The 10 Best Grow Lights of 2023

The 4′ wide shelves of our LED SunLite 3-Tier Garden provide plenty of space for growing. Are doing great,” shared a five-star review. “I was impressed with the quality of the lights and the fact that they come with the chains and S-hooks that are needed to hang them.” “Great seedling dome and light combo!” raved a five-star review. “After a few sprouts within the first week, established plants are loving it. Would be nice to have a more sturdy top part and reflective material included.”

For example, blue light can help with foliage, while red has an effect on root formation and flowering. Standard fluorescent lighting comes in multiple form factors, including the T5, T8 and T12. The T8 and T12 are less powerful and are more suited to plants with lower light needs.

Megan Hughes has a passion for plants that drives her to stay on top of the latest garden advancements and time-tested ways of growing great plants. She travels regularly to learn about new plants and technology and is closely connected to the innovation side of the horticulture industry. If you have questions on how to choose grow lights, we’re here to help! Keep adjusting the placement of the grow light as your plants develop and mature to maintain the proper distance. Consult your particular model and type of design for exact specifics and directions.

Great Value 4-Head Flexible LED Clamp Grow Light, 20W Selectable Spectrum

Designed to mimic natural sunlight and work as a replacement for traditional greenhouse bulbs, this product delivers. Otherwise, your plant might not get the energy necessary to grow effectively. So research to ensure your grow light bulb is the right intensity before using it in a regular light fixture. Of course, some grow lights will offer more power output than others. You’ll come across many types of grow lights on today’s market with varying intensity levels.

Light quantity refers to the amount of light a plant requires each day for optimal growth. Historically, light quantity was expressed in units of W m−2, lumens, or lux. While these units are useful in energy calculations, W m−2, or in human lighting , plant scientists now prefer to measure the photosynthetic photon flux density , in units of μmol m−2s−1. PPFD is an explicit measure of the quantity of photons hitting a surface per square meter per second, a more accurate way to measure how plants interact with photons. An HPS grow light bulb in an air-cooled reflector with hammer finish.

You may also be interested in our blog about caring for plants during winter.

Red light regulates plant growth and helps plants produce flowers and fruit. Our LEDs and fluorescent bulbs both produce full-spectrum light. However, LEDs are better for plants, the environment, and your wallet. The best light color for plants is a mix between violet and blue light.

• Ours are calibrated to meet the exacting needs of indoor plants, with a boost of blue light to stimulate stronger roots, enhance photosynthesis, and ensure peak growth.
• For example, some plants will respond better to red light than blue light, while others will thrive with both types of light.
• “You can make up for lack of intensity by having lights on longer,” says Taylor.

A plant that does not receive the right quality of light may exhibit physiological differences when compared to the same plants grown under optimal lighting conditions. The blue spectrum of light encourages compact, leafy growth and may be better suited to growing vegetative plants with much foliage. All HID grow lights require an electrical ballast to operate, and each ballast has a particular power rating. 600W HID lights are the most electrically efficient as far as light produced, followed by 1000W. A 600W HPS produces 7% more light (lumen-per-watt) than a 1000W HPS.

LED or Fluorescent?

High-output fluorescent lights produce twice as much light as standard fluorescent lights. A high-output fluorescent fixture has a very thin profile, making it useful in vertically limited areas. To prevent leaf burn, LED grow lights should be kept between 12 inches away from plants for lower wattage lamps up to 36 inches away from plants for higher wattage lamps . Plants require enough light on the red spectrum to flower and produce fruit. Choose a light that caters to this spectrum to help your plant thrive.