What are Grow Lights?
Grow lights are artificial lights that help indoor plants thrive all year. To meet the different needs of different plants, grow lights are available in a range of light intensities and color spectrums. Indoor grow lights are vital gardening tools because they allow houseplants to have enough light even in darkened rooms.
How do Grow Lights work?
Grow lights convert electricity into photons, which are light particles that stimulate photosynthesis. A variety of wavelengths are best for photosynthesis. These wavelengths can be perceived by the human eye as colors. Blue light is better for vegetative growth, while red light is best for fruiting or flowering plants.
There are 4 types of grow lights
There are several options for indoor grow lights.
Fluorescent grow light: Fluorescent lights are available in many forms including tubes lights and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). Fluorescent bulbs can produce harmful heat and are less efficient than LED bulbs.
Incandescent grow lights: While some growers use incandescent lamps, this type can cause damage to plants. Although they are less expensive than other options for grow lights, incandescent bulbs consume more energy and burn out faster.
LED grow lights: LED lights (light-emitting dimmers) have a longer life span than other types of grow lamps. They are efficient and produce low heat. There are two types of LED grow lights: larger LED grow light fixtures and smaller LED grow light bulbs.
HID grow light: High-intensity discharge (HID) grow lights reproduce natural light better than any other type of grow light. These high-output grow lights are costly and are most commonly used in commercial grow areas. Two main HID grow light types are available: ceramic metal halide lights (CMH), which emit a blue colour and high-pressure sodium lights (HPS), which emit a red hue.
How to Use Grow Lighting
Grow lights can be used to make indoor plants more productive and healthier.
Select the right equipment. Choose the best light for your herb garden or houseplants. Ballasts are often required for HID and fluorescent grow lights to control their electrical outputs. For most indoor plants, full-spectrum grow lamps are an excellent choice. Consider using multiple grow lamps, panels of lights or reflectors to provide additional light to your houseplants.
Install your lights. Your indoor garden’s plants will determine the ideal lighting level. Some plants can thrive in low light conditions, but most plants require bright lighting, especially succulents and flowering plants.
Keep an eye on the temperature of your lights. Grow lights can cause houseplants to burn depending on their wattage. Incandescent lights should be placed at least two feet from plants. Avoid placing fluorescent or HID grow lamps within twelve inches of plants. LED grow lights have a low heat output so they can reach as close to plants as possible without causing damage.
Set up a timer. A constant light output can cause plants to not experience a normal cycle of light-dark and eventually harm them. You can use a timer or a dimming light to control how much light your houseplants get from the grow lights. Your plants should get at least eight to sixteen hours of sunlight per day and eight hours of darkness.