Customer Reviews
T5 HO LED Horticultural Lamp Reviews
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ It’s ALIVE!
Works for me!!! Lite it, don’t fight it!!!! -Oranicha Kudeesri 10/11/20
@joegardener
Emmy-winning national gardening television & podcast host Joe Lamp’l. #OrganicGardening, #VegetableGardening, #OnlineGardeningAcademy, HowTo Videos👨🌾 linktr.ee/joegardener
These seedlings I started about 5 weeks ago are now thriving in my garden. I usually supplement those plants with others I pick up at the nursery to fill in gaps. Not this year. Retail inventory of seedlings was horrible, and so was the quality! And my latest happy discovery this seed-starting round is my new grow lamp system. I love trying different lighting systems in hopes of finally settling on a favorite. Over recent years as I was creating my Master Seed-starting online course, I trialed many options from basic fluorescent shop lights, to high-end LED rigs and more sophisticated T5 fluorescent systems. Recently I was invited to try and keep (at no cost to me) a 24W T5 lamp and fixture from Active Grow. I’ve trialed several more basic LED shop light rigs in the past but the results were just average. But not this one. It’s definitely got my attention. These lamps were clearly designed for indoor growing, with high PPF efficiency (the amount of quality light frequency usable by the plants), and higher energy efficiency (none of the heat energy wasted by the fluorescent alternatives). Over 5 weeks of growing time under this system, the plants performed very well – no legginess, nice compact plants, great color, and no light-burn. You can buy just the lamps that plug and play into existing T5 fluorescent fixtures (4 lamps cost about $139), or you can buy the lamps and fixture for around $219 for the 2×4 ft size – perfect for evenly lighting 4 standard trays on a self. The seedlings here were growing under the “Sun White Pro” lamps and I was very happy with the results. I’m really looking forward to seeing how it performs for the next round of warm-season edibles starting in February. A link to this lamp system is in my instagram profile (
@joegardener). (Not an affiliate link). What’s your favorite grow light system? -Joe Gardener 09/22/20
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ Good buy. Great customer service.
Work well. Easy installation. -Don Campbell 06/06/20
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ All around Great upgrade!
These make a world of difference. Cant believe how much better they are for growth. And 3times cooler then t5 bulbs. -Amazon Customer 12/12/2019
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ Great customer service
Excellent product and excellent customer service. I called the shop in Seattle, WA to ask a few questions and they were very helpful and knowledgable. LED is the way to go! -Sean Church 11/10/2019
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ Superior light intensity and spectrum quality
I purchased eight T-5 bulbs through another supplier, but was so impressed with the product I wanted to share my experience here on Amazon where I know Active Grow will become increasingly known and recognized as a manufacturer of excellent LED horticultural lighting products. I replaced the original T-5 Sylvania High Output 54watt fluorescent bulbs with Active Grow LEDs and was absolutely blown away by the quality of the light. The light intensity and quality compared to the fluorescent bulbs was amazing. I am using these to supplement light in my greenhuse for seedling production and cutting propagation and am getting terrific growth responses. If you already own the fluorescent light fixtures that these work with, making the switch is a no-brainer. Just do it, you won’t regret it! -Flower Queen 11/01/2019
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ Manufacturer goes above and beyond!
I ordered these lights with fulfillment through Amazon. The tubes arrived broken. I contacted the manufacturer because I know what it’s like to be dinged for shipping issues beyond your control. The manufacturer responded immediately, and offered to replace the grow light tubes at no charge. The lights arrived in perfect condition and were a great fit for our existing grow cart fixture. I couldn’t be happier with the manufacturer response and the quality of the lights. -Cinda Williams Chima 06/24/19
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ Great performing LEDs
Fantastic lights for veg and reproductive phases. Good bright white. Had to change ballasts on my fluorescent fixtures to accommodate LEDs. Simple and straightforward process. Well worth it -eLearner 04/07/19
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ Great lights for a hobby greenhouse
These lights work great. Still growing cool weather vegetables in January and supplementing heat with a small milkhouse heater. -Elizabeth Parks 01/07/19
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ Worth it!
I just started growing my own lettuce on Nov 4 2018. I did a bunch of research before buying lights, but still ended up with several types. I have a 2’x 8′ space growing 36 plants. Half have been growing under normal T5 fluorescent lights, and the other half have been using the Active Grow T5 LED lights. The fixtures are the same. The only difference is the lights, and the plants can tell. The plants under the Active Grow LED lights are noticeably larger than those under the fluorescent light. I also find the color to be more vibrant. I liked the performance and cost savings of these bulbs so much, I bought a second set to replace the T5 Fluorescent lights I mentioned above. I just received them a couple of days ago, and they are up and running now. I love the power savings too! I can run two, 4′, 4 bulb, Active Grow T5 LED setups for less than the cost of one 4′, 4 bulb T5 Fluorescent setup. I’m definitely producing lettuce cheaper than I can buy it in the store, and it’s always clean, healthy, and picked fresh daily. -Mitchell Hickok 01/05/19
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ Best LED grow light that I have used … the orchids are thriving
All grow lights are not created equal — it is no small feat to successfully replicate the natural sunlight that plants have evolved with for eons. What looks bright and pleasing to humans is not necessarily what is most valuable to plants (for photosynthesis). I’ve found this out through trial and error, and a lot of research, to enhance my orchid growing. At the moment, I count six different LED grow lights in operation for different types of orchids, using LEDs for both supplemental and sole sources of light.
I’m taking the time to write a review, which I rarely do, because the Active Grow LEDs are the best full spectrum grow lighting that I’ve found so far for orchid seedlings, and blooming size Paphiopedilums and Phalaenopsis. I particularly note the robust year-round root growth on the Paphs, including multi-floral and higher light species. I run my lights 9-10 hours/day — which has been plenty for flowering the lower light Paphs, and fewer hours than I comparably used T5 HO fluorescents. I’m also trying some higher light species under the ActiveGrow lights as well. The near blooming size Dendrobiums are growing well, with a few flowers emerging on the largest seedlings. I also note that recently deflasked orchid seedlings do not dry out as quickly under these LED lights, compared to the T5 HO fluorescents. This is very beneficial given their shallow root systems, and many of the smaller seedlings are establishing more easily. I have replaced all of the bulbs in my Hydrofarm Agrobrite T5 fixtures with these conversion tubes. -A’na Sa’tara of Ancient Energy Orchids (www.aeorchids.com) 01/02/19 -Read more about her experience working with Active Grow LEDs on her website here.
Blooming size and near blooming size Paphiopedilum growing under Active Grow LED lights
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ The light works well!
I have grown kale, carrots, lettuce, arugula and cilantro so far with great success! -Sue 12/23/18
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ In another league, way to go ACTIVE GROW!!!
Hands down the best t5 ever!!! Micro greens are ready in 2 days under these lights instead of 3, in 3 days I have a 25% increase in weight, and my purple kale tastes even better, it is expensive, but the quality is unmatched. -Buyorsell 12/08/18
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ Perfect light for your indoor garden
I am impressed by this light. The led’s lights produce virtually no heat so I can grow my plants anywhere without having to worry about ventilation. My baby plants are doing good so I know the spectrum is what it’s suppose to be. -P Muniz 09/05/18
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ Game Changer
I’ve been using T5 HO lamps for a while now as my primary light source. I thought I had my spectrum close to dialed in with a mix of different lamps. I had my doubts. I decided to switch over to these T5 HO daylight LEDs and was quickly blown away by the response in my garden. Deeper greens, thicker leaves, tighter growth patterns, everything. The PPFD reading is much more even throughout the ENTIRE grow space as compared to my experience with traditional T5 HOs. I can now utilize the edges of my grow space instead of just focusing on the direct center under the lamps. Literally EVERYTHING is so much better then traditional T5s that I’ll never go back again. The spectrum these lamps produce has been a total game-changer. Thank you Active Grow. -Todd 04/30/18
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ High-light orchids are blooming!
After having tried unsuccessfully to grow Cattleya orchids in my sunroom, I decided to convert an unused sauna in the basement to an orchid grow room. Did a lot of research on T5 both fluorescent and LED and bought these. I was persuaded by the fact that the have a CRI (Color Rendering Index) of 91. That was a statistic I could understand. These are truly full spectrum. There is a lot more information on the company’s web site. An interesting video that compared these to T5HO. I really swallowed hard before buying these because of the higher price. The video provided information on the quality and quantity of useful (to the plant) lights that these put out. I understand it better now, but the proof of it is what I am seeing in the plants.
I now (for the past three months) have these on 16 hours a day in my small room. They do produce some heat but far, far less than T5 fluorescents, which would have been a disaster (I see now) in my enclosed room. With two fans running and lots of humidity (trays, misting, wetting the concrete floor) I can keep the humidity high, the temperature where I want it (by keeping the door more or less open), and the air quality fresh. OK, but — what about the plants? I am now seeing the first buds on one of the Cattleyas, and most of the orchids are pushing new growths and roots. Even in my unskilled hands, the life force that I am seeing in these plants is just –truly awesome. I measured the light and it is about 1800 foot-candles very close to the lamps. Because they are on continuously for 16 hours a day, the plants are getting ample light, the rough equivalent of 3500 foot-candles in a natural environment where light waxes and wanes throughout the day. I can control the amount of light by locating the plants closer or farther from the lamps. I could never have had a setup like this with fluorescents because the heat would have never allowed me to put the plants so close to the lamps as I can with these, and the room would have been too hot. (Opening the door further would let heat out, but would also let humidity out). I have the full spectrum bulbs in all three fixtures but am anticipating trying out some of the red bulbs once we get into bud-producing season in the fall.
For the first time I can grow and flower high light orchids like Cattleyas. I am already thinking about how I may be able to install a fourth unit in the grow room. I am running out of space. -Tessa 08/05/18
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