with the light of the sun. What we see as the yellow sunlight is actually composed of lights of different wavelengths which come together to form the ‘sunlight’. This visible light is what helps the plants grow. 

When plants grow indoors, sunlight can’t really reach them. Growers too, are forced to grow indoors many times because there’s quite a bit of stigma and taboo associated with growing weed in most areas even though it has been legalized in many states in the US. In this situation, the grow lights act as an artificial source of lighting which can recreate light which is quite similar to the natural sunlight. They do it by providing a combination of lights of different wavelengths generally operating between 380nm to 780nm.

Plants require different kinds and wavelengths of light at different stages of their growth. During the early phase of growth when they are a seedling or in the vegetative phase, they would require lights of the bluer shades of the visible spectrum. These lights are needed to help the plants grow better, greener, and denser in the early phase of their growth. 

Followed by this, once your plants reach the flowering phase of growth, they need the lights which lie on the other end of the visible spectrum, commonly known as the ‘red lights’. These red lights are great for plants when they enter the flowering phase of their growth cycle. They help the plants get bigger buds and help the flowers bloom better. Red lights also help the plants get more yield per square foot and are an absolute necessity for all growers who wish to maximize their yields. 

Understanding Brand ViparSpectra

ViparSpectra as a brand is a well-established name in the markets. The company has been making a number of grow lights and gardening equipment over the past several years. This is a brand with a global reputation and is largely understood as one of the best LED grow light makers, especially for those growers who wish to grow marijuana indoors. It has a global presence and makes high-quality grow lights that can last you for a very long time. This 300W variant is one of them. 

One of the key features of grow lights made by ViparSpectra are that they are affordable, beginner-friendly as well as long-lasting devices. This is just the perfect combination and this is truly what makes them such a well-reputed brand. Millions of growers all over the world make use of ViparSpectra’s products and are largely satisfied by them. The company has been around since 2011 and will complete their ten-year anniversary in 2021! ViparSpectra also focuses a lot on product innovation and you will notice that many products that they offer are top-of-the-line models, but at a pocket-friendly cost! They have been Amazon bestsellers for a number of years now and this 300W grow light is yet another stellar product from the company.

ViparSpectra 300W LED Grow Light

300W grow lights are meant for a specific kind of a grower – for someone who does not need too intense lighting, and for someone who is growing on quite a personal scale. Commercial-scale growers generally prefer using much brighter and bigger lights. This is an affordable product that suits beginners the best, but can also be of use to pro-growers who want to use it as an extra light or a backup light. Here’s a closer look at all the features of this grow light:

1. Design and Durability

In terms of design and durability, the device does not really stand out but delivers what you would get from any other grow light! It has all the basics covered. There’s a durable grow light featuring the classic boxed design that will ensure that your plants are getting a proper growth and that the light lasts you for quite some time. The grow light features sixty LEDs in two compartments, each having a layer of protective glass in front of them. On the sides of this grow light are vents which ensure that heat escapes it properly.

On the back, there’s a big and dashed circular structure that ensures that the fan is able to propel the heat out of the light. On the back panel, there are two ports – one where the main power cord is connected to the grow light and another for daisy-chaining (more info on the latter when we reach ‘power consumption’). Besides that, there is a red switch which turns the power on and off. Unlike many other grow lights there is only one switch and not two different channels for the veg and blooming mode – but this is where you make a compromise for the low cost of the grow light. 

2. Lighting Details 

One of the key things that need to be known about this grow light is that it is a full-spectrum LED grow light where your plants would get light as good as the natural light of the sun, but inside the grow tent. The grow light provides the perfect balance between the red and the blue end of the spectrum which is also beneficial for the growth of your plants. The light that comes from the ViparSpectra 300W LED grow light is great for your plants as it helps them get bigger buds as well as denser foliage. High-intensity Epiled/Bridgelux LEDs are used in this grow light, which are among some of the best quality diodes you can find in the markets! 

There are 60 lights which provide an output of 300W, each operating at 5W. One of the biggest advantages of getting an LED grow light is that all the LEDs function independent of each other and in case one of them goes bad, the rest won’t be affected! Having a lighting like this ensures that you get the most out of your plants – which is every grower’s end goal anyway. Getting the maximum yield per square foot also ensures you get more weed to smoke up! The PAR and PPFD scores are also pretty impressive for this grow light, especially given that this is such an affordable form of lighting. 

3. Power Consumption

While this grow light offers you an output of 300W, it does not really draw 300W from the power socket. The number is actually significantly lesser: just 130W. Almost a third of power is consumed when compared to the output that you get, which is quite an impressive number. Many a times growers often confuse the output to be equal to the power draw, which is almost never the case when it comes to LED grow lights. A 300W grow light does not draw 300W of power! LED lights are among the most energy-efficient lighting options that you have out there. 

Talking about power management, another thing that stands out about this grow light from ViparSpectra is the fact that it supports daisy-chaining. So basically, instead of having to plug all your grow lights on to separate power sockets, you can hook one grow light on to another and a third on to the second one with only the first grow light connected to the power socket. This makes managing the wires/etc easier and also allows you to set up a larger lighting area with the help of interconnected grow lights. The manufacturer also claims that in terms of performance, this LED grow light can easily replace any 250W HPS or MH grow light.

4. Heat Dissipation

When it comes to heat dissipation, most LED grow lights do really well and the ViparSpectra 300W LED grow light is no exception to that. Every measure has been taken to ensure that all the heat escapes the body of the light.  There are a number of vents present on the sides, which allow the heat to pass out. Besides that, the grow light also has a fan on the back, from where any additional heat will also move outwards. 

These safety mechanisms are more than enough for growers using this grow light to grow their marijuana plants. There are also some holes on the front panel which make sure any heat generated by the lights does not remain trapped inside the panel. All said and done, every measure of ensuring a proper heat dissipation has been taken care of by ViparSpectra. Many growers have a common misconception that a cheap grow light won’t really have much to offer to them in terms of heat dissipation, but this grow light proves them wrong. 

5. Coverage Offered

Coverage is one of the most important factors of any grow light that buyers must consider before they choose it. This grow light, however, falters in the coverage department. While everything up until this point has been pretty good, the coverage is quite small and suits the need of only very small-scale growers or those growers who are growing a single plant for personal consumption. The coverage that you get when you use ViparSpectra 300W LED grow light is that of a 2’x2’ vegetative growth from a height of 24” and a 1.5×1.5’ flowering growth from a height of 18”. Not the best of coverages even at this price point, but we guess if there’s one compromise you might have to make in this grow light, it is in this front. The lighting, however, is pretty bright and the LEDs are high quality so at least there are no compromises made over there. 

6. Brand Value and Credibility

ViparSpectra is indeed a top brand in the markets and has a universal acceptance and appeal. The grow lights manufactured by the company are pretty impressive and growers get quite a benefit out of them while growing marijuana plants. ViparSpectra, over the past decade, has commanded quite the respect for itself due to its excellence in research and development as well as because of the fact that they honor their promises well and on time. Indeed one of the best brands that offer value for money products out there.

7. Cost, Warranty, and Delivery

When it comes to cost, warranty and delivery of the grow light, the ViparSpectra 300W LED grow light scores really well. This is one of the most affordable yet effective grow lights in the markets which covers all your bases while also providing you with all the essential features. The light costs under $70, offers a 3-year warranty in the US and honors it really well, and the delivery is quite discreet as well as quick. In all three aspects, this grow light impresses the buyers and punches way above its weight. 

Final Rating:

Once all is said and done, when you take a detailed look at this grow light, the first thing that stands out about it is the low cost. For $69.99, the light offers you features that you would expect from any high-priced device. While the coverage area does remain a major issue, the fact that you get a sturdy and long-lasting grow light with bright lights that does not heat up too much is itself quite the win for most growers! We would give it a rating of 3.75 out of 5, with the biggest feature lacking here being that of dual switches for VEG and BLOOM mode. The low coverage also subtracts a significant amount of points! Nonetheless, one of the best affordable grow lights in the markets. 

Pros and Cons of ViparSpectra 300W LED Grow Light

Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of the ViparSpectra 300W LED grow light:

Final Verdict on ViparSpectra 300W LED Grow Light: Is it the right light for you?

This is indeed one of the better grow lights in the markets if you look at the 300W segment. While there are multiple 300W lights out there (perhaps in the hundreds), ViparSpectra is the one that truly stands out because of its superior lighting as well as low prices. Their grow light hits the sweet spot between price and features – and is one of the best-suited products for those growers who are planning on growing a small-scale operation or growing weed for personal consumption. This is also a sweet light to purchase if you plan on using it as a backup light or an additional grow light. 

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Frequently Asked Questions About Grow Lights:

Here are some common queries about these grow lights that we have answered in one place for your convenience. These are some questions and queries that growers often ask about ViparSpectra 300W LED grow light. Do go through them as they might help answer some questions that you might be facing as well. 

1. Where can I buy this grow light?

While Amazon is the best place to buy this grow light because that is where you get the most variety and a vast range of products, you can also find them on other platforms such as eBay or dedicated grow light websites. Then there are also physical gardening stores where these grow lights can be bought from. However, given the scale of operation and the large variety that they offer, Amazon remains the top preference of most growers.

2. Is ViparSpectra a trusted brand?

The answer to this question is a simple yes. ViparSpectra has been around the markets for close to a decade now and has been operating quite a business! Their products are globally sold and globally appreciated. Millions of growers all over the world are making use of their grow lights to grow cannabis as well as a number of other plants. The company has been coming out with newer and more innovative forms of lighting while keeping the prices affordable – making them a top player in the industry.

3. Is this grow light safe to use?

Yes, this grow light is completely safe to use and complies with most safety standards. There is virtually no risk here because it has a good heat dissipation system, as well as being an LED light, it carries no chemicals inside it which might otherwise be the case when it comes to HPS or fluorescent grow lights.

4. How long will this grow light last me?

The grow light can easily last you for above 50,000 hours. LED lights are generally quite long-lasting and even if a few diodes go bad, the rest continue to function pretty well. The light’s lifespan is quite impressive for the price it comes in at. 

5. How much does this grow light cost?

Affordability has always been one of the key highlights of any ViparSpectra grow light and this 300W light from the company, too, comes in at quite an affordable price point. The price of this light is just $69.99, making it pocket-friendly for most growers!

6. Is this grow light durable?

With over 10 years of development and expertise, VIPARSPECTRA is known to manufacture the most durable LED grow lights in the market. With a single ViparSpectra 300W LED Grow Light you can go on for years.

7. How far should you install 300W LED grow lights from your plants?

When using 300W LED grow light, you must keep it at least 12-30 inches from the top of your plant. You must change the height of your lights, once your plants start growing. This is needed to accommodate the height of your growing plants.

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Conclusion:

By this point in the article, we hope that you have gained a better understanding of everything that there is to know about the ViparSpectra 300W LED grow light. We hope that you have understood about all the features of this grow light, including how their lighting system is and how good they are at keeping the operating temperatures low. We have also tried to focus on the pros and cons of this light – and have painted a fair picture of everything that the light stands for. Do let us know in the comments or drop us a mail if you still have any more questions about the grow light and we shall get back to you as soon as possible! Till then….

…Happy Growing! 🙂

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