Many growers find themselves navigating the switch from traditional HPS lighting to advanced LED solutions. Transitioning to this new technology is not without its challenges, especially when the market is flooded with options to choose from, each touting benefits that, at first glance, seem pretty much the same. Sollum has pioneered and developed the concept of dynamic lighting over the past decade, enabling optimal plant growth by fine-tuning light spectra. "Sollum is the first company to market fully dynamic fixtures," explains Abhay Thosar, chief horticultural specialist at Sollum. "Our fixtures have up to 11 channels, and each channel has a different wavelength, making our solution dynamic like no other, in fact."
When switching to such a dynamic lighting system, however, growers would need to adjust the cultivation environment accordingly. That is exactly Dr. Thosar's job, who is also a plant physiologist. "I don't focus on light only, but on the environment, the fertigation, the growing medium, and so on. When shifting from HPS to fully dynamic LEDs, growers must adjust temperature set points, humidity, VPD, CO2 levels, fertilizer application, irrigation schedules, and airflow management to optimize plant performance."
Addressing growers' concerns about LEDs
One of the main concerns growers have when switching from HPS to LED lighting is the loss of radiant heat that HPS fixtures provide, explains Abhay. "Many believe that without this extra heat, their plants will struggle to grow. However, we work closely with growers to fine-tune environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, irrigation, and airflow to compensate. By adjusting room set points and greenhouse settings, the transition can be managed effectively without negatively impacting plant development."
Another major concern is the fear of the unknown, especially in light of the adjustments we've discussed above. For example, many cannabis growers have historically used HPS fixtures, often developing cultivation strategies based on this lighting system. The idea of adopting a new technology can be daunting, especially when crop yields and quality are at stake. "This is precisely why Sollum's team works closely with the grower and share our learning experiences at all stages of the cultivation process, from planning to harvest, ensuring that growers can confidently transition to dynamic LEDs without jeopardizing their success."
The advantages of fully dynamic LEDs
Unlike other LED solutions that focus primarily on red and blue light, Sollum's unique technology offers complete spectral control, allowing growers to tailor their lighting strategy to optimize plant growth at every stage of development and also achieve specific quality objectives with the tailored lighting spectrums.
Savings on energy is, of course, the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to LEDs. However, Abhay says that Sollum has taken that one step further, also thanks to the SUN as a Service® (SUNaaS®) proprietary software. "Sollum's dynamic LEDs, combined with our intelligent software, automatically adjust light intensity and spectrum to optimize efficiency. The system can dim fixtures and modify the spectrum in response to energy pricing fluctuations, ensuring cost-effective operations without sacrificing plant health," he points out. This cloud-based system allows growers to set daily light thresholds, ensuring plants receive the necessary light levels without excessive energy consumption. "By leveraging Sollum's SUNaaS intelligent software, growers can maximize efficiency while letting their plants express their full genetic potential."
At the same time, the high degree of spectrum customization offered by Sollum fixtures allows cannabis growers to give plants the right light intensity and quality for the specific growth stage they are at. "For instance, in the propagation phase, increased far-red light promotes better rooting," he explains. "During the vegetative stage, blue light encourages stronger plant architecture and branching. Then, the early flowering stage benefits from higher red-light levels to stimulate bud initiation and development. In mid-flowering, a balanced spectrum, including green light, prevents photo-bleaching. The final 10 days before harvest can be fine-tuned with high blue and far-red light to enhance cannabinoid and terpene production, improving both yield and quality."
On top of that, according to Abhay, growers who adopt fully dynamic LEDs report a 40% to 50% increase in production, along with significant improvements in crop quality. "With a 10% to 15% increase in A-grade cannabis buds, the return on investment for LED lighting becomes evident. This means growers can achieve more grams per square foot while maintaining consistency and quality, making the switch to LED lighting a net advantage," he points out.
As the industry continues to evolve, more growers are realizing that adopting fully dynamic LED lighting is not just an option. "It's the future of horticulture," concludes Abhay.
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