Indoor Planting 101: Guides and Tips When buying Grow lights

Growing flowers and plants indoors can be advantageous, and watching them grow year-round, regardless of the season, is a definite win. However, finding a quality grow light to keep the plants healthy can be challenging. Here are a few tips on things to look for when buying an indoor grow light.

Do Plants Really Need Special Lights?

Regular LED or incandescent bulbs are designed to illuminate homes and other dark places, and generally, they perform this task effectively. But, grow lights are designed with a whole different purpose in mind. If the goal is to grow plants indoors, it really pays to learn as much as possible about indoor grow lights. Starting with the wrong setup can make the entire situation much more complicated than it should be.

The natural light spectrum found outdoors in sunlight is a perfect resource for photosynthesis to occur. This allows the plant to develop and grow. Full Spectrum grow lights are set up to mimic this feature as closely as possible. Regular light bulbs are not manufactured with the correct wavelength to allow plants to thrive. Using a quality, full-spectrum light is one of the first steps in setting up the indoor grow space.

Energy Consumption

Depending on the plant variety, grow lamps will typically need to be turned on for at least eight to ten hours per day. This can produce concerns about heat output and electrical usage, which is why many indoor plant growers prefer using an LED grow light over other options. LED grow lights create an equal amount of growth energy for the plant as their incandescent and fluorescent counterparts, but the LED grow lights are more efficient in both consumption and output.

Concerns about the grow lamp singeing the leaves of the plants are also reduced when using an LED light. Since these lamps are so efficient, plants can usually grow right up to the bulb without the burn risk. This feature can come in handy if the growing space is tight.

How Much Will All of This Cost?

A durable, good-quality grow light produced by a manufacturer with an excellent reputation is what growers are encouraged to look for. The expected lifespan of the fixture is anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000 hours of use. The cost of a good grow lamp should be around $100 for every one to two plants. Make sure that each plant has adequate space to grow. Spacing them too close together will not allow proper development.

A good grow light should last about ten years, and understanding the manufacturer's warranty can prevent a lot of frustration later on. If a particular grow light you're interested in does not provide a warranty in this time range, this is a reason to be skeptical about the longevity of the light.

Plant Specific Lighting

Certain models of grow lights are tailored to specific growth stages in the plant's life and the unique needs of that stage. There are even grow lights made to maximize the needs of a specific crop, depending on whether the crop is, for example, tulips or tomatoes. Both these plants can have different requirements that these lights claim to cater to.

Indoor gardening has many benefits beyond raising beautiful plants. Studies show that growing plants indoors can sharpen mental focus, provide healthier indoor air, and improve your mood.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or the management of EconoTimes