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Some houseplant owners are lucky enough to have a home with endless amounts of sunshine, but for some of us, grow lights are critical for houseplant survival! I used to be really intimidated by the concept of grow lights. It just seemed complicated, artificial light, you know? Guess what—it’s not as hard as you think!
In this post, I’m going to review a list of grow lights for houseplants that I really like, discuss the grow lights I ended up going with, and go over some common questions about using grow lights for houseplants.
Plants get the energy they need to grow from sunlight, through photosynthesis. If you don’t have enough sunlight for your plants, your plant will not grow properly and can even die. This is why grow lights can be SO important for houseplants that don’t receive enough natural sunlight. Below is my list of some of the best grow lights for houseplants. After reviewing the list, we’ll answer some common grow light questions.
The Best Grow Lights for Houseplants
Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights from GooingTop Store
These are the lights I ultimately chose and I love them! I’ve had them for a little over a month and so far my plants have been very happy underneath them.
I wanted full-spectrum LED lights, but I purchased these especially because they clipped onto a high-up shelf that I had plants on. I also loved that there are two lights that can both be easily adjusted for different positions, and they have adjustable brightness settings, as well as a timer.
You can turn one off and one on, and, in my opinion, they look pretty sleek, too. I didn’t want big, bulky lights. All this and the fact that they’re affordable was why I went with these lights.
Here’s a picture of them in my space:
Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights from Elaine
Another excellent full-spectrum LED grow light option. Very similar to the ones I purchased above but this one has three separate lights that can be adjusted. It also has a clip that can clamp onto a shelf or other surface, a timer, and adjustable brightness.
(Click the image for more details on these grow lights!)
LED Grow Lights – Red/Blue/Full Spectrum Modes from Elaine
These grow lights also have a convenient clip, but come in silver, which some may prefer over black. They have two adjustable-position lights with adjustable brightness. These lights are full spectrum but also come with modes for red light or blue light only. (We’ll discuss red vs. blue vs. full-spectrum light in the sections after this grow lights list).
(Click the image for more details on these grow lights!)
Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights – 2×2 Foot Coverage from BLOOM PLUS
The first few lights I mentioned are great for individuals with a few plants and smaller spaces. However, some of you probably have grow rooms or greenhouses (and if you do, I’m very jealous of you).
This grow light has a 2-by-2 foot vegetative coverage and 1.5-by-1.5 foot flowering coverage, and there are two larger models as well. It does not come with a clip—it has to be hung above your plants—but it comes with the ratchet hangers needed to hang it. Being a more expensive item, it also comes with a three-year warranty.
(Click the image for more details on these grow lights!)
Full Spectrum LED Grow Light Bulb from SANSI Store
If you already have a specific lamp you like, purchasing a grow light bulb can be a better option. This bulb can be used with or without a lampshade and is also a convenient and affordable choice for individuals with very small spaces who don’t have space for an entire additional light fixture.
(Click the image for more details on these grow lights!)
Full Spectrum LED Grow Light Bulb from MiracleLED
This other grow light bulb is another great option for even more versatility, as it can fit in just about any lamp (unlike the bulb above this one). There are a few reviews saying this light bulb did not last as long as they thought it would, but the reviews are mostly positive.
Regarding grow light bulbs specifically, keep in mind they still have to be within a reasonable range of your plant to actually work. For LEDs, this is generally one-to-two feet depending on the wattage—you’ll have to experiment on what a good distance is for your plants. If you simply replace a regular lightbulb in the lamp on the other side of the room with a grow light bulb, it’s not going to make a difference for your plants.
(Click the image for more details on these grow lights!)
What type of light is best for growing plants indoors?
Two common types of grow lights for houseplants are LEDs and fluorescent lights. LEDs are typically more energy efficient and the better choice. However, if you’re in an office environment, you’ll most likely already have fluorescent lighting and many plants will be happy with that.
It’s also important that you’re not giving too much light to your plants in terms of how close they are to the light and how long they’re exposed to the light. Plants don’t receive natural light for 24 hours straight and therefore don’t need to be constantly under a grow light.
Plants need darkness and light in order to metabolize properly. Experiment with these two factors (distance from light to plant and amount of exposure to light) and see how your plants respond after a few days.
Which color of light is best for growing plants?
Full-spectrum light contains all colors of the light spectrum. Since natural light from the sun is full spectrum, full-spectrum light is best for growing plants. Some artificial lights omit one color such as red or blue, so make sure you are purchasing a full-spectrum light.
In fact, the three main colors of light are red, blue, and green. Plants reflect green light which is why they appear green to us. Therefore, they definitely don’t need only green light, because they won’t use it.
Something else to note is that blue light is specifically helpful for foliage and red light is specifically helpful for flowers and fruit. So on one hand, if you’re trying to address a specific problem like getting your plant to bloom, then yes, you might want to get a red grow light for example. However, full spectrum is best for general use and your plant probably won’t flourish to its full potential with only one color of light.
Can any light be used as a grow light?
Not any light can be used effectively as a grow light for houseplants. As described in the above section, since plants grow best overall under full-spectrum light (which includes every color of the light spectrum) lights of a single color won’t be particularly useful for overall plant growth.
Regular lightbulbs generally don’t provide the right balance of full-spectrum light. Typically, they also give off too much heat and are less efficient. If they’re your only option, they may help a little bit, but be sure you don’t put your plant too close where they could be affected by the heat.
Part of determining whether or not you should purchase grow lights for your houseplants is understanding natural light first. Check out my recent post on an easy guide to natural light for indoor plants.
Recap on the best grow lights for houseplants list:
- Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights from GooingTop Store
- Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights from Elaine
- LED Grow Lights – Red/Blue/Full Spectrum Modes from Elaine
- Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights – 2×2 Foot Coverage from BLOOM PLUS
- Full Spectrum LED Grow Light Bulb from SANSI Store
- Full Spectrum LED Grow Light Bulb from MiracleLED
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