PPFD Explained
PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) measures how many photons of usable light land on a square meter of your canopy each second. Higher PPFD over a wider, more even spread is what separates a serious horticultural fixture from a marketing claim.
We audit every Verified listing’s PPFD map against its IES photometric file. No averaging tricks, no center-only measurements — you see the full footprint at the manufacturer-specified mounting height.
Spectrum Guide
Plants don’t care about lumens. They care about the wavelengths reaching their leaves — blue for vegetative structure, red for flower and fruit, far-red for canopy penetration, and UV for terpene and resin response. Every Verified listing publishes its spectral distribution graph so you can compare apples to apples.
Full Spectrum, Veg-Optimized, Flower-Optimized, and UV+IR Enhanced each have their place. Use the directory filters to find a match for your crop and growth stage.
IES Files
An IES file (or .LDT) is the industry-standard photometric data format. It encodes the candela distribution from a fixture — exactly how light is emitted at every angle. Submitting an IES file lets us validate claimed PPF output, generate accurate PPFD heat maps at any mounting height, and compute true coverage area for veg and flower stages.
No IES file? A listing can still be published, but it starts at the Unverified tier until photometric data is provided and audited.
Verification Process
- Submission — manufacturer provides product specs, photos, and IES file via the Submit Listing form.
- Audit — our team cross-references the claimed PPF, efficacy, coverage, and spectrum against the photometric data.
- Verification — listings that pass earn the gold Verified Manufacturer badge.
- Publication — the listing goes live with its full audited spec sheet, PPFD map, and spectral graph.
If a Verified listing’s data is ever disputed, we re-audit immediately and update or remove the badge accordingly.