Calculate the perfect lighting for your indoor garden. Get DLI recommendations, coverage estimates, and find the right grow light for your plants.
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We calculate optimal Daily Light Integral and PPFD for your plants.
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DLI (Daily Light Integral) measures the total amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) that plants receive during a 24-hour period. It's expressed in moles of light per square meter per day (mol/m2/d).
| Plant Type | Minimum DLI | Optimal DLI |
|---|---|---|
| Leafy Greens | 12 mol/m2/d | 17-20 mol/m2/d |
| Fruiting Plants | 20 mol/m2/d | 30-40 mol/m2/d |
| Flowering (Cannabis) | 25 mol/m2/d | 40-65 mol/m2/d |
| Seedlings | 6 mol/m2/d | 10-15 mol/m2/d |
| Houseplants | 4 mol/m2/d | 8-12 mol/m2/d |
The formula for calculating DLI is:
Where PPFD is measured in micromoles per square meter per second (umol/m2/s). Our calculator handles all these conversions automatically to give you accurate recommendations.
For LED lights: 25-50 watts per square foot depending on plant type. Flowering plants need more (40-50W/sqft), while leafy greens need less (25-35W/sqft). HPS lights require more wattage due to lower efficiency.
This varies by light intensity. Generally: seedlings 24-36 inches, vegetative 18-24 inches, flowering 12-18 inches. Always check your specific light's recommendations and watch for light stress (bleaching, curling).
LED is more energy-efficient (uses 40% less electricity for same output), produces less heat, and lasts longer (50,000+ hours vs 10,000). HPS has higher initial intensity but higher running costs. For most growers, LED is the better long-term investment.
PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) measures light intensity in umol/m2/s. It tells you how much usable light reaches your plants. Higher PPFD = more photosynthesis = faster growth. Most flowering plants want 600-1000 PPFD.
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