Grow Lights for Indoor Plants Grainger Industrial Supply

A plant that isn’t getting sufficient light will turn from a vibrant green to pale green yellow or white and the plant’s stems will grow long and thin in search of light . Compact fluorescents are great for lighting indoor houseplants without having to use a full T5 system and for a fraction of the cost of incandescent lights. Wattage varies, so be sure to ask a specialist what will work best for you and your lighting needs. Carnivorous plants and phalaenopsis orchids do well under compact fluorescents. This energy-efficient bulb works well in low temperatures and emits a bright light. It’s ideal for a greenhouse when you want to grow your seedlings before transferring them outdoors.

Full-spectrum grow lights are the closest to real sunlight and will help your plants grow the best. Natural sunlight emits all spectrums of light, even ultraviolet and infrared, which aren’t visible to the naked eye. Before purchasing a grow light, research the requirements for the plants you already own . Find out what intensity of light they require, how many hours of light they need per day, and which spectrum they prefer. If your space doesn’t provide adequate light, look for a grow light to fill the gap.

How We Tested the Best Grow Lights

Metal halide bulbs need to be replaced about once a year, compared to HPS lights which last twice as long. In recent years LED technology has been introduced into the grow light market. By designing an indoor grow light using diodes, specific wavelengths of light can be produced. NASA has tested LED grow lights for their high efficiency in growing food in space for extraterrestrial colonization.

• The LBW light requires some assembly, but it’s simple, and the manufacturer includes the wrench needed to tighten the nut that attaches the LED head to the tripod.
• Our Vermont-made SunLite Gardens are available with either LED or fluorescent bulbs.
• The seeds sprouted in about 10 days, so they got enough light to germinate.

Depending on what you’re growing, here’s what you need to know to choose the best lights for your home and your plants. Grow lights either attempt to provide a light spectrum similar to that of the sun, or to provide a spectrum that is more tailored to the needs of the plants being cultivated . Outdoor conditions are mimicked with varying colour temperatures and spectral outputs from the grow light, as well as varying the intensity of the lamps.

Red/Blue LED Grow Light

They also don’t give off heat, so my plants can safely grow in close proximity. Or you can aim for decorative, aesthetic, and functional like I do with a greenhouse cabinet and my hanging bulbs. If you just have a few plants that you want to light, you can use the single bulbs. Fluorescent light bulbs are typically sold as long tubes or compact fluorescent reflector , which you might recognize as a spiral bulb.

We decided it could be put to better use in an adjustable-arm lamp that could be pointed toward a plant but away from eyes. The spectral levels of light that can be used by plants for photosynthesis is similar to, but not the same as, what is measured by lumens. Therefore, when it comes to measuring the amount of light available to plants for photosynthesis, biologists often measure the amount of photosynthetically active radiation received by a plant. They are now being made for digital ballasts in a pulse start version, which have higher electrical efficiency and faster warmup.