This post has been updated to include an LED grow lights section and information on picking and using an indoor grow light.
An indoor grow light is one of the best investments I’ve made as a gardener. When I first started out, I used whatever indoor sunlight I had at the time. It wasn’t enough. I would watch seedlings lean over dramatically, and they just never lasted long.
Then, I used a household light that wasn’t designed for growing. That was a better option (given the low light levels), but the plants didn’t have a good color and just looked leggy and weak overall.
I eventually purchased an indoor grow light to start my seeds, and that made growing veggies indoors so much easier!
Grow lights can be really confusing as a beginner! It’s easy to get lost in the details and deciding whether one kind of light is better than another.
I like to keep things simple.
To do that, I’m going to give you a brief grow light rundown (any other fans of The Office? 😉).
Two of the most popular indoor light options are fluorescent grow lights and LED grow lights.
(If you don’t want to read the introductory info in the next sections, you can jump to fluorescent grow light or LED grow light.)
Advantages of Indoor Grow Lights
Using an indoor grow light really has its perks.
For example:
- You can start your seeds indoors when it’s too cold outside.
- You can make sure your seedlings get enough light each day.(Even in the outdoors, too much shade or cloudy days can keep them from getting the amount of sun they need.)
- You can grow microgreens for indoor, year-round veggies. This bypasses the need for great sunlight or that “sunny room in your home.” (Not everyone has this!)
Personally, I use grow lights to support seedlings until they go outside. I start all kinds of peppers, herbs and veggies indoors.
I also use light to grow microgreens, small leafy vegetables like lettuces and some herbs too. These stay inside all of the time and do really well.
Eventually, I may try growing pepper plants inside year round. I believe this is possible with the right grow lights, but I haven’t done this yet.
Do I Even Need A Grow Light?
Great question! I’m not going to tell you to buy something if you don’t need it.
Here’s my opinion…
If you want to grow plants that have low-to-medium-light needs, such as lettuce and microgreens, you can definitely give your natural light a shot. South-facing windows tend to provide the brightest, indirect light during the most hours of the day. Just be sure to account for winter months when you’re not going to get as much sun.
If you’re growing edibles that have high-light needs, such as peppers and tomatoes, I would definitely use an indoor grow light. They really do need that support.
Ultimately, you can experiment and then make a decision. Just watch for tall and thin (leggy) seedlings or ones that are leaning over. These are symptoms of not getting enough light.
Some Grow Light Terminology
You’ll see a lot of metrics used when it comes to different grow lights. This section is just a brief overview (rundown 😉 ) of some of the main ones.
Kelvin
A Kelvin (noted by K) is the color temperature of the light, and it lets you know how it compares to actual sunlight.
For seedlings and encouraging vegetative growth, you’ll want to find a grow light between 5,000 to 6,500 Kelvin. (6,500 is ideal.) This is a blue color that produces daylight.
Lumens
Lumens (noted as lm) refer to the total amount of light coming from the light source. It determines how bright the light is. When it comes to growing seedlings, you want around 2,000 lumens per square foot.
PAR (LED Lights)
Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) refers to light wavelengths that are necessary for photosynthesis in plants. These wavelengths range from 400 to 700 nanometers (nm). This measurement is often noted in LED grow lights.
Specifications Note
Some grow light products don’t list all of the specifications on the box or product page. (This makes things confusing!)
In that case, make sure the light is designated for growing and that it’s good for seedlings. Of course, check reviews and/or contact the retailer for more help.
Picking A Grow Light
Before you choose a type of grow light (more on that below), here are some things you’ll want to look out for.
Coverage Area
Consider the size of your grow light because it needs to provide light to all of your plants. Don’t place seedlings too far beyond the boundaries of the light. (If your seedlings look like they’re leaning, they’re probably too far away.)
Set Up
The grow light set up is dependent on what your growing space is like and how many plants you intend to grow. Here are some things to keep in mind before you choose a light.
- Many grow lights hang, others come with an attached stand and some are just bulbs that you can screw into light fixture (like a clamp light). Pick whatever works best for your growing space.
- Grow lights generally need to be 2 to 4 inches away from the tops of your plants. Some LED lights may need to be placed 12″ or higher. If you pick an LED, be sure to verify how far away it needs to be from your plants and that you have the space to accommodate this positioning.
Shop Lights
Some say fluorescent lights, such as shop lights, are fine for growing seedlings. (I used to think so too.)
After I got my T5, I realized just how weak my plants were, and that it often affected their health when they went outside. The issue is that regular fluorescents may not have the capability to support photosynthesis and growth in your plants. Just wanted to give you a heads up about this!
Fluorescent Grow Lights for Seedlings
The compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and T5 are two of the most common types of fluorescent grow lights.
As it name implies, the CFL is compact and it has a distinct, twisty bulb. This is a great cost-effective option if you’re just starting out and aren’t growing a lot of plants. CFL bulbs are generally easy to find online and in stores, and the setup is simple… just screw the bulb into a lamp.
The T5, on the other hand, consists of long, vertical tubes that run parallel to each other. These bulbs often come in lengths like 2 feet and 4 feet in a grow panel that you can hang. Otherwise, you can purchase individual T5 tubes and put them in an existing shop fixture you’d like to use.
Safety Note
Fluorescent lights contain a small amount of mercury. This is cause for concern in the event that a bulb gets broken and then it emits mercury vapor, which is toxic to humans. I’ve never broken a bulb, but it’s something to be aware of. This page explains what to do if a mercury-containing bulb breaks.
Using LED Grow Lights for Seedlings
Light emitting diode (LED) is another popular light for indoor gardening, and it has some distinct advantages.
For one, they are mercury free. Energy efficiency is another perk because they produce more light for the same amount of electricity as compared to fluorescent. They also have a longer lifespan and you won’t have to replace the bulbs as often.
The main disadvantage of LED grow lights is that they tend to have more of an upfront cost. Fortunately, more product offerings are coming on to the market and making them more affordable then they’ve been in the past.
Another thing to pay attention to is you want to place your LED light at the proper height. I’ve seen some LED products that get spaced the usual 2″ to 4″ high, while others need to be at least 12″ high. It depends on the wattage of the light. Be sure to follow the recommended height specifications so you don’t have any growth problems.
This HID section was part of the original grow light article. I’m leaving it in just in case you find it interesting…
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Grow Lights
High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps are the most expensive and advanced option when it comes to indoor growing. This is because the light discharge has an extremely high intensity and double the efficiency of a fluorescent grow light.
(As an example, it takes a fluorescent light 800 watts to generate as much output as one 400 watt HID lamp.)
Two types of HIDs are the High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and Metal Halide (MH).
The MH emits a midday sun heat that helps plants develop leaves.
The HPS produces an early morning or late afternoon heat, which gives a more yellow to orange to red spectrum. This is effective for and helping peppers flower and produce fruit.
The HID is an ideal indoor grow light solution for a greenhouse or sun room. This provides you with a solution if you do not receive enough natural light in your location.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I earn a commission if you make a purchase using my links. This is at no additional cost to you. The products are only recommended because I believe they will help you set up grow lights that start your seeds and support your seedlings indoors.
Example Grow Light Setups for Indoor Plants
I thought it would be helpful to see some of these grow light products on Amazon. There are many other options for setting up your indoor lighting. These are just examples of some popular options to get you started.
CFL Grow Light Example
Cost effective option for smaller areas.
T5 Fluorescent Grow Light Example
Covers a standard 10×20 grow tray. The optional rope hanger gives you a way to easily raise and lower your light.
LED Grow Light Example
This LED grow light includes a stand and hanging kit so you can elevate the light, as you prefer.
Optional: Programmable Light Timer
A light timer automatically turns your grow lights on and off. I recommend keeping your lights on for 16 hours a day. Here’s a timer that will do this for you so it’s one less thing you have to do each day. 🙂
Starting More Seedlings At A Time
So what happens if you want to start more seedlings than what your grow light covers?
You can get a 4 foot grow light to cover multiple trays. You can also get an adjustable shelving unit and then hang your preferred grow lights above each shelf.
Another option is to get a done-for-you-setup. For example, this product from Gardener’s Supply Company has the shelving, grow lights and pulley system so you can customize the light height on each shelf. This option is convenient, but expensive!
How To Use Indoor Grow Lights
Let’s make sure that your seedlings get the benefit of the grow light you’re using. Here’s how to do this…
When Should You Start Using Your Grow Light?
In many cases, you won’t use your grow light until your seeds have sprouted. Some plants like peppers and microgreens don’t need light to germinate. Others, such as lettuce and some flowers, do. Check your seed packet to know for sure.
How Far Should Seedlings Be from the Grow Light?
If you recall in this section, I mentioned that you want to make sure your plants are covered by the light. Leaning plants are a good indicator that they aren’t being covered sufficiently.
The height of the light should generally be between 2 to 4 inches away from your seedlings.
Some LED grow lights need to be 12″ or higher. Check the product information to be sure.
You want to end up with short and stocky plants.
(If you’re growing microgreens, these seedlings are usually anywhere between 1″ to 3″ when you harvest them.)
How Long Do the Grow Lights Stay On?
Your indoor grow lights should stay on for about 16 hours each day.
You can make this process easier by getting a programmable light timer to turn the lamp on and off automatically. Set your light to turn on at sunrise and then turn off 16 hours later to give your plants that 8 hour rest.
Using Indoor Grow Lights to Start Your Seeds Comes Down To This
Ultimately, grow lights come down to your preferences, growing space and whatever your budget allows. Just start small if you’re not sure how often and how much you’d like to grow.
So I don’t know if Charles would have liked my version of a rundown because I’m like Jim and not exactly sure what this means.
Fortunately, I only care what you think. 😉 I sincerely hope this guide on growing lights helps you successfully grow your veggies indoors.
And, speaking of that … It really feels empowering to be able to grow your own food. Whether you can’t find what you need in stores or you just want to be more self-sufficient, this is an excellent step in that direction!
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