If you’ve ever grown plants before or are just getting started, you may have wondered about creating an indoor garden. But plants need to be exposed to bright light for at least 16 hours each day for healthy growth. Thankfully, a grow light can provide the necessary lights for your indoor garden. Here are some tips to make your gardening easier.
How Plants Grow
You’ve probably noticed how your plants respond to light. They grow taller, and the leaves open up. Plants actually produce food in response to light! The reason they need enough light is that they can’t manufacture food without it.
There are two main types of light:
- Natural light comes from the sun, as well as moonlight, starlight, and other sources outside our atmosphere.
- Artificial light includes anything man-made. Those include sources such as fluorescent or LED bulbs. Those produce electromagnetic energy in order to create photons.
What Are Grow Lights?
Grow lights are used to grow plants indoors. They can supplement natural light. However, many people only use them when there isn’t enough natural sunlight. Grow lights come in all shapes and sizes. So it’s important that you choose a grow light that fits the needs of your plants and home.
Despite their similarities, grow lights and LED lights are not the same. LED lights do not produce heat as traditional incandescent bulbs do. This makes them ideal for use with digital devices such as computers or televisions because they won’t overheat your electronics.
However, since they don’t produce heat, you’ll need something else for your indoor potted plants. They must flourish during colder months when there isn’t much sunlight outside either!
The Different Types of Grow Lights
When it comes to growing plants indoors, you need a good grow light. There are three types of lights can be used. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, so let’s look at each.:
LED
- LED lights are the most efficient in terms of how much light they produce per watt.
- They also use less electricity than either HID or fluorescent lighting systems.
- They’re relatively expensive compared to other grow lights.
- They use more advanced technology in their construction.
- While they may offer you great results when it comes to efficiency, they may mean sacrificing some savings on energy costs.
HPS
High-Pressure Sodium lights are also widely used. Here are their pros and cons –
- HPS bulbs are usually more expensive than fluorescent lights.
- They emit a lot more heat,
- They offer a higher intensity of light. So, your plants will grow faster than if they were under fluorescent lights.
Fluorescent
Fluorescent grow lights have been around for decades now. Here are some pointers on them –
- They’re inexpensive to purchase.
- They are easy enough to set up as well if you have any kind of basic DIY skillset
- These types of bulbs only offer about 30% efficiency.
So If you want the best possible results from your indoor grow operation, you should consider investing in a good grow light. However, you should still use adequate ventilation and cooling systems.
Choosing The Best Grow Light
The best grow lights are the ones that get the job done. If you want to grow healthy, happy plants indoors, a good grow light is absolutely essential.
There are many different types of grow lights available today. They all have their own pros and cons. Here are some notes on them –
- LED lights are known for being more energy efficient than other types of lighting. But they don’t emit enough heat to be used in a small space.
- Fluorescent lights provide better coverage than LED bulbs. But they still require more electricity than incandescent bulbs. It is important to note this. Because most people do not want to pay extra bills every month for their home gardens.
- The HPS bulbs produce more light than either fluorescent or incandescent ones. But they can overheat quickly if not installed correctly. If you’re using these bulbs with another type like HID lamps, that problem may become common. Those have been specially designed specifically for indoor gardening applications.
Conclusion
Understanding what your plants need is key to choosing the right grow light. Look for information about the color temperature of different types of lights if you aren’t sure where to begin. Consider your home or apartment space before purchasing.
