8 Best Grow Lights for Plants
Create a garden in every room with the best grow lights for plants.
Plants cannot grow without photosynthesis, and plants cannot photosynthesize without light. Grow lights mimic natural sunlight to stimulate photosynthesis in indoor plants. The best grow lights for plants are suited to both the plants you want to grow and the indoor space in which you want to grow them. To learn more about houseplants, read our guide The Best Houseplants to Grow Indoors.
The Color of the Light Is Important
Grow lights come in different colors that provide specific benefits for your indoor garden. Red light and blue light are particularly essential to the lifespan of a plant – red helps plants to flower and produce fruit; blue promotes the production of chlorophyll for stem and leaf health. Some plant hobbyists, however, prefer the aesthetics of white light. White works more like natural sunlight: it provides a full spectrum of colors and, as in nature, the plants absorb the colors they need to fuel their growth.
The Type of Light Is Important
Beyond the light color is the type of bulb the grow light uses. Fluorescent and incandescent grow lights are less expensive than their alternatives, but they are also less energy-efficient and can generate heat that may harm the plants.
HID (high-intensity discharge) grow lights are most like natural sunlight. They are pricier than other types of grow lights and most often are used in commercial grow rooms. This list features LED (light-emitting diodes) grow lights, the best grow lights for plants in the average home. LED glow lights boast a long lifespan, are energy-efficient, and have a low heat output.
The Amount of Light Is Important
In nature, plants are exposed to a daily light-dark cycle: at least eight hours of daylight and eight hours of darkness. The best grow lights for plants mimic this and include a timer that regulates the amount of light your houseplants receive each day.
The Best Grow Lights for Plants
1. FENBAO Indoor Plants LED Grow Light
This LED grow light is a great choice for all types of indoor plants. It attaches with a sturdy clamp and features a 360-degree rotatable neck that makes it easy to direct red light and blue light to a single or multiple plants. Each lamp head can be set at a different time setting or light intensity to ensure that all of your plants receive the right amount of light at their various stages of growth.
Growing your own herbs and veggies in the kitchen is a great idea, but it can be difficult to do so in a dark or windowless kitchen. This white LED grow light can be mounted to the underside of your cabinets and linked to as many as ten more fixtures without additional cords. The low-wattage light is ideal for growing plants like lettuce, parsley, chives, and cilantro yet still delivers enough brightness to benefit sunshine-loving cacti and succulents.
This cleverly designed grow light keeps everything together. The attached base holds eight pots (included), and the white LED light promotes the natural growth of herbs, vegetables, fruits, and houseplants. Adjust the height of the unit as your seeds grow into taller plants. The automatic timer turns the light on for 16 hours and off for eight hours
This foldable grow light can be used in a variety of ways. Angle each of the four connected lights independently to accommodate multiple plants. The pleasing full-spectrum lights are suitable for all types of plants and will help them achieve hearty growth.
This compact grow light is great for a small apartment, dorm room, or any other setting where space is at a premium. Its slim, decorative design makes it the perfect accessory for a nightstand, accent table, or work desk. It multitasks as an LED grow light, a desk lamp, and a phone charger. It comes in black, too!
This versatile grow light is an excellent choice for large houseplants, patio plants, and indoor fruit trees. Four rotatable gooseneck lamps attach to the adjustable-height tripod Each lamp can be operated individually and boasts ten levels of brightness. The full-spectrum growing lamp can be set to three, nine, or 12 hours to ensure just the right amount of light for optimal photosynthesis.
This grow light emits high-intensity light without getting too hot. High-quality LED lamp beads deliver the light in a uniform and concentrated manner. The quiet, cooling fans help to dissipate heat through air convection to prevent overheating.
This cute grow light is so convenient. You move it instead of having to move potted plants. Insert the "umbrella" into the dirt, and let the low-voltage, full-spectrum light do its magic. The height is adjustable, and the automatic timer lets you adapt to your changing plants' needs. Oh, and it comes in a bunch of fun colors, too!
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Whether you're starting seeds and young plants to transfer outdoors or creating a garden that will remain indoors, the best grow lights will help you bring the "sunshine" in.
Written by Mary Fetzer
