Growing plants is a naturally pleasing hobby, but sometimes not all of us can afford to look after a beautiful garden or plant outdoors. This is where indoor lights come in handy.
What if I told you that you can easily plant indoors using lights that are specifically designed to nourish plants? They can even provide them with all the necessary ingredients that the outdoor environment has.
So in this article, I’m going to guide you to the best indoor plant grow lights. You’ll also find more about how to choose the best one for your plants.
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Top 5 Indoor Plant Grow Lights
When it comes to choosing your indoor plant grow light, there’s a huge variety of options. So I’ve gathered 5 of the current best indoor grow lights for all different kinds of plants.
1. Full Spectrum Tri-Head Grow Lights
Not only does its tri-head light larger areas and more plants, but the Full Spectrum Grow light also has 10 adjustable levels of brightness.
It also has 3 lighting modes, which vary depending on the spectrum you want for your plants’ growth. The product comes with a controller from which you can control the brightness and set your desired mode.
This tripod’s height is adjustable depending on how much light intensity your plants need. It can extend from 15” to 47”, and you can adjust its angle as well, which is useful when dealing with floor plants.
One of the special features in this grow light is its automatic timer. Once you’ve set the timer on 3, 9, or 12 hours, it automatically turns on for that period and then off for the rest of the day. Afterward, it repeats the cycle automatically.
What We Like
- Adjustable height (suitable for floor plants)
- Ability to focus the light on different areas
What We Don’t Like
- Frequent malfunctions in the timer’s on/off resetting
- It doesn’t come with a plug
2. GE Grow Light LED Bulb
If you’re short on money or space, then the GE Grow Light Bulb is an efficient alternative for you. This budget-friendly LED bulb only consumes 9 Watts, and has a high Photosynthesis Photon Flux (PPF) output for its size.
PPF refers to the amount of light provided for the plant’s photosynthesis, measured in micromoles per second.
Moreover, it has two different light spectrums, each intended for a specific stage of the plants’ growth cycle.
The first is the Balanced Light Spectrum, which combines blue and red lights for the early and mid-stages of the plants’ growth. While the second only produces red light and is designed for the fruiting or flowering stages.
What We Like
- A PFF output of 16 micromoles per second
- Longevity of nearly 3 years (for a 12 hours a day usage)
What We Don’t Like
- Has a noisy buzzing sound
3. Yehsence 1500w LED Grow Light
In addition to their dedicated customer service, this Yehsence product is perfect for beginners and professional indoor gardeners alike.
If you don’t have much experience in indoor planting, you can simply use the two-switch system without having to consider the complications of which spectrums to use.
You should use the “VEG” switch during the beginning of the leaf stage (also known as the germination stage). For flowering or fruiting stages, you can turn on the “Boom” switch, although Yehsence advises turning on both for optimum results.
The 1500-Watts LED light can cover a relatively large area of 5.4×5.4 ft, with maximum area coverage of 6.5×6.5 ft. To get the best out of it, its hanging height should be between 24” to 28”.
Even though it consumes 1500 Watts, it still saves 80% more energy than the average high-pressure sodium light. Despite its huge wattage, it manages to avoid overheating, thanks to its 3 PCS cooling fans.
What We Like
- 3-year warranty, with 90 days refund
- Comes with a Daisy Chained design
- More efficient 15W LEDs (3pcs 5 Watts chips in every led )
What We Don’t Like
- Repeated Complaints about faulty fans
4. Torchstar Plant Grow LED Light Kit
Torchstar LED kit is a suitable option if you’re planting herbs and small plants. The elegant self-sufficient design gives your plants a full-spectrum solar simulation needed for their growth.
Its timer is set similar to the natural plants’ exposure to light, which is 16 hours on and 8 hours off. The kit is engineered for planting sweetgrass, mint, vegetables, as well as leafy and succulent plants.
Using 22 high-quality LEDs, it consumes less electric energy and contributes to your plants’ photosynthesis process. Moreover, it has dimensions of 16.54”×11.42” ×5.43”, which is enough space for planting multiple plants.
What We Like
- Has a UL listed power adaptor
- Durable plastic set and waterproof
What We Don’t Like
- Both timer and brightness aren’t adjustable
5. Ankace 40W Dual Head Grow Light
Ankace features it all, 3 switch modes and 5 dimmable modes (from 20% to 100% brightness), and timing modes of 3,6, and 12 hours. What distinguishes this model from the rest on the list is that it can conveniently fit your office desk.
With a durable clip that can attach up to a maximum of 3-inched surfaces, in addition to a USB power option, you can easily have it connected to your computer instead of plugging it in.
In addition, this grow light can be used for indoor hydroponics and food production. Some of the plants you can use the light with are vegetables, flowering plants, foliage, potted and succulent plants.
What We Like
- USB power option
- Adjustable gooseneck design
What We Don’t Like
- The timer has to be set manually
- Burnt-out bulbs are irreplaceable
What to Consider Before Buying
Changing the plants’ natural habitat into the artificial indoor world of yours might be quite a shock for them. This is why you need to make sure that you’ve prepared for this transformation.
Space
One of the first things you should consider when buying an indoor grow light is how much space your plants need, and how much room you have got.
Moreover, every type of light has to be distanced at a certain height from the plant for optimum results. The height depends mainly on the bulb’s type and wattage (the higher wattage, the further away it should be).
For most plants, this is the average range for each of these types of bulbs:
- Fluorescent Light: 3” to 12”
- LED Light: 12” to 24”
- HID Grow Light: 24” to 60”
Color Spectrum
Another aspect that’s crucial for optimizing the plants’ growth is the range in which the light it emits lies. Red light (ranging between 610-720 nm) is essential for plants undergoing flowering or budding stages.
As for enhancing chlorophyll absorption, photosynthesis, and growth, the violet-blue range (lying between 400-520 nm) is recommended. Blue light is also vital for plants in the vegetative stage.
Sometimes, the warmness or coolness of the spectrum is the labeled number, rather than the range of the spectrum.
The higher the number, the cooler the spectrum. For flowering and fruiting stages, a warm light of around 3000K is suitable, while cooler spectrums of around 6500K are better for foliage growth.
The Bulbs
Most light bulbs will produce heat, which means that some of the energy dedicated to the light was dissipated as heat. The more efficient the light bulb is, the less heat it produces.
Although some plants might benefit from the extra heat, most plants could actually be in danger of being damaged if the grow light’s height is set improperly.
Since there usually isn’t anything that clearly states the bulb’s dissipated heat, it’s always better to check the reviews of the product you’re buying beforehand.
Another aspect you should consider when buying the grow light is the bulb’s life expectancy. Most LEDs can’t be replaced when burnt out, meaning that you have to replace the entire product.
So you should either check for grow lights whose LEDs have a long life expectancy, or choose a product that allows you to replace burnt-out bulbs.
FAQ
How long should I leave the grow lights on?
Since indoor conditions aren’t ideal compared to the natural requirements for plants’ growth, indoor gardening requires more hours of light.
Around 12-18 hours a day is recommended for average plants under artificial light. However, it’s a terrible idea if you leave them exposed 24/7, both for your plants’ health and your electricity bill.
How many watts do I need per square foot of growing space?
On average, a typical wattage of 30-40 is adequate per square foot of grow space. However, this is the value of the actual wattage, which is different from the advertised wattage of the bulb.
For example, the average wattage of a 1500-Watts bulb can be only about 600 Watts. You should always resort to the company’s recommendations as LEDs also vary in design.
Bottom Line
While each one of the grow lights above is specifically beneficial for different types of plants, I’ll still have to go with the Full Spectrum Tri-Head Grow Lights.
This all-in-one light would be suitable for most types of plants, thanks to its adjustable height and versatile modes. It can also cover a larger unconfined area compared to the rest on the list.
While this is my favorite pick, you should always consider the type of plants you want to grow with respect to the features that your light has. And most importantly, don’t forget to water your plants!
