Under Canopy Lighting: Serious Growers Illuminate the Whole Plant
Under canopy increase yield, improve consistency, and reduce waste in controlled environments.
If you’re growing in a controlled environment in Australia, you’ve probably focused heavily on top lighting performance.
But here’s the reality:
👉 Even the best LED systems struggle with canopy penetration
And that’s where under canopy lighting separates average growers from serious ones.
What is under canopy lighting?
Under canopy lighting is the use of LED bars positioned beneath the plant canopy to deliver light directly to lower growth zones.
Typical setup:
LED bars placed under the canopy
Height: 15–30cm below foliage
Spacing: 60–90cm apart
Used alongside full-spectrum top lighting
This method is now widely used in commercial greenhouse and indoor cultivation across Australia, particularly where consistency and efficiency matter.
Why under canopy lighting is gaining traction in Australia
Australian growers face:
High power costs
Tight margins
Increasing quality expectations
So the question becomes:
👉 How do you get more out of the same space and power input?
Answer:
Improve light distribution—not just intensity
The problem: uneven light distribution
Without under canopy lighting:
Upper canopy receives most of the PPFD
Lower branches sit in shadow
Energy is wasted on unproductive growth
This leads to:
Heavy lollipopping
Smaller lower fruit/flower
Inconsistent plant development
The advantages of under canopy lighting
1. More PPFD to lower branches
Instead of wasting light at the top:
👉 You deliver usable light where it’s needed most
Improved photosynthesis across the whole plant
Better utilisation of plant structure
2. Less lollipopping required
With proper light distribution:
Lower growth becomes productive
Less pruning labour
More retained sites
3. Easier trimming and harvest workflow
Uniform development = efficiency
Less low-quality material
Cleaner processing
Reduced labour at harvest
4. Consistent fruit/flower size across the plant
This is where serious growers see real gains.
Even development from top to bottom
More uniform output
Higher quality end product
👉 Not just more yield—better yield
Under canopy lighting vs traditional setups
| Feature | Top Lighting Only | With Under Canopy |
|---|---|---|
| Light distribution | Top-heavy | Even across plant |
| Lower growth | Removed (lollipopped) | Productive |
| Labour | Higher | Reduced |
| Consistency | Variable | High |
| Efficiency | Moderate | Optimised |
Is under canopy lighting worth it in Australia?
For hobby growers—yes.
For serious growers-absolutely:
👉 Absolutely
You’re improving:
Yield consistency
Labour efficiency
Light utilisation
All critical factors in Australian conditions where:
Power isn’t cheap
Space matters
Margins matter
When should you consider under canopy lighting?
It makes the most sense when:
Your canopy is dense and well developed
You’re already running quality top lighting
You want to improve consistency—not just push yield
You’re moving toward a more commercial-style setup
Final thoughts
Top lighting grows the plant.
Under canopy lighting finishes it properly.
👉 Serious growers illuminate the whole plant.
Under Canopy Lighting Australia – Get it right
At The Grow Shop, we help growers:
Choose the right bar layout
Dial in spacing and intensity
Integrate under canopy into existing systems
Built for Serious Growers.
The Grow Shop – Coffs Harbour
