Beginner’s Guide on How to Choose the Best Grow Lights for Indoor Plan - Omysa
Beginner’s Guide on How to Choose the Best Grow Lights for Indoor Plants
It can be pretty difficult to provide enough light because of the winter season. So here are the best grow lights for indoor plants to help your babies grow healthy and strong.
Winter is here, and that means the days are shorter. Sometimes, the early darkness can make us all feel a little down. Of course, your indoor plants will feel the same. Some indoor plants can thrive in low light, but most indoor plants need bright, indirect light to grow well and healthy. We know that we’re stating the obvious, especially that there’s not enough light this cold season. That’s why it’s recommended to have grown lights for your indoor plants.
You might have heard of growing indoor plants under lights, but you haven’t tried yet. Some might think it’s complicated and costly, but it’s easy to setup. Additionally, there are different types of grow lights that you can buy according to your budget.
Uses of Grow Light
Grow light has 4 uses: propagate, growing food, seedlings, and limited light.
Limited Light: Grow light can help indoor plants to grow healthy and strong, especially during the colder months. Grow lights can also be used as artificial lighting for rooms with limited light or no sunlight.
Seedlings: Grow lights can be used to assist with the propagation of indoor plants from seedlings since seedlings need enough light and warm temperature to grow healthy.
Growing Food: Of course, if you have an indoor garden of greens and herbs, you definitely need grow lights for them to grow correctly.
Propagate: If you love propagating plants to give as gifts or as a side hustle, you must have grow lights to properly propagate your indoor plants.
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Types of Indoor Plants That Benefit From Grow Lights
Many indoor plants can thrive in any type of light, but if you want to see them grow happy and healthy, here are some indoor plants that will grow best under grow lights this winter.
Succulents: Well, it’s an obvious fact that succulents thrive under full sun or bright, indirect light. So during the winter season, provide them with enough light by using grow lights.
African Violets: If you want the African Violet plant to bloom, it’s best to place it under grow lights.
Orchids: One of the most popular indoor plants, growing orchids isn’t that easy as it looks. Orchids require at least 10 hours of light and the correct temperature and humidity to grow well.
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Grow Light Intensity and Spectrum
OK, before we proceed with the best type of grow lights for indoor plants, let’s understand first the meaning of light intensity and spectrum.
By definition, the light spectrum can be compared to the colors of the rainbow. The different colors have different effects on the plant’s growth. We are all aware that plants have different types of lighting needs, and a full spectrum light is perfect for aquarium plants, plants that need a few hours of light, and flowering plants.
Light intensity is the strength of light, which could be too much or too little. Watts and lumens are the two basic light measurement when buying grow lights. Remember, the higher the wattage, the higher the energy input into the bulb, and usage. While the higher the lumens, the brighter the light and output.
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There are three types of grow lights for indoor plants: fluorescent, LED grow lights, and High-Intensity Discharge (HID).
Fluorescent: Fluorescent lighting is the most popular choice of plant parents for providing light during winter and encouraging plants to bloom. Additionally, it’s more cost-efficient compared to other types of grow lights. However, one of the disadvantages of fluorescent lighting is it provides less heat, which can be harmful to indoor plants. Some of the most popular types of fluorescent lighting are bulb types like CFL (small compact fluorescent bulbs), T5, and T8.
LED Grow Lights: Similar to fluorescent lighting, LED grow lights are becoming more popular for gardeners because it costs less in terms of consuming electricity. However, LED grow lights do not produce too much heat, which can be harmful to seedlings and indoor plants. Buying a LED unit can be a bit pricey, but you can reduce costs since it lasts longer, low energy usage, and efficient as grow lights for indoor plants.
High-Intensity Discharge (HID): There are two types of HID, Metal Halide (MH) and High-Pressure Sodium (HPS). The type of HID will depend on the type of indoor plant you have. HID is the recommended type of light for serious gardeners and for people who can spend more since it can be costly to set up HID. Let’s not forget the electricity bill since it consumes a lot of energy.
The answer depends on a few factors, such as the type of grow light you’re using, the growing environment of your plant, and the type of plant you have. However, in general, grow lights need to be on for at least 8-10 hours a day. If your plant needs light all day, then it’s best to choose LED grow lights.
We recommend that you place a grow light above the plant since plants tend to lean towards the light source, so it’s best to place it above them. Additionally, grow lights emit heat, so make sure that your plants aren’t touching the grow lights or too close because it can cause leaf burn. Also, if you have low light indoor plants, choose less powerful grow lights. However, if you have large indoor plants, opt for LED grow lights since large indoor plants need lots of light to grow well.
Lastly, it’s best to use a timer for your grow lights. It will be convenient because the timer will automatically turn on or off the grow lights according to the times you set it up.
This winter, make sure that your plants are getting enough light to survive until the next season. If you want to replicate the color temperature of the sunlight, opt for fluorescent and traditional bulbs since they have more spectrum. We hope this guide on grow lights for indoor plants will help your plant babies grow lush, full, and healthy.
Check out our Plant Care blog to learn more about different houseplants and tips on how to keep your plants alive and healthy. Whatever houseplant you choose to transform your home into a lively oasis, you’ll definitely need a stylish planter to display your plant baby in. No matter what your style, there’s an Omysa planter that will be perfect with your garden and home’s décor. From ceramics to fiberstone, check out Omysa’s Shop and add it to your cart!