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    Hydroponics

    Indoor Grow Lights Beginner’s Guide: Everything You Need to Know

    This post will investigate everything you need to know about selecting the best growing light system for your indoor growing needs.
    Hollie CarterBy Hollie CarterJuly 25, 2020
    Indoor Grow Lights
    Indoor Grow Lights Beginner’s Guide: Everything You Need to Know
    Affiliate Disclosure: We independently test & research all products reviewed on the site. We may earn a small commission if you buy through one of our links. This does not affect our reviews or placement of products on the site.

    Are you planning on growing vegetables at home? Setting up a hydroponic or organic garden indoors is a great way to grow fresh veggies to feed your family this year.

    Growing indoors means that you don’t have to concern yourself with changing weather conditions. Not to mention, the chances of pests and disease attacking your plants is much lower than in an outdoor garden.

    However, growing indoors means that you’ll need to simulate the growing environment using technology. The most challenging part about growing indoors is finding the right grow light for your garden. There are plenty of benefits and uses for indoor grow light systems.

    • Grow your plants from seedling to harvest, without any sunlight
    • Start seedlings early before transplanting to the garden in early spring
    • Use specialized lighting systems for propagating and flowering
    • Finish outdoor plants that don’t have enough light left in the season
    • Propagate your plants and your root cuttings
    • Grow plants inside all year-round

    These are a few examples of the benefits of using a grow light and indoor growing system for your vegetables this year. So, what is the best indoor grow lamp for your garden?

    This post will investigate everything you need to know about selecting the best growing light system for your indoor growing needs.

    Grow Lights – Vital Concepts

    Contents

    • 1 Grow Lights – Vital Concepts
      • 1.1 The Light Spectrum
      • 1.2 Light Intensity
      • 1.3 Grow Light Power Consumption
      • 1.4 Lighting Footprint
      • 1.5 Plant Photoperiods
    • 2 Best Selling Indoor Grow Lights
    • 3 What are the Types of Indoor Grow Lights?
      • 3.1 Fluorescents
      • 3.2 Light Emitting Diode (LED)
      • 3.3 Metal Halide (MH)
      • 3.4 High-Pressure Sodium (HPS)
      • 3.5 Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)
      • 3.6 Plasma
    • 4 Cooling and Heating Effects
    • 5 How Do You Maintain Your Grow Lights?
      • 5.1 Watch Out for Bulb Light Degradation
      • 5.2 T5 Fluorescent Bulb Degradation
      • 5.3 LED Bulb Degradation
      • 5.4 When Do I Replace My Bulbs?
    • 6 Indoor Grow Light FAQs
      • 6.1 How much light do indoor plants need to thrive?
      • 6.2 How close can fluorescent bulbs come to my plants?
      • 6.3 How often must I replace HID lighting like HPS and MH bulbs?
      • 6.4 Is growing under LEDs worth it?
    • 7 Wrapping Up – Get Professional Advice

    Before you settle on a grow light for your indoor garden, we need to go over a few concepts regarding how light affects plants and growth. Understanding these basic concepts will give you everything you need to choose the right lighting system.

    The Light Spectrum

    All light waves, both visible and invisible, fall somewhere on the spectrum. Science measures these wavelengths in nanometers, corresponding to the specific wavelength on the spectrum.

    The light we’re interested in using for our indoor growing falls on the 400nm to 700nm spectrum. Light waves of this intensity are also known as Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR). PAR refers to specific wavelengths that plants use for photosynthesis processes to inspire growth.

    Within this PAR bandwidth, there are wavelengths plants use for specific biological functions.

    • 400nm to 490nm – This wavelength produces blue light used by your plants during the vegetative state as they grow.
    • 580nm to 700nm – This “orange-red” wavelength mimics the sunlight in the later summer and early fall, signaling your plants to start fruiting.

    For those that are math geniuses, you’re probably wondering why we skipped over the light waves in the 490nm to 580nm range. The chloroplasts in plant cells reflect light at these wavelengths since its mostly green in the 510nm to 570nm range.

    Light Intensity

    Now you understand PAR and the types of light required to boost growth and flowering in your plants. The next step is to understand how much of that light we need to use to grow healthy plants and increase harvest yield.

    The amount of light produced by the light source reaching your plants refers to its “intensity.” The type of light plays a significant role in the intensity of the light waves. The positioning of your light also plays a vital role. The closer it is to the canopy, the shorter the distance to the light, and the more intense the light waves.

    Therefore, the proper positioning of your grow light is critical. Too close to the canopy results in the burning of your crops. Having the light too far away from the canopy means that the plants don’t get the light they need for optimal photosynthesis.

    Grow Light Power Consumption

    Your grow light draws electricity to operate the ballast and bulb. Grow lights can vary in wattage, from as little as 50-watt NIR bulbs to 2,000-watt HPS or LED setups. Some growers use multiple lights in series, boosting the power capacity of their setup to meet the harvest needs.

    Some lights have higher wattages than others. For example, LED lights have lower wattages than HPS or metal halide bulbs. Therefore, these light sources consume more power than LEDs, cutting down on the costs of operating your indoor garden.

    Lighting Footprint

    Each growing light has a specific design to cover a growing area. Trying to grow outside of this light footprint will produce lackluster results. The wattage of the bulb, and it’s operating height are the two most significant factors to consider when deciding on the right light footprint for your garden.

    For example, a 1,000-watt globe operates at three to six feet above the canopy, and it’s suitable for a growing footprint of up to 3-square feet. When setting up your grow light, we recommend you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for distance from the bulb to the canopy.

    You can tweak these settings with small tests during your first harvest. It might take you the entire growing season to find the right setup for your garden. Finding the proper placement to provide optimal heat, intensity, and footprint takes some time and testing.

    Plant Photoperiods

    The photoperiod of your light refers to how much light you give your plants over 24-hours. If you’re growing outdoors, you have a limitation on the photoperiod, thanks to the sun. In the height of summer, you can get up to 12-hours of light each day, while the wintertime may shorten daylight to 6-hours.

    When growing plants indoors, you can change the photoperiod to whatever length you desire. You can run a 24-hour photoperiod with consistent lighting if you want.

    Some plants experience a change when they start to experience a shortening in the photoperiod window. This shortening of the photoperiod mimics the days of the harvest season, and the plants begin to flower.

    Best Selling Indoor Grow Lights

    SaleBestseller No. 1
    GooingTop LED Grow Light,6000K Full Spectrum Clip Plant Growing Lamp with White Red LEDs for Indoor Plants,5-Level Dimmable,Auto On Off Timing 4 8 12Hrs
    GooingTop LED Grow Light,6000K Full Spectrum Clip Plant Growing Lamp with White Red LEDs for Indoor Plants,5-Level Dimmable,Auto On Off Timing 4 8 12Hrs
    • 6000K White Light - equipped with 10 Red + 74 White LEDs, this growing Lamp is similar to the full-spectrum sunlight at noon,that is professionally designed for indoor garden plants.Moreover, its color rendering index is as high as 95, the light is soft and flicker-free, which is very suitable for reading lamp
    • Timer Function & Multiple Settings - this growing light offer the circular memory timer function with 3 options-4h/8h/12h. When keeping power, it can automatically turn ON/OFF in a 24-hour period according your settings, no more manual operation for you.
    • Easy to Install - with flexible Gooseneck & strong clamp,it allows you to place the growth light in any direction to provide the best lighting angle for your plants,meet the cover around the plant.Powered by USB or AC Power Plug
    • High Efficiency LED Lamp - as for LED power draw this seedling lights just comsume about 10watt and is equavalent to a 50W Halogen Bulb.Estimately monthly cost roughly $2 in electricity (12 hours a day). It is a great gift if you growing some small house plants.
    • 【365 Days Worry-free Warranty】GooingTop service team offer 365 days warranty and 24h friendly customer service. If there are ever any issues about the product, please feel free to contact us and we will send you a new replacement or full refund.
    $21.99
    View on Amazon
    SaleBestseller No. 2
    LORDEM Grow Light, Full Spectrum LED Plant Light for Indoor Plants, Height Adjustable Growing Lamp with Auto On/Off Timer 4/8/12H , 4 Dimmable Brightness, Ideal for Small Plants, Pack of 2
    LORDEM Grow Light, Full Spectrum LED Plant Light for Indoor Plants, Height Adjustable Growing Lamp with Auto On/Off Timer 4/8/12H , 4 Dimmable Brightness, Ideal for Small Plants, Pack of 2
    • Unique Artistic Design: The set of 2 plant lights are carefully designed like a halo for your plants to help them grow better and faster. They are not only plant lights, but also a stylish decoration for any home space, The warm natural light makes them very comfortable to see and to place in your home, they perfectly fit in with your home decor.
    • Full Spectrum Grow Light: It emits all the wavelengths from 380nm to 800nm- just like natural sunlight. With the warm white high efficiency LED diodes & higher PAR output, the grow light greatly promotes indoor growth as it accelerates photosynthesis, ideal for all stages of growth and various of plants such as herbs, succulent, orchids, tomatoes, etc. SAVE YOUR DARK INDOOR PLANTS with IT ! (50,000 hours lifetime.)
    • Auto on/off Timer Everyday: This growing light has 3 cycle timing settings (4/8/12H) which will stay on for 4/8/12 hours, then off for 20/16/12 hours and will automatically turn on and off at the same time the next day, no need to unplug/re-plug. It will take good care of your plants while you are at work or on vacation, easy & convenient!
    • Brighter Plant Light with 4 Dimmable Levels: Our grow light has more new technology LED diodes which makes it brighter and more efficient. Also it has 4 brightness settings (25%-50%-75%-100%), to meet each plant's lighting requirements at different stages, without worrying about burning your plant.
    • Easy to Use & Height Adjustable: Just stick it into potted plants, adjust height, then turn it on, quick and easy! The lighting part can be adjusted in height in order to work with different plants and provide the right amount of light intensity for each plant. Also a larger area or more plants will be covered when the telescope is extended longer.
    $29.99
    View on Amazon
    Bestseller No. 3
    Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, DICCEAO 150W LEDs Grow Light for Seed Starting with Full Spectrum, 3/9/12H Timer, 10 Dimmable Levels, 3 Switch Modes
    Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, DICCEAO 150W LEDs Grow Light for Seed Starting with Full Spectrum, 3/9/12H Timer, 10 Dimmable Levels, 3 Switch Modes
    • 5 Head 150 LEDs Plant Light for Indoor Plants: This plant growing lamp consists of 150 effective growing LEDs, divided into 120 white LEDs and 30 red LEDs. The 5 heads grow light for indoor plants supplies a broader lighting range than the traditional 2, 3, and 4 heads indoor plants lights, and increases the intensity of the light by up to 50%, allowing your plants to receive better and extra light energy.
    • 3 Spectrum Modes & 10 Brightness Levels: The full spectrum led grow light has 3 spectrum modes, which are Red, Full, and Mixed Spectrum. It has ten brightness settings, starting from 10% to 100%, that can be switched as per your requirements, so you are able to choose the more proper spectrum and brightness for your plant to grow in the best way. The indoor plant lights make your plants develop a rapid response to grow, five times faster than plants with natural light only.
    • Auto Timer Function & On/Off Cycle: Designed with a function for autocycle memory timing, there are different three timer settings for you to choose from, between 3H, 9H, and 12H of lighting time. Following your setting, the plant grow light will switch on/off automatically every day. Even when you are away from home, these grow light lamps will take good care of your plants every day.
    • Flexible Gooseneck Neck & Strong Clip: You can place and clamp the 5 head grow light anywhere as it has a strong clip and bracket support for it to be stable. The indoor grow lights have a 360 rotation design that can be independently adjustable, so each can be rotated to any angle to adapt to your requirements, which supplies a wider and more flexible range of light, and different growing directions.
    • Designed for Indoor Plants to Growth: These plant lights for indoor growing is perfect for the different sunlight needs of your plants depending on their growing stage, from seeds to every growing phase. The lamps have an excellent performance of fast heat dissipation, which ensures that these lamps provide you with a long-lasting and durable service life of up to 80,000 hours.
    $27.99
    View on Amazon
    Bestseller No. 4
    GroDrow Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, 150 LED Grow Light for Seed Starting with Red Blue Spectrum, 3/9/12H Timer, 10 Dimmable Levels & 3 Switch Modes, Adjustable Gooseneck Suitable for Various Plant
    GroDrow Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, 150 LED Grow Light for Seed Starting with Red Blue Spectrum, 3/9/12H Timer, 10 Dimmable Levels & 3 Switch Modes, Adjustable Gooseneck Suitable for Various Plant
    • 【5 Heads Plant Grow Lights & 150 LEDs】This plant growing lamp consists of 150 efficient grow LEDs (100 red and 50 blue). 5 head plant grow light provide a wider lighting range than traditional 2, 3, and 4 head plant light and increase the intensity of light by up to 100%, allowing your plants to receive more energy.
    • 【3 Spectral Modes & 10 Brightness Levels】Full spectrum led grow light has 3 spectrum modes(Red, Blue & Mixed Spectrum). 10 brightness settings ranging from 10% to 100%, we can be switched at will, free to choose the most suitable brightness and spectrum for our plant growth. Makes plants grow 5 times faster than natural plants.
    • 【Auto Cycle On/Off & Timer Function】Designed with auto circular memory timing function and there are 3/9/12H timer setting options for your choosing. Plant grow light will turn on/off by itself every day as your setting. Even you're on the travel, these grow light strips will still take good care of your plants every day!
    • 【Strong Clip & Flexible Gooseneck】This 5 head grow lights have a strong clip and bracket support that can be stably placed and arbitrarily clamped anywhere. The indoor grow lights have a 360° independently adjustable gooseneck design, which can be rotated to any angle for your requirements, which provides a wider and more flexible range of light.
    • 【Designed for Plants Growth 】This indoor grow lights are perfect for seed starting can meet the different needs of plants for sunlight in different growth stages. The excellent heat dissipation performance ensures the lamps are more durable and the service life is up to 80,000 hours. Widely apply to greenhouses, herb garden, indoor garden, flower bed, succulent seeds, bonsai tree, especially plants, seeds & herb.
    $26.99
    View on Amazon
    Bestseller No. 5
    Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, Four Head LED Grow Light with Full Spectrum & Red White Spectrum for Indoor Plant Growing Lamp, Adjustable Gooseneck, Suitable for Plants Growth (Four-Head Plant Light)
    Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, Four Head LED Grow Light with Full Spectrum & Red White Spectrum for Indoor Plant Growing Lamp, Adjustable Gooseneck, Suitable for Plants Growth (Four-Head Plant Light)
    • 🍒【Adjustable gooseneck & telescopic pole】The flexible gooseneck can be rotated 360 degrees, and the pole can also be telescopic, allowing you to more easily adjust the distance between the plant light and the plant
    • 🍒【White & red LED lamp beads】Simulating natural light, especially red light, can make plants better photosynthesize to promote healthy growth
    • 🍒【Efficient full-spectrum LED lamps】The plant growing light has 72 LED lamp beads, and vegetables, fruits or plants can be fully cared for and supplied without sun exposure
    • 🍒【Designed for plant growth】This plant growth lamp can meet the needs of light in different growth stages such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc
    • 🍒【Multiple usage】You can put it on the balcony, living room, office, greenhouse, you can use it for indoor gardening, breeding, potted plants have a wide range of uses, especially suitable for growing plants in the dark or when it rains
    $23.99
    View on Amazon

    Last update on 2023-02-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

    What are the Types of Indoor Grow Lights?

    Now that you understand the basics of indoor lighting, it’s time to discuss the types of grow lights available. This topic is confusing for many indoor gardening newbies. Understanding the difference between the lights helps you choose the right light to match your needs.

    Fluorescents

    Fluorescent bulbs are a popular choice for starter gardens. The blue-white spectrum of the light is ideal for starting seedlings and growing young plants. Best of all, these fluorescent globes are cheap to run, using hardly any electricity.

    CFL bulbs are an excellent choice for vegetative gardens, and there’s no chance of this light spectrum burning your plants. You can leave the bulbs within a few inches of the top of the canopy, and the tips of your young plants won’t burn.

    The CFL bulbs don’t put out much heat, and if the leaves of your plants touch the lamps, it won’t result in a burn. Both commercial and hobbyist farmers use fluorescents to start plants before moving them into the flowering phase.

    Some plants, such as leafy greens like spinach and kale will do well under these lights, and they don’t require any transition to another light source for additional growth. T5 bulbs are the most popular type of CFL bulb available.

    You’ll need several of these lights over one growing area, and we recommend packing in as many as you can fit.

    Light Emitting Diode (LED)

    LED grow lights are the new gold-standard in indoor growing. These lights were the next evolution from the high-pressure sodium and metal halide globes. However, LED costs a fraction of the price to operate when compared to HPS and MH globes. LEDs produce less heat and consume less electricity.

    The early stages of LED technology were skeptical, and many growers were hesitant to use them due to the technology’s unproven nature. However, over the last 10-years, LED technology has made remarkable progress, and todays LED lighting systems are as effective as HPS or MH, without the sizable energy bill.

    Some LED models also feature dual-spectrum output. You can start your plants on a vegetative light spectrum, and they turn them to flowering with the click of a switch. These lights are typically more expensive, but the dual operation comes in handy.

    Bestseller No. 1
    Barrina 4FT T8 Plant Grow Light, 252W(6 x 42W, 1400W Equivalent), Full Spectrum, LED Growing Lamp Fixture for Indoor Plant Growing, with ON/Off Switch & V-Shaped Reflector, Pinkish White, 6-Pack
    Barrina 4FT T8 Plant Grow Light, 252W(6 x 42W, 1400W Equivalent), Full Spectrum, LED Growing Lamp Fixture for Indoor Plant Growing, with ON/Off Switch & V-Shaped Reflector, Pinkish White, 6-Pack
    • Full Spectrum: Barrina LED grow lights 4ft provide indoor plants with full-spectrum sunlight replacement. It provides the most reasonable grow light wave based on the ratio of the absorption of the plants
    • Super Bright and High PPFD: Consuming only 252W with 1152 LEDS totally, replace 1400w general plant lights. Over 95% light energy can be absorbed by plants. The light efficiency can be increased by 17~20% with reflector. The shell of our light was made of 100% aluminum which provides the high-efficiency heat dissipation. Ensuring the longer service life of the led chips
    • Easy Installation: With included tape, clips and cable ties, you could install the lights by yourself in minutes. You could link up to 6 led grow light strips in a series, saving your installation cost and time
    • Eyes protection: These grow lights are suitable for planting plants in any indoor application. Color of light makes your eyes feel comfortable. It works extremely well for your plant grow tents, plant grow shelves, seedling cultivation, hydroponic rooms, greenhouses, etc
    • What You Get: 2 years warranty. 6 x Barrina LED Grow lights, 3 x Power cords with ON/OFF switch, 5 x Connecting Cords(48''), 6 x Small Connectors, 24x Installation Clips, 12 x Tapes, 24 x cable ties
    $99.99
    View on Amazon
    SaleBestseller No. 2
    GooingTop LED Grow Light,6000K Full Spectrum Clip Plant Growing Lamp with White Red LEDs for Indoor Plants,5-Level Dimmable,Auto On Off Timing 4 8 12Hrs
    GooingTop LED Grow Light,6000K Full Spectrum Clip Plant Growing Lamp with White Red LEDs for Indoor Plants,5-Level Dimmable,Auto On Off Timing 4 8 12Hrs
    • 6000K White Light - equipped with 10 Red + 74 White LEDs, this growing Lamp is similar to the full-spectrum sunlight at noon,that is professionally designed for indoor garden plants.Moreover, its color rendering index is as high as 95, the light is soft and flicker-free, which is very suitable for reading lamp
    • Timer Function & Multiple Settings - this growing light offer the circular memory timer function with 3 options-4h/8h/12h. When keeping power, it can automatically turn ON/OFF in a 24-hour period according your settings, no more manual operation for you.
    • Easy to Install - with flexible Gooseneck & strong clamp,it allows you to place the growth light in any direction to provide the best lighting angle for your plants,meet the cover around the plant.Powered by USB or AC Power Plug
    • High Efficiency LED Lamp - as for LED power draw this seedling lights just comsume about 10watt and is equavalent to a 50W Halogen Bulb.Estimately monthly cost roughly $2 in electricity (12 hours a day). It is a great gift if you growing some small house plants.
    • 【365 Days Worry-free Warranty】GooingTop service team offer 365 days warranty and 24h friendly customer service. If there are ever any issues about the product, please feel free to contact us and we will send you a new replacement or full refund.
    $21.99
    View on Amazon

    Last update on 2023-02-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

    Metal Halide (MH)

    MH lighting is a favorite choice for indoor gardeners during the vegetative phase. This light produces the growing spectrum, providing plenty of power and intensity to supercharge the growing period.

    However, these lights consume plenty of power, making them an inferior choice to CFL in terms of value for money. MH produces the blue light plants that need to grow, and they are suitable for wattages up to 2,000-W

    High-Pressure Sodium (HPS)

    The HPS bulb produces light in the red range between 600nm to 700nm. This spectrum mimics the waning days of summer and spring, and the daylight hours start to get smaller. If you’re growing vegetables that rely on changes to photoperiods to flower, turning on your HPS bulb after the vegetation cycle will induce flowering.

    These lights push out plenty of heat, and you’ll need an external ballast you can set up outside the growing area to keep the temperature down. HPS is an intense light and comes in power ranges from 400-watts to 2,000-watts.

    These bulbs are notoriously expensive to run. Many growers decided to leave their HPS systems in favor of LEDs in recent years.

    SaleBestseller No. 1
    iPower 600 Watt HPS MH Digital Dimmable Grow Light System Kits Wing Reflector Set with Timer
    iPower 600 Watt HPS MH Digital Dimmable Grow Light System Kits Wing Reflector Set with Timer
    • 600W Digital Dimmable Electronic Ballast: Support 120V/240V Input; Dimmable Options: 50%, 75%, 100%; 8 Feet heavy-duty power cord included; Stable power output ensure flicker free light
    • 1 x 600W Super HPS Bulb 2100K; 1 x 600W MH Bulb 6000K; Optimized spectrum and high PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiation) to promote healthy plant growth and soonest flourish
    • 1 x Pair of 8-ft adjustable Ratchet Clip Hanger Rope: hold up to 150 lbs; 24-hour Plug-in Mechanical Timer: 15 minutes increments
    • 19-inch Wing Reflector: up to 4' x 4' light coverage; Built-in 15 feet heavy duty lamp cord with E39 Ceramic Mogul Socket and standard Hydroponic S-Plug; highly 95% reflective textured German aluminum maximizes the light reflected to the plants
    • CAUTION: This system will generate too much heat to be used in an enclosed area without ventilation. Adequate ventilation is required for all iPower grow light systems. We recommend the use of an iPower inline fan
    $129.99
    View on Amazon
    Bestseller No. 2
    iPower 1000W HPS MH Digital Dimmable Grow Light System Kit 19-Inch Gull Wing Reflector with Electronic Ballast, Two Bulbs, Timer and Hanger Rope
    iPower 1000W HPS MH Digital Dimmable Grow Light System Kit 19-Inch Gull Wing Reflector with Electronic Ballast, Two Bulbs, Timer and Hanger Rope
    • High PAR and optimized spectrum: 1 x 1000w 2100K HPS bulb, 1 x 1000w 6000K MH bulb, promote healthy plant growth and soonest flourish
    • Electronic ballast: 1000w digital dimmable, 50% 75% 100% power level, compatible with HPS and MH light bulbs by micro-chip programming, free heavy-duty power cord included
    • High reflective: 19-inch gull wing reflector, up to 4' x 4' light coverage; built-in 15 feet heavy duty lamp cord with E39 ceramic mogul socket and standard S-plug; highly 95% reflective textured German aluminum maximizes the light reflected to the plants
    • Comprehensive accessories: 1 pair of 8-ft adjustable ratchet clip hanger rope, up to 75-pound weight load capacity per ratchet, hold up to 150 lbs. 24-hour plug-in mechanical timer, programmable, 15 minutes increments
    • Caution: This system will generate too much heat to be used in an enclosed area without ventilation. Adequate ventilation is required for all iPower grow light systems. We recommend the use of an iPower inline fan
    $154.99
    View on Amazon

    Last update on 2023-02-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

    Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)

    These globes offer indoor growers the best of HPS, and MH roiled into one platform. These lights have a balanced spectral output, providing a mixture of red, orange, and blue light. As a result, you can grow with one bulb year-round without the need to switch to different spectrums.

    Plasma

    Plasma bulbs are the new evolution of LED. These systems are gaining traction with growers due to the efficiency claims around the power consumption of these models. They offer the same one-size-fits-all growing spectrum, but they are considerably more expensive to purchase than most LED systems.

    SaleBestseller No. 1
    CreaCity Grow Light, Full Spectrum 72 LED Plant Light for Large Indoor Plants, Height Adjustable Growing Lamp with Auto On/Off Timer 3/9/12H
    CreaCity Grow Light, Full Spectrum 72 LED Plant Light for Large Indoor Plants, Height Adjustable Growing Lamp with Auto On/Off Timer 3/9/12H
    • 72 LED Grow Light - 72 LED lights provide stronger full-spectrum (380nm-800nm) light to promote indoor plant growth any time of year, including white 48 LED, red 16 LED, blue 8 LED.
    • Larger Halo - CreaCity's 6.3-inch diameter grow light provides a larger area of light than the 3.5-inch diameter compact grow light. One light can illuminate 3-4 plants at the same time, making your home tidier.
    • Stable - The metal rod supported in the center of the halo makes the light stable and hard to fall over.
    • Cycle Timer - Auto shut off after 3/9/12 hours of operation and turns on at the same time the next day.
    • Memory after Power off - The brightness, color, and other states of the grow light can be locked by instant memory when power off, and still work according to the set state after power on, so you don't need to worry about resetting after power off; It can be used with a smart plug. (Does not come with a smart plug)
    $24.99
    View on Amazon
    SaleBestseller No. 2
    APLANT Grow Light, 20W Ultra-Thin LED Grow Lights for Indoor Plants Full Spectrum, 6/10/12H Timer Plant Light, 132 LEDs Under Cabinet Plant Growing Lamp Strip for Seedlings, Veg, Flowers (2pcs)
    APLANT Grow Light, 20W Ultra-Thin LED Grow Lights for Indoor Plants Full Spectrum, 6/10/12H Timer Plant Light, 132 LEDs Under Cabinet Plant Growing Lamp Strip for Seedlings, Veg, Flowers (2pcs)
    • 【Ultra-Thin Invisible Grow Light】APLANT led grow lights are sleek and easy to hide and install. They are almost invisible after installation, which means it is more beautiful and neat to use. The plant light is perfect for tiered shelves, a ladder bookshelf, or a cabinet, also can be used on the wall or even under the table/bed.
    • 【Auto ON/OFF Timer Function】APLANT grow lights for seed starting can be set up to turn off after 6H/10H/12H. After you set up the hours, the plant light strips will automatically turn ON/Off at the same time every day if you keep the power supply.
    • 【Less Heat & Hight PPFD】2Pcs Ultra-Thin grow light panel at size 10.1 x 3.9 x 0.5 inches, uses an aluminum backer board with low heat generation. APLANT grow lights for indoor plants consume only 20W with 132 LEDs, make sure over 95% light energy can be absorbed by your indoor plants.
    • 【Full Spectrum Grow Lights】This plant grow lights indoor with 132 high quality ( 50,000 hours lifetime), high efficiency LED chips; and the light wave from 380nm to 780nm. Similar to the natural sunlight, bring your outdoor garden inside for all-season growing.
    • 【Easy to Install】This indoor plant lights come with a stick-on hook and cable ties, the connectors are also easy to install. Flexible Installation designed fits for various kitchen cabinets, bookshelf, or counters. The grow light strip is convenient for indoor garden plants, such as Succulents, Herbs, Bonsai, Vegetables, etc.
      We provide a 30-day money-back guarantee; and a lifetime support guarantee. Pls contact us if you got any questions, we will be happy to help you!
    $19.07
    View on Amazon

    Last update on 2023-02-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

    Cooling and Heating Effects

    One of the byproducts of running indoor growing lights – is heat. CFL bulbs and LEDs put out very little heat during operation. As a result, you’re not going to notice any changes in your indoor growing temperatures.

    However, MH and HPS bulbs do produce significant amounts of heat. As a result of the light intensity produced by these bulbs, you might notice that the temperature inside your growing room may increase by up to 12-degrees. The increase depends on the size of the lamp and your growing conditions.

    To mitigate this effect, you’ll have to install fans or an air-conditioner to lower the heat back to reasonable growing temperatures.

    How Do You Maintain Your Grow Lights?

    There are a few basic principles you can follow to maintain your lights. In most cases, the ballasts will only require some minor cleaning, and you might have to open the ballast once a year to blow out the dust.

    Watch Out for Bulb Light Degradation

    All grow bulbs will start to lose efficiency and power over time. A degraded bulb doesn’t produce the necessary amount of light to create the best crop effects. As a result, you’ll need to swap out bulbs at least once a season to prevent degradation.

    However, different types of bulbs provide different service life, depending on the type, wattage, manufacturer, and use in the garden.

    T5 Fluorescent Bulb Degradation

    Fluorescent light degrades the slowest out of all the options you have. These bulbs will lose around 10% of lumen capacity for every 20,000-hours of working time.

    LED Bulb Degradation

    LEDs degrade the slowest. For example, an incandescent bulb using filament, lasts for around 6 to 9-months, depending on your frequency of use. In contrast, a LED will last you between 15 and 20-years.

    Most manufacturers will rate LED systems at 50,000 to 100,000-hours of operation before the diodes require replacement.

    When Do I Replace My Bulbs?

    You’ll have to replace your bulbs sooner or later, and we recommend sooner than later. Replace MH and HPS bulbs after they reach 50% degradation – we recommend after each harvest season, or every 8 to 10-months.

    Indoor Grow Light FAQs

    Do you have a few more questions about using indoor grow lights? Check out this FAQ for the answers you need.

    How much light do indoor plants need to thrive?

    Some plants are different than others. We recommend you run your lights for 16 to 20-hours on vegetative crops. You can use an MH or CFL bulb for this purpose. If you’re flowering vegetables or fruits, you’ll need to drop the photoperiod to 12-hours on, and 12-hours off.

    Try to avoid running your lights for 24-hours; plants need time to rest and recover – just like you. We recommend you buy a timer and link it to your lighting system. You can use the controller to nominate your lighting hours, without the need for manual intervention.

    How close can fluorescent bulbs come to my plants?

    CFL bulbs won’t damage your plants. Even if the foliage ends up sitting on the lamp directly, you shouldn’t notice any burning or damage to the leaves or flowers of your plants. However, we recommend that you always keep the lights around 2 to 3-inches away from the top of the canopy.

    Don’t move them any higher than that, or you’ll start to experience a slowdown in your plants’ growth. As mentioned, change your CFL bulbs at least once a year to avoid bulb degradation and keep your garden thriving.

    How often must I replace HID lighting like HPS and MH bulbs?

    It depends on how often you use the light and the duration of the photoperiod you’re trying to emulate. As a good rule of thumb, we recommend replacing MH and HPS bulbs after each season for the best results.

    HPS and MH bulbs are expensive, so you’ll need to account for the costs of the bulbs in your gardening budget. Ceramic metal halide bulbs last a bit longer than the other HPS and MH variants. You might get away with two growing seasons before you notice severe bulb degradation occurring.

    Is growing under LEDs worth it?

    Many indoor gardeners swear by LED systems, while others steer clear of this tech. When selecting your LED grow light, make sure you look at the PAR, lumens, and the wattage of the light before finalizing your purchase.

    Follow the directions and guidelines for growing under these lights, placing the light too close to the canopy results in the burning of the plants. For seedlings and sprouts, we recommend you keep the light at least 24″ to 28″ above the canopy. You can drop the lights to 18-24″ overhead during the transition phase, and 12″ to 18″ during the flowering cycle.

    Wrapping Up – Get Professional Advice

    If you’re thinking about starting an indoor garden this year, you need to get the best advice possible. We recommend signing up for a forum.

    You’ll find plenty of experienced growers willing to give you some advice. Get recommendations on the best equipment brands and avoid making the same mistake novice gardeners make in their first season.

    There are dozens of grow lights out there to choose from. However, only a select few provide the best light for your garden. Make sure you select a device that suits your gardening needs and your budget.

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    Hollie Carter
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    Hollie is a life-long gardener, having started helping her Dad work on their yard when she was just 5. Since then she has gone on to develop a passion for growing vegetables & fruit in her garden. She has an affinity with nature and loves to share her knowledge gained over a lifetime with readers online. Hollie has written for a number of publications and is now the resident garden blogger here at GardenBeast. Contact her at hollie@gardenbeast.com or follow on twitter https://twitter.com/greenholliec

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